Beta-Blockers

What are beta-blockers?

Beta-blockers are a class of prescription medications that treat a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. They slow down your heart rate and relax your heart and blood vessels. This may help lower your blood pressure and improve the working conditions of your heart.

Beta-blockers are mainly used to treat heart and circulatory conditions, including:

• Aortic dissection and aortic aneurysms
• Arrhythmias, like tachycardia
• Chest pain (angina)
• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart)

They can also help treat other conditions, like:

• Essential tremor
• Glaucoma
• Portal hypertension
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Performance anxiety
• Preventing migraines (only some beta-blockers have U.S. FDA approval for this)

Beta-blockers are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. About 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. (10%) take this type of medication.

What do beta-blockers do?

Beta-blockers slow down your heart rate and relax smooth muscle tissue in your blood vessels. This may help lower your blood pressure.

More specifically, they slow down certain types of cell activity. Your body naturally makes neurotransmitters called epinephrine and norepinephrine. They play crucial roles in your body’s response to stress and danger (“fight or flight”).

Beta-blockers work by blocking the action of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the organs in your body. By doing so, they can prevent your heart from beating too fast. They can also help relax your heart and blood vessels to lower your blood pressure.

Beta-blockers mainly act on these receptors in your heart and kidneys. These are called beta-1 (B1) receptors. You have other types of beta receptors throughout your body as well. Beta-2 receptors are mainly in smooth muscle tissue.

Beta-blockers generally fall into two broad categories: Cardioselective and nonselective. Cardioselective means they block just the B1 receptors. It’s a key consideration when healthcare providers choose which beta-blocker to prescribe.

Types of beta-blockers

Types of beta-blockers include:

Metoprolol is the most commonly prescribed beta-blocker. It’s a cardioselective (B1 receptor) beta-blocker. Carvedilol is another commonly prescribed nonselective beta-blocker that may have many benefits for your heart.

How long can I take beta-blockers?

You can use beta-blockers for extended periods. Many people stay on beta-blockers indefinitely.

Never stop taking your prescription medications (including beta-blockers) unless your healthcare provider tells you. If you’re worried about the side effects you’re experiencing, talk to your provider.

What are the benefits?

Beta-blockers are a common prescription for several reasons:

• They can help you live healthier and longer. In certain cases, beta-blockers may help people live longer. They may reduce your risk of having a heart attack, stroke or hospitalization due to heart failure.
• They’re effective for a wide range of medical problems. Many heart and circulatory problems are connected. Using a beta-blocker to treat one problem can often help other related issues.
• They’ve been studied extensively. Beta-blockers have been in use for decades. Because of that, scientists and healthcare providers better understand their effects and safety.
• Most are inexpensive (especially generics). This may make it financially easier to manage a health condition.

What are the possible side effects of beta-blockers?

Some side effects of all beta-blockers include:

• Dizziness
• Dry mouth or eyes
• Fatigue

Rare side effects include sexual dysfunction and erectile dysfunction. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you what issues to look out for.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Reach out to your healthcare provider if you have a sudden change in symptoms or side effects. These include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Heart palpitations (your heartbeat is racing, pounding or skipping beats)
• Fainting
• Multiple episodes of feeling dizzy or lightheaded