Beta-adrenergic Blocking Agents (Systemic)

Category

• Antiadrenergic—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Betaxolol; Carteolol; Labetalol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Penbutolol; Pindolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Antianginal—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Carteolol; Labetalol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Penbutolol; Pindolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Antianxiety therapy adjunct—Acebutolol; Metoprolol; Oxprenolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Antiarrhythmic—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Antiglaucoma agent, systemic—Timolol
• Antihypertensive—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Betaxolol; Bisoprolol; Carteolol; Labetalol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Penbutolol; Pindolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Antitremor agent—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Pindolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy therapy adjunct—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Pindolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Myocardial infarction prophylactic—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Myocardial infarction therapy—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Neuroleptic-induced akathisia therapy—Betaxolol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Propranolol
• Pheochromocytoma therapy adjunct—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Labetalol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Thyrotoxicosis therapy adjunct—Acebutolol; Atenolol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Oxprenolol; Propranolol; Sotalol; Timolol
• Vascular headache prophylactic—Atenolol; Metoprolol; Nadolol; Propranolol; Timolol

Description

This group of medicines is known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-blocking agents, or, more commonly, beta-blockers. Beta-blockers are used in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension). Some beta-blockers are also used to relieve angina (chest pain) and in heart attack patients to help prevent additional heart attacks. Beta-blockers are also used to correct irregular heartbeat, prevent migraine headaches, and treat tremors. They may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Beta-blockers work by affecting the response to some nerve impulses in certain parts of the body. As a result, they decrease the heart's need for blood and oxygen by reducing its workload. They also help the heart to beat more regularly.

Beta-adrenergic blocking agents are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Acebutolol
  • Capsules (U.S.)
  • Tablets (Canada)
• Atenolol
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Betaxolol
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Bisoprolol
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Carteolol
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Labetalol
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Metoprolol
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
  • Extended-release tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Nadolol
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Oxprenolol
  • Tablets (Canada)
  • Extended-release tablets (Canada)
• Penbutolol
  • Tablets (U.S.)
• Pindolol
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Propranolol
  • Extended-release capsules (U.S. and Canada)
  • Oral solution (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Sotalol
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Timolol
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral
• Atenolol
  • Injection (U.S.)
• Labetalol
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Metoprolol
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)
• Propranolol
  • Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Betapace ¹³
• Blocadren ¹⁴
• Cartrol ⁵
• Corgard ⁸
• Inderal ¹²
• Inderal LA ¹²
• Kerlone ³
• Levatol ¹⁰
• Lopressor ⁷
• Normodyne ⁶
• Sectral ¹
• Tenormin ²
• Toprol-XL ⁷
• Trandate ⁶
• Visken ¹¹
• Zebeta ⁴

In Canada—

• Apo-Atenolol ²
• Apo-Metoprolol ⁷
• Apo-Metoprolol (Type L) ⁷
• Apo-Propranolol ¹²
• Apo-Timol ¹⁴
• Betaloc ⁷
• Betaloc Durules ⁷
• Blocadren ¹⁴
• Corgard ⁸
• Detensol ¹²
• Inderal ¹²
• Inderal LA ¹²
• Lopresor ⁷
• Lopresor SR ⁷
• Monitan ¹
• Novo-Atenol ²
• Novometoprol ⁷
• Novo-Pindol ¹¹
• Novo-Timol ¹⁴
• Novopranol ¹²
• Nu-Metop ⁷
• pms Propranolol ¹²
• Sectral ¹
• Slow-Trasicor ⁹
• Sotacor ¹³
• Syn-Nadolol ⁸
• Syn-Pindolol ¹¹
• Tenormin ²
• Trandate ⁶
• Trasicor ⁹
• Visken ¹¹