Beta-blockers are a class of prescription medications commonly used to treat conditions related to your heart and blood vessels.
For example, your healthcare provider may prescribe a beta-blocker to help lower your blood pressure or treatheart failure.
Beta-blockers are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States.
Getty Images / Tatiana Maksimova
This is called off-label use.
Certain beta-blockers are sometimes used off-label to treat:
How Do They Work?
Beta-blockers attach to sites on cells called receptors that block the action of adrenaline.
What Are Beta-Receptors and What Do They Do?
To work, beta-blockers must attach to sites throughout your body called beta-receptors.
Different types of beta-receptors are located in several areas of your body and have various functions when activated.
Beta-1 Receptors
Beta-1 receptors are typically found in the heart and kidneys.
Beta-blockers that attach to beta-2 receptors in the nervous system help reduce tremors.
These drugs are not beta-blockers.
Instead, they activate beta-receptors in the lungs.
Beta-3 Receptors
Beta-3 receptors are found in fat cells and your bladder.
Activating beta-3 receptors results in fat cell breakdown and relaxation of your bladder.
Because activating this receptor may also cause tremors, many medications don’t target beta-3 receptors.
Examples
The table below shows examples of commonly prescribed beta-blockers and their uses.
What Are the Side Effects?
As with all medications, beta-blockers may cause side effects in some people.
Side effects may vary based on which beta-blocker you take.
But in general, many beta-blockers have similar common side effects.
Your healthcare provider can answer questions about side effects specific to your treatment and condition.
Who Shouldn’t Take Beta-Blockers?
Beta-blockers may not be for everyone.
They may worsen or negatively affect certain health conditions.
They may increase the risk of side effects from beta-blockers or affect how well they work.
They may also monitor you more closely to check that your medications are working properly.
Advantages and Disadvantages
As with all medications, beta-blockers have benefits and drawbacks.
Below are a few examples.
Below are examples of medications your healthcare provider may prescribe instead of beta-blockers.
They may also suggest other natural methods and lifestyle changes to help keep your heart healthy.
In some studies, they have been found effective in reducing blood pressure or regulating heart rhythm.
Examples include:
It’s important to talk with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements or herbs.
Many of them have side effects or interact with other medications.
Your pharmacist or provider can let you know if any of these are safe for you to take.
Some beta-blockers are also approved to treat other conditions, such as glaucoma and migraine headaches.
Beta-blockers work by attaching to beta-receptors in your body and blocking the action of adrenaline in these sites.
Most common side effects of beta-blockers are mild.
However, beta-blockers may worsen certain health conditions, including asthma, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and depression.
They may also interact with some medications, such as NSAIDs and medications for diabetes.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you want to learn more about beta-blockers.
They can help you decide whether these drugs are effective and safe for your condition.
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