Why Shouldn't You Take Beta-Blockers

Blood pressure medications and a stetoscope
Beta-Blockers should be avoided in the case of people who are pregnant, have asthma, or have diabetes or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). They should also not be taken with medicines used to treat high blood pressure, some antidepressants, allergy shots, oral diabetes medicines and insulin, COPD medications, caffeine, cough and cold medicines, and alcohol.

Beta-blockers (beta-adrenergic blocking agents) are medications used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), heart failure, tremors, pheochromocytoma, and hypertrophic subaortic stenosis.

Less commonly, beta blockers are used to prevent migraines, or to treat overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), anxiety, tremor, and glaucoma (as eyedrops).

Beta-blockers work by blocking the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline) from binding to beta receptors on nerves which helps reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure.

Beta-Blockers List

Examples of beta-blockers include: 

  • Acebutolol (Sectral)
  • Atenolol (Tenormin)
  • Betaxolol (Kerlone)
  • Bisoprolol fumarate (Zebeta)
  • Carteolol hydrochloride (Cartrol)
  • Metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor)
  • Metoprolol succinate (Toprol-XL)
  • Nadolol (Corgard)
  • Penbutolol sulfate (Levatol)
  • Pindolol (Visken)
  • Propranolol hydrochloride (Inderal)
  • Sotalol hydrochloride (Betapace)
  • Timolol maleate (Blocadren)

Certain people should not take beta-blockers:

What Are Side Effects of Beta-Blockers?

Common side effects of beta-blockers include:

See a doctor right away if you experience serious side effects of beta-blockers, such as:

  • Shortness of breath with cough that worsens with activity 
  • Chest pain
  • Tightening feeling in the chest 
  • Weight gain with no known cause
  • Fluid retention (swollen hands, legs, ankles, or feet)
  • Irregular heartbeat 
  • Very slow heartbeat (less than 50 beats per minute) 
  • Wheezing 
  • Yellowing skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
References
Image Source: iStock Images

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Types-of-Blood-Pressure-Medications_UCM_303247_Article.jsp#.Wc0x2oprztc

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/beta-blockers/

https://www.medscape.com/answers/813342-85959/what-are-the-symptoms-of-long-term-beta-blocker-use-in-beta-blocker-toxicity

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/1015/p1865.html

https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/beta-blockers/