What are beta-blockers?

Beta-blockers are a class of medications that are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and certain heart conditions. They block the actions of norepinephrine and epinephrine or adrenalin on the beta-receptors in the body that are responsible for the “flight or fight” response that occurs with stress.  

There are different types of beta-receptors throughout the body. One group  (beta-1) is located in the heart and kidneys, another (beta 2) in the intestinal tract, uterus and skeletal muscle and smooth muscle of blood vessels, and yet another group (beta 3) in the fat cells.

Some beta-blockers affect all the receptors whereas some are more selective.  Beta-blockers are commonly used to lower blood pressure, reduce abnormal heart rhythms, and improve blood flow to the heart. They are also used for performance anxiety to blunt the fear response that some people have with performing in public.

Beta-blockers, also called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, are a class of drugs that slow the heartbeat, lessen the force with which the heart muscle contracts and reduce blood vessel contraction in the heart, brain and throughout the body. They do this by blocking the action of beta-adrenergic substances such as adrenaline in the “sympathetic” portion of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system at the beta receptor. By blocking the action of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart, beta-blockers relieve stress on the heart. They may be used to treat abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and prevent abnormally fast heart rates (tachycardias) or irregular rhythms such as premature ventricular beats. Since they reduce the demand of the heart muscle for oxygen, they may be useful in treating angina (chest pain), which occurs when the oxygen demand of the heart exceeds the supply. They have become an important drug in improving survival after a person has had a heart attack. Beta-blockers are also used to treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions by reducing the heart rate and the heart’s output of blood.

Beta blockers are a form of medication used to treat high blood pressure, angina (chest pain) and other conditions. This class of medications works by blocking the action of adrenaline in the body.    

Examples of Beta Blockers:
acebutolol (Sectral)
atenolol (Tenormin)
betaxolol (Kerlone)
bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac)
bisoprolol (Zebeta)
carteolol (Cartrol)
metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
nadolol (Corgard)
propranolol (Inderal)
sotalol (Betapace)
timolol (Blocadren)

Beta Blockers are a group of medications that slow the heart rate and reduce the force of each heartbeat. They are called beta blockers because the medicine works by blocking some of the nerve signals that control the heart rhythm. Watch this video to learn more.

Beta blockers are drugs that block up beta receptors. These drugs all end in "lol." Most of them lower blood pressure but they also slow the heart rate (this is an example of a drug that's a twofer -- medication that treats two issues).

In fact, beta blockers are an example of a drug that's a threefer, because not only does it lower the blood pressure and the heart rate, it decreases the force of contraction of the heart so it decreases oxygen demand. (This is a really good drug for people who've had a heart attack.) So a threefer drug lowers blood pressure, lowers heart rate, has less contraction force, less pressure to pump, so the heart doesn't work as hard and doesn't use as much oxygen. Beta blockers also help treat migraines and heart failure. Examples of beta blockers include:

• Metoprolol (Topeol/Lopressor)
• Carvedilol (Coreg)
• Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
• Labetalol

Beta-blocker medicines slow the heart rate and decrease how forcefully the heart contracts, reducing the amount of oxygen the heart needs to work. Beta-blockers are often used to treat heart conditions, including high blood pressure, heart failure, and fast or irregular heart rates.

Beta-blockers are also used for other health problems such as migraine headaches and glaucoma.

Beta blockers reduce the heart's workload and are used for high blood pressure, chest pain and to prevent a repeat heart attack.