Description:
Beta-blockers are used
in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension). Some beta-blockers are
also used to relieve angina (chest pain) and in heart attack patients to help
prevent additional heart attacks. Beta-blockers are also used to correct
irregular heartbeat, prevent migraine headaches, and treat tremors. They may
also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. Beta-blockers work by affecting the response to some nerve impulses in
certain parts of the body. As a result, they decrease the heart's need for blood
and oxygen by reducing its workload. They also help the heart to beat more
regularly. Beta blockers are also prescribed to help prevent headaches and
Migraines.
Other Medications:
It is always important that your physician be aware of
all medications you are taking. If you physician is prescribing beta
blockers for you, it is especially important that (s)he be aware if you
are taking allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots), allergen extracts for skin
testing, aminophylline, caffeine (e.g., NoDoz), dyphylline, cxtriphylline,
theophylline, oral antidiabetics, insulin, calcium channel blockers, clonidine,
guanabenz, cocaine, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.
Always consult your doctor of pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter (nonprescription) medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems since they may tend to increase your blood pressure.
Other Medical Problems:
It is especially important to tell your doctor if you
have any of these medical problems:
-
respiratory problems: asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, etc.
-
allergies
-
eczema
-
hay fever
-
hives
-
bradycardia
-
heart or blood vessel disease
-
diabetes
-
kidney disease
-
liver disease
-
depression
-
myasthenia gravis
-
psoriasis
-
thyroid disease
Potential Side Effects:
- Check with your physician as soon as possible if you
experience:
- Breathing difficulty and/or wheezing
- cold hands and feet
- mental depression
- shortness of breath
- slow heartbeat
- swelling of ankles, feet, and/or lower legs
- back or joint pain; chest pain
- confusion (especially in elderly patients)
- dark urine--for acebutolol, bisoprolol, or labetalol
- dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position
- fever and sore throat
- hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
- irregular heartbeat
- red, scaling, or crusted skin
- skin rash
- unusual bleeding and bruising
- yellow eyes or skin--for acebutolol, bisoprolol, or labetalo
- The following side effects generally do not require medical
attention, but contact your physician if they persist or are bothersome:
- decreased sexual ability
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- drowsiness (slight)
- trouble in sleeping
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- anxiety and/or nervousness
- changes in taste--for labetalol only
- constipation; diarrhea
- dry, sore eyes
- frequent urination--for acebutolol and carteolol only
- itching of skin
- nausea or vomiting
- nightmares and vivid dreams
- numbness and/or tingling of fingers and/or toes
- numbness and/or tingling of skin, especially on scalp--for labetalol only
- stomach discomfort
- stuffy nose
Some commonly used brand names are:
U.S.:
- Betapace
- Blocadren
- Cartrol
- Corgard
- Inderal, Inderal LA
- Kerlone
- Levatol
- Lopressor
- Normodyne
- Sectral
- Tenormin/atenolol
- Toprol-XL
- Trandate
- Visken
- Zebeta
Canada:
- Apo-Atenolol
- Apo-Metoprolol
- Apo-Metoprolol (Type L)
- Apo-Propranolol
- Apo-Timol
- Betaloc
- Betaloc
- Durules
- Blocadren
- Corgard
- Detensol
- Inderal, Inderal LA
- Lopresor, Lopresor SR
- Monitan
- Novo-Atenol, Novo-Metoprol
- Novo-Pindol
- Novo-Timol
- Novo-Pranol
- Nu-Metop,
- pms Propranolol
- Sectral
- Slow-Trasicor
- Sotacor
- Syn-Nadolol
- Syn-Pindolol
- Tenormin
- Trandate
- Trasicor
- Visken
Material on this page is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical advice.
