The sections below outline some of them. They can help treat or prevent the following :. In , the American Academy of Neurology and American Headache Society recommended using propranolol and metoprolol, both of which are types of beta-blocker, as a first-line therapy for preventing migraine. A review of trials from around the world concluded that propranolol was more effective than a placebo in preventing migraine and tension-type headaches.
Overall, the results suggested that this medication can reduce the number of episodes a person experiences from five to three per month. Glaucoma is a condition in which pressure grows within the eye due to a buildup of fluid. It is a common cause of vision loss among older adults. Doctors often prescribe eye drops containing beta-blockers to lower the production of this fluid and reduce pressure within the eye.
Beta-blockers block the effects of stress hormones. As a result, they can also reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety , such as trembling and sweating. Although they do not have approval from the Food and Drug Administration FDA for treating anxiety, doctors may prescribe them off-label for this purpose. However, beta-blockers cannot treat anxiety itself. Other treatments, such as counseling, can help address the underlying causes of anxiety.
Beta-blockers can reduce symptoms such as tremor and a rapid heart rate in people with an overactive thyroid. They do this by blocking the action of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. Beta-blockers help manage a range of conditions by blocking beta receptors, which occur throughout the body. There are three types of beta receptor:. Beta-blockers can also be selective or non-selective. Selective beta-blockers mostly target the heart, while non-selective ones manage symptoms in other parts of the body.
They may be used in combination with other blood pressure-lowering medications, including ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. Because of the way they work in the body, beta-blockers are also called beta-adrenergic blocking substances. Different types of beta-blockers work differently. Your heart will beat slower and less forcefully when beta-blockers are working.
This can help reduce blood pressure and alleviate irregular heart rhythms. Some beta-blockers only work on the heart itself, while others affect the heart and blood vessels.
Your doctor may prescribe beta-blockers even if you have few symptoms of heart problems or heart failure. Beta-blockers have been shown to have some health benefits outside of helping the heart. For example, they protect bones by preventing the kidneys from excreting calcium into urine. These drugs block stress hormones that could otherwise cause bone thinning over time.
Stronger bones just may be an extra benefit of taking these medications. If you know that an overdose has occurred, call your doctor or local poison control center. The U.
National Poison Control Center phone number is Your ministry of health also offers health resources in your province or territory. Donate now.
What is this medication? Canadian brand names are in brackets. What does it do? They are used to treat many conditions: Heart attacks Angina High blood pressure Heart failure Arrhythmia They protect the heart from stress and abnormal heartbeats. Key facts about beta-blockers: Lower your heart rate. Lower your blood pressure. If your heart has been weakened, may protect it and help it get stronger.
Track your heart rate by taking your pulse daily. Write down your blood pressure numbers every time you take your blood pressure. It could be from your healthcare provider, the automated blood pressure machine at the drugstore, or your home blood pressure monitor. Your doctor will choose which beta blocker is best for you based on your health conditions. Beta blockers aren't recommended as a first treatment in people who have only high blood pressure. Beta blockers aren't usually prescribed for high blood pressure unless other medications, such as diuretics, haven't worked well.
Also, a doctor may prescribe a beta blocker as one of several medications to lower blood pressure. Beta blockers may not work as effectively for black people and older people, especially when taken without other blood pressure medications. Beta blockers generally aren't used in people with asthma because of concerns that the medication may trigger severe asthma attacks. In people who have diabetes, beta blockers may block signs of low blood sugar, such as rapid heartbeat.
It's important to check your blood sugar regularly if you have diabetes and you're taking a beta blocker. Beta blockers can also affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They can cause a slight rise in triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood, and a modest decrease in good cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol. These changes often are temporary. You shouldn't abruptly stop taking a beta blocker because doing so could increase your risk of a heart attack or other heart problem.
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