Treatment Options

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.

When beta blockers are prescribed for anxiety disorders, they are used mainly to reduce certain anxiety symptoms like palpitations, sweating and tremors, and to control anxiety in public situations. They often are prescribed for individuals with social phobia and to reduce performance anxiety in musicians and professional speakers.

Drugs in the class

Timolol Oral (Blocadren)

Atenolol (Tenormin)

Nadolol (Corgard)

Pindolol (Visken)

Propranolol (Inderal)