Beta

Blockers
American Hospital Dubai
Training
Done By: Zeinab Safieldin
Supervised By: Dr Ahmed Atef
What are Beta Blockers?
+Beta blockers are a class of drugs that work by blocking
stress hormones like adrenaline.

+Adrenaline? Is a hormone that triggers the fight or flight

response. By blocking this effect, Beta blockers slow down
the heart rate causing a reduction in blood pressure and
relaxing the blood vessels.
Indications?
+Cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, angina, coronary
heart disease, congestive heart disease, myocardial
infarction).
+Hyperthyroidism.
+Anxiety and tremor (not FDA approved)
+Migraine. Source?
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.
pone.0212785
+Glaucoma.
Contraindicated in?
+Asthma & COPD  bronchospasm due to blockage of beta
receptors in lungs.
+Hypotension, bradycardia.
+Diabetes mellitus  may mask the symptoms of
hypoglycemia (tachycardia). This can be life threatening.
Patient needs to always be aware of their blood glucose
levels.
Classification?
+Cardioselective? Block only b1 receptors located in the heart.
+Atenolol, bisoprolol, acebutolol, metoprolol, esmolol,
betaxolol, nebivolol.

+Nonselective? Block b1 and b2 receptors in lungs, kidneys,

smooth muscles, and the heart.
+Propranolol, timolol maleate 
Exceptions??
+Carvedilol  used for hypertension and heartfailure.
+Labetalol
+Both are selective Alpha and non-selective Beta, antagonize
both b1 and b2 receptors.
Glaucoma?
+ A common eye condition in which the optic nerve, the
nerve which connects the eye to the brain, is damaged.
+ Increases intraocular pressure.
+ Should be treated early to prevent vision loss.
+ Treatment?? Timolol eye drops.
+ Work by decreasing the fluid  decreases intraocular
pressure.
Sources/references
+Mayoclinic.org
+Webmd.com
+Drugs.com