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How Beta Blockers Work?

by | Jan 25, 2023 | Info | 0 comments

Beta Blockers Overview

Beta-blockers are drugs that can lower stress on the heart and blood vessels. They can also help manage migraine, anxiety, tremor, and other conditions.

Other names for beta-blockers include beta-antagonists, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, and beta-adrenergic antagonists.

Beta blockers are medications that reduce blood pressure. These drugs work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. These cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force, which lowers blood pressure. Beta blockers also help widen veins and arteries to improve blood flow.


How do Beta Blockers Work?

Doctors mainly prescribe beta-blockers to manage cardiovascular symptoms, such as angina and high blood pressure.

Beta-blockers work by blocking the action of certain hormones in the nervous system, such as adrenaline. By doing this, they help prevent the activation of the “fight-or-flight” stress response.

Adrenaline and noradrenaline are hormones that prepare the muscles in the body for exertion. This is a crucial part of responding to danger.

If the body releases high levels of adrenaline, a patient may experience anxiety, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, excessive sweating, and heart palpitations.

Blocking the release of these hormones lowers stress on the heart and reduces the force of the contractions of the heart muscle. In turn, it also takes pressure off the blood vessels in the heart, the brain, and the rest of the body.

Beta-blockers also obstruct the production of angiotensin II, which is a hormone that the kidneys produce. This relaxes and widens the blood vessels, easing the flow of blood through them.


Uses of Beta Blockers

Beta-blockers have a range of uses. The sections below outline some of them.

Anxiety

Beta-blockers block the effects of stress hormones. As a result, they can also reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as trembling and sweating.

Although they do not have approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating anxiety, doctors may prescribe them off-label for this purpose.

However, beta-blockers cannot treat anxiety itself. Other treatments, such as counseling, can help address the underlying causes of anxiety.

Essential Tremor

Beta-blockers such as propranolol and primidone can help manage essential tremor.

Studies suggest that 50–60% of patients see an improvement in symptoms when using propranolol, especially in hand tremor.

A doctor may recommend using this medication either as needed or all the time, depending on a person’s situation.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure grows within the eye due to a buildup of fluid. It is a common cause of vision loss among older adults.

Doctors often prescribe eye drops containing beta-blockers to lower the production of this fluid and reduce pressure within the eye.

Cardiovascular Symptoms

The main use of beta-blockers is to manage cardiovascular symptoms.

They can help treat or prevent the following:


Migraine

In 2012, the American Academy of Neurology and American Headache Society recommended using propranolol and metoprolol, both of which are types of beta-blockers, as a first-line therapy for preventing migraine.

A 2019 review of trials from around the world concluded that propranolol was more effective than a placebo in preventing migraine and tension-type headaches.

Overall, the results suggested that this medication can reduce the number of episodes a person experiences from five to three per month.

Overactive Thyroid

Beta-blockers can reduce symptoms such as tremor and a rapid heart rate in people with an overactive thyroid.

They do this by blocking the action of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream.


Types of Beta Blockers

Beta-blockers help manage a range of conditions by blocking beta receptors, which occur throughout the body.

There are three types of beta receptor:

  • Beta-1 (B1) receptors, which occur mainly in the heart and regulate cardiac activity.
  • Beta-2 (B2) receptors, which occur in various organs and play a role in smooth muscle relaxation and metabolic activity.
  • Beta-3 (B3) receptors, which help break down fat cells.

Current medical applications focus on B1 and B2 receptors.

Beta-blockers can also be selective or non-selective. Selective beta-blockers mostly target the heart, while non-selective ones manage symptoms in other parts of the body.

Common Brands of Beta Blockers

Beta-blockers can also be selective or non-selective. Selective beta-blockers mostly target the heart, while non-selective ones manage symptoms in other parts of the body.

Here are some common types and brands of beta-blockers:

  • Acebutolol (Sectral)
  • Atenolol (Tenormin)
  • Betaxolol (Kerlone)
  • Bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac,)
  • Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
  • Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
  • Nadolol (Corgard)
  • Nebivolol (Bystolic)
  • Propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL)
  • Sotalol (Betapace)
  • Carvedilol (Coreg)

Some beta blockers mainly affect the heart, while others affect both the heart and blood vessels.

Side Effects of Beta Blockers

Beta-blockers affect receptors throughout the body and can have a range of side effects, including:

Patients with Raynaud’s disease or asthma may have more pronounced side effects.

There is also a risk of heart block (arrhythmia), especially in patients with heart disease.

Beta blockers generally aren’t used in patients with asthma because of concerns that the medication may trigger severe asthma attacks.

In patients who have diabetes, beta blockers may block signs of low blood sugar, such as rapid heartbeat. It’s important to check your blood sugar regularly if you have diabetes and you’re taking a beta blocker.

Beta blockers can also affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They can cause a slight rise in triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood, and a modest decrease in good cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. These changes often are temporary.

You shouldn’t abruptly stop taking a beta blocker because doing so could increase your risk of a heart attack or other heart problem.

Risk Factors of Beta Blockers

Individuals should advise their doctor if they have a history of any of the following before taking beta-blockers:

  • Asthma, though some types may be suitable.
  • Bronchospasm.
  • Severe peripheral artery disease, including Raynaud’s disease.
  • Slow heart rate.
  • Uncontrolled heart failure
    . 

Patients with stable heart failure can use beta-blockers.

Individuals who have a heart condition or chest pain and a history of cocaine use should talk with their doctor before using beta-blockers. This is because there is some debate about whether or not it is safe to use them in these circumstances.

Patients with diabetes, especially hypoglycemia, should monitor their blood sugar regularly. This is because beta-blockers can obstruct signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid heartbeat.

Some types of beta-blockers may be safe to use during pregnancy if a doctor advises it. The doctor can advise on which beta-blockers are suitable for an individual to use after considering their full medical history.

Interactions of Beta Blockers

Like all other drugs, beta-blockers can interact with a number of other medications. These include the following:

  • Anti-arrhythmic drugs, for managing irregular heartbeats.
  • Antihypertensives, which lower blood pressure.
  • Antipsychotics, for treating severe mental health problems.
  • Clonidine, for treating high blood pressure and migraine.
  • Mefloquine, to treat or prevent malaria

Different beta-blockers can have different interactions. A pharmacist or doctor can advise on which medications each type of beta-blocker will interact with.

For this reason, it is essential for people to inform a doctor about any medications they are using, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.

Stopping Beta Blockers

Patients should not suddenly stop taking beta-blockers without their doctor’s advice and close supervision.

Suddenly stopping beta-blocker treatment may worsen a person’s symptoms, especially after a heart attack or during the treatment of angina.

Summary

Beta-blockers are a first-line treatment for many conditions. They are especially useful for improving cardiovascular symptoms, such as high blood pressure.

Patients should always follow a doctor’s instructions when using beta-blockers, and they should ensure that their doctor knows about any health conditions they have or other medications they are using.

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