BETA BLOCKERS

SUMMARY

1. These drugs decrease cardiac output, sympathetic tone, and renin production.

2. JNC 8 panel does not recommend beta-blockers for the initial treatment of HTN due to increased risk of cardiovascular death, AMI, or stroke compared to use of ARB.

3. Indications for beta-blockers: post-MI, stable heart failure, rate control for AF, angina.

4. Avoid beta-blockers in: reactive airway disease, frequent hypoglycemic episodes, hyperlipidemia, PVD.

5. Other complications include fatigue, erectile dysfunction, depression, and weight gain.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].