What do beta blockers look like

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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Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. An overdose of beta blockers can slow down your heart rate and make it difficult to breathe.

It can also cause dizziness and trembling. The amount of beta blocker that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Page last reviewed: 16 July Next review due: 16 July Beta blockers.

Beta blockers usually come as tablets. Commonly used beta blockers include: atenolol also called Tenormin bisoprolol also called Cardicor or Emcor carvedilol labetalol also called Trandate metoprolol also called Betaloc or Lopresor propranolol also called Inderal or Angilol sotalol Uses for beta blockers Beta blockers may be used to treat: angina — chest pain caused by narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart heart failure — failure of the heart to pump enough blood around the body atrial fibrillation — irregular heartbeat heart attack — an emergency where the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked high blood pressure — when other medicines have been tried, or in addition to other medicines Less commonly, beta blockers are used to prevent migraine or treat: an overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism anxiety tremor glaucoma — as eyedrops There are several types of beta blocker, and each one has its own characteristics.

Contact your GP or call the NHS 24 service if you accidentally take one or more extra doses of beta-blockers. They'll be able to advise you about what to do. Most beta-blockers are taken once a day, apart from certain beta-blockers that are used during pregnancy and Sotalol, which is given 2 or 3 times a day.

If you forget to take a dose of your beta-blocker, you should check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine. It should include advice about what to do in this situation. Home Tests and treatments Medicines and medical aids Types of medicine Beta-blockers. Introduction Beta-blockers beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents work mainly by decreasing the activity of the heart by blocking the action of hormones like adrenaline.

Examples of commonly used beta-blockers include: atenolol Tenormin bisoprolol Cardicor, Emcor carvedilol metoprolol Betaloc, Lopresor nebivolol Nebilet propranolol Inderal Uses for beta-blockers Beta-blockers may be used to treat: angina — chest pain caused by narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart heart failure — failure of the heart to pump enough blood around the body atrial fibrillation — irregular heartbeat heart attack — an emergency where the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked high blood pressure — when other medicines have been tried, or in addition to other medicines Less commonly, beta-blockers are used to prevent migraine or treat: an overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism anxiety conditions tremor glaucoma — as eye drops There are several types of beta-blocker, and each one has its own characteristics.

Who can take beta-blockers Before taking beta-blockers, make sure your doctor is aware of any other conditions you have, as they may not be suitable to use. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have a history of: asthma or any type of lung disease heart disease kidney disease diabetes — particularly if you have frequent episodes of low blood sugar allergic reaction to any medication Your GP can advise you about which medicine to use if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Interactions with other medicines Beta-blockers, including beta-blocker eye drops, can interact with other medicines, altering the effects of one of the medicines. 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. Here are some common types and brands of beta-blockers:. Beta-blockers affect receptors throughout the body and can have a range of side effects , including:. There is also a risk of heart block , especially in people with heart disease. People should advise their doctor if they have a history of any of the following before taking beta-blockers:.

Those who have a heart condition or chest pain and a history of cocaine use should talk with their doctor before using beta-blockers. This is because there is some debate about whether or not it is safe to use them in these circumstances.

People with diabetes , especially hypoglycemia , should monitor their blood sugar regularly. This is because beta-blockers can obstruct signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid heartbeat. Some types of beta-blocker may be safe to use during pregnancy if a doctor advises it. The doctor can advise on which beta-blockers are suitable for an individual to use after considering their full medical history.

Like all drugs, beta-blockers can interact with a number of other medications. These include :. Different beta-blockers can have different interactions. A pharmacist or doctor can advise on which medications each type of beta-blocker will interact with.