What are Beta Blockers?

Beta blockers are a class of drugs that reduce the amount of work the heart does and decrease irregular heartbeats. Beta blockers work by “blocking” the effects of adrenaline on your body.

As a result, they decrease the heart’s need for blood and oxygen by reducing its workload. Their effect on nerve impulses also helps to prevent irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).  Beta blockers are used in heart failure with normal ejection fraction as well as in low-output heart failure.

Some common brands of beta blockers are:

Generic Name Brand Name
sotalol Betapace
timolol Blocadren
nadolol Corgard
propranolol Inderal
bisoprolol Zebeta
labetalol Trandate

Beta blockers may cause abnormally slow heart rate, breathing difficulty, or wheezing. They may hide symptoms of low blood sugar in diabetics, may exacerbate depression and asthma, and cause impotence.