The use of beta blockers is manifold!

Recommendations for the use of a therapy with beta blockers can be given for several diseases. Patients with benefit from a therapy with beta blockers. Beyond these areas of application, beta blockers are effective drugs in the therapy of the following diseases. Beta-blockers are used in patients with

An increased blood pressure (hypertension)
Coronary heart disease (CHD)
Who suffer a heart attack (myocardial infarction)
A limitation of the pumping capacity of the heart in the sense of a cardiac insufficiency (cardiac insufficiency) and
Cardiac arrhythmia
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
A pheochromocytoma
An increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma, also called glaucoma) and
Migraine for preventive therapy

Which medications belong to the beta blockers?

The following overview shows the beta blockers most frequently used for therapy: Name of active substance: (name of the preparation) The column “Name of the preparation” contains the name of the pharmaceutical companies for their drugs with a special active substance from the group of beta blockers. – Propanolol: e.g. Dociton®, Inderal®, Elbrol®

Atenolol: e.g.

Atebeta®, Cuxanorm®, Tenormin®

Sotalol: e.g. Darob®, Favorex®, Gilucor®
Metoprolol: e.g. Belok®, Prelis®
Acebutolol: e.g.

Prent®

Bisoprolol: e.g. Concor®, Biso Beta®
Nebivolol: e.g. Nebilet®, Lovibon®
Carvedilol: e.g. Dilatrend®, Dimetil®

Alternatives to beta blockers

Beta-blockers represent a possible therapy option for a large number of diseases. In most cases, however, there are also alternatives in the form of other drugs or non-drug measures. Which alternatives to beta blockers are available depends on the disease or indication of the patient.

If, for example, high blood pressure is to be lowered, there are various other groups of drugs that can be used in addition to beta blockers, such as the so-called ACE inhibitors or Sartane. If glaucoma is to be treated, there are a number of possible alternatives to eye drops with beta-blockers. Beta-blockers are also sometimes used for migraines to prevent seizures. There are also various alternatives for this indication. Endurance sport is a good and effective non-drug and side-effect free alternative.

Treatment of high blood pressure

Increased high blood pressure is caused, among other things, by the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, the stress-mediating nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system stimulates so-called beta-receptors, which leads to an activation of the heart and the circulatory system: The heartbeat becomes faster and stronger, causing more work for the heart. Blood pressure also increases.

Due to the greater workload on the heart, oxygen consumption increases and there is a risk of the heart muscle being undersupplied with oxygen (ischemia). The drug group of beta-blockers inhibits the occurrence of the above-mentioned effects: Beta-blockers reduce the frequency (beats of the heart per minute) and the beating power of the heart, which leads to a relief of the organ. The oxygen consumption of the less stressed heart muscle is thus reduced, so that the risk of oxygen deprivation is reduced.

These effects occur because the beta-blockers reduce the effect of stress hormones on the heart. The higher the activity of the stress-mediating nervous system, the more pronounced the effect of lowering blood pressure under therapy with beta blockers. Treatment with beta-blockers leads to a lower risk of dying of cardiovascular disease and therefore beta-blockers are prognostic-improving drugs in patients with high blood pressure. More information on this topic is available at: Hypertension