Duration of action
There are several beta-blockers on the market, which differ in the length of their effect. In pharmacy, we speak of the half-life, it describes the period of time during which half of the drug has been broken down in our body and is therefore a measure of the duration of action. The half-life of the various beta-blockers ranges here from 3-4h (metoprolol) to 24h (nevibolol).
This is also the reason why metoprolol is often given twice a day. This does not mean that the effect of metoprolol is over after 4h, but only that 50% of the active ingredient has already been eliminated. After a further 4 hours, only 25% is still present, and so on. This means that the effect does not stop suddenly but is quietly eliminated.
Can beta blockers be used for anxiety?
When a person is afraid, the autonomic nervous system is aroused. The so-called sympathetic nervous system puts the person into a state of readiness to flee. The heart rate rises, the muscles are better supplied with blood, one begins to sweat.
The stress hormones adrenalin and noradrenalin are responsible for this. As already mentioned, beta-blockers block the docking points for these stress hormones and reduce the effect of the sympathetic nervous system. Psychiatrists also make use of this effect in the therapy of anxiety and anxiety disorders.
Although this does not eliminate the fear itself, which requires further psychotherapy, they do relieve the physical symptoms of fear. Beta-blockers are not suitable here as long-term therapy, but can be prescribed for stressful situations such as exams.
