|
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are chemicals that reduce the force and rate of the heartbeat and decrease muscular tone in blood vessels. They work by acting on beta-adrenergic receptors located throughout the body. If these receptors are stimulated by stress-related chemicals like adrenaline and noradrenaline, our heart races or beats loudly. Beta blockers inhibit this process by occupying beta receptor sites and preventing chemicals like adrenaline from acting. Because they decrease the amount of work the heart must do, as well as reduce blood pressure, beta blockers are used to treat heart and circulation conditions like hypertension, coronary heart disease, and congestive heart failure. These kinds of effects are also helpful in treating certain kinds of anxiety.
Beta-blockers have been used effectively in the treatment of coronary heart disease. The four types of coronary heart disease in which beta-blockers are primarily used are stable angina pectoris (chest pain with activity), unstable angina (chest pain at rest), acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), and after a heart attack. Drugs in the class
Acebutolol (Sectral)
Timolol Oral (Blocadren)
Propranolol ER (Betachron ER, Inderal LA, Innopran XL)
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Metoprolol Oral (Lopressor)
Carteolol (Cartrol)
Nadolol (Corgard)
Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
Pindolol (Visken)
Metoprolol ER (Toprol XL)
Propranolol (Inderal)
Atenolol Injection (Tenormin Injection) |