Beta blockers, also spelled β-blockers, are a class of medications that are predominantly used to manage abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia), and to protect the heart from a second heart attack after a first heart attack. They are also widely used to treat high blood pressure, although they are no longer the first choice for initial treatment of most patients.
Propranolol is a medication of the beta blocker class. It is used to treat high blood pressure, a number of types of irregular heart rate, thyrotoxicosis, capillary hemangiomas, performance anxiety, and essential tremors, as well to prevent migraine headaches, and to prevent further heart problems in those with angina or previous heart attacks. It can be taken orally or by intravenous injection. The formulation that is taken orally comes in short-acting and long-acting versions. Propranolol appears in the blood after 30 minutes and has a maximum effect between 60 and 90 minutes when taken orally.
Labetalol is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and in long term management of angina. This includes essential hypertension, hypertensive emergencies, and hypertension of pregnancy. In essential hypertension it is generally less preferred than a number of other blood pressure medications. It can be given by mouth or by injection into a vein.
Bisoprolol, sold under the brand name Zebeta among others, is a beta blocker which is selective for the beta-1 receptor and used for cardiovascular diseases, including tachyarrhythmias, high blood pressure, angina, and heart failure. It is taken by mouth.
Carteolol is a non-selective beta blocker used to treat glaucoma. It is administered in the form of eye drops.
An adrenergic antagonist is a drug that inhibits the function of adrenergic receptors. There are five adrenergic receptors, which are divided into two groups. The first group of receptors are the beta (β) adrenergic receptors. There are β1, β2, and β3 receptors. The second group contains the alpha (α) adrenoreceptors. There are only α1 and α2 receptors. Adrenergic receptors are located near the heart, kidneys, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. There are also α-adreno receptors that are located on vascular smooth muscle.
A sympatholytic (sympathoplegic) drug is a medication that opposes the downstream effects of postganglionic nerve firing in effector organs innervated by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). They are indicated for various functions; for example, they may be used as antihypertensives. They are also used to treat anxiety, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and PTSD. In some cases, such as with guanfacine, they have also shown to be beneficial in the treatment of ADHD.
Alpha-blockers, also known as α-blockers or α-adrenoreceptor antagonists, are a class of pharmacological agents that act as antagonists on α-adrenergic receptors (α-adrenoceptors).
Cyanopindolol is a drug related to pindolol which acts as both a β1 adrenoceptor antagonist and a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. Its radiolabelled derivative iodocyanopindolol has been widely used in mapping the distribution of beta adrenoreceptors in the body.
Iodocyanopindolol (INN) is a drug related to pindolol which acts as both a β1 adrenoreceptor antagonist and a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. Its 125I radiolabelled derivative has been widely used in mapping the distribution of beta adrenoreceptors in the body.
Bevantolol (INN) was a drug candidate for angina and hypertension that acted as both a beta blocker and a calcium channel blocker. It was discovered and developed by Warner-Lambert but in January 1989 the company announced that it had withdrawn the New Drug Application; the company's chairman said: "Who needs the 30th beta blocker?" As of 2016 it wasn't marketed in the US, UK, or Europe and the authors of a Cochrane review could find no product monograph for it.
β-Chlornaltrexamine (β-CNA) is a non-selective irreversible antagonist of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR), the δ-opioid receptor (DOR), and the κ-opioid receptor (KOR), which forms a covalent bond to the binding sites of these receptors and has ultra-long-lasting opioid antagonist effects. Although it is predominantly antagonistic, β-CNA also shows some irreversible mixed agonist–antagonist activity at the MOR and KOR and some associated analgesic effects. Its alkylating group is a bis(chloroalkyl)amino-residue similar to that of the nitrogen mustards.
ZK-93426 (ethyl-5-isopropoxy-4-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate) is a drug from the beta-carboline family. It acts as a weak partial inverse agonist of benzodiazepine receptors, meaning that it causes the opposite effects to the benzodiazepine class of drugs and has anxiogenic properties, although unlike most benzodiazepine antagonists it is not a convulsant and actually has weak anticonvulsant effects. In human tests it produced alertness, restlessness and feelings of apprehension, and reversed the effect of the benzodiazepine lormetazepam. It was also shown to produce nootropic effects and increased release of acetylcholine.
Bufuralol is a potent beta-adrenoceptor antagonist with partial agonist activity. It is metabolized by CYP2D6.
Clocinnamox is a selective and irreversible antagonist of the μ-opioid receptor. Closely related compounds include methocinnamox (MCAM) and methoclocinnamox (MCCAM). They were derived via structural modification of buprenorphine. Clocinnamox was first described in the scientific literature by 1992.
Butidrine, sold under the brand names Betabloc, Butidrate, and Recetan among others, is a beta blocker related to pronethalol and propranolol that was developed in the 1960s. It is not cardioselective. It has membrane stabilizing activity but no intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. Similarly to certain other beta blockers, butidrine additionally possesses local anesthetic properties.
Cicloprolol, or cycloprolol, is a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist described as an antihypertensive agent which was never marketed. It has weak partial agonist or intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (30%) at the β-adrenergic receptors. This is higher than that of many other beta blockers but is lower than that of xamoterol (45%). The drug is selective for the β1-adrenergic receptor. It has been studied in the treatment of heart failure.
Nifenalol is a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist.
Ridazolol is a pharmaceutical drug acting as a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist. It was investigated in the 1980 and 90s for its effects on coronary heart disease and essential hypertension.
Lubabegron is a veterinary drug used to reduce ammonia emissions from animals and their waste. Ammonia emissions are a concern in agricultural production because of detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and animal health.
