BETA BLOCKERS
Dr. RENJU.S.RAVI MD
OVERVIEW
Introduction
MOA
Classification
Actions
Adverse effects
Drug interactions
Uses
Contraindications
Overdose
BETA BLOCKERS
Drugs which inhibit adrenergic
response mediated by beta receptors
BETA RECEPTORS
Receptors Sites actions
β1 Heart
JG cells-kidney
Posterior pituitary
Adipose tissue
stimulatory
Renin release
ADH release
lipolysis
β2 Bronchi
Blood vessels of skeletal muscle
Smooth muscle
(Uterus ,intestine , detrusor)
Liver, Muscle
Adipose tissue
Eye
Bronchodilation
Vasodilatation
Relaxation
Glycogenolysis
Lipolysis
Enhanced aqueous secretion
β3 Adipose tissue Lipolysis
Professor Raymond P Ahlquist
Classified adrenoreceptors.
(1948)
HISTORY
1st β blocker –DICHLORO
ISOPROTERENOL-1958
PRONETHALOL---1962
PROPRANOLOL--1963
NEWER β BLOCKERS
James Black
MOA
Ac
PKA
α
GTP
ATP
cAMP
+
GDP
α βγ
MECHANISM OF ACTION
Via GPCR
Antagonist binding to receptor
No stimulation of G protein
No change in cAMP conc
No EFFECT
PROPERTIES
Receptor Blockade
Nonselective β blockade
Selective β1 blockade
Β+α blockade
Intrinsic sympathomimetic property-ISA
(partial agonistic action)
Membrane stabilising action-MSA
(Local anaesthetic action-Na channel block)
CLASSIFICATION
Beta blockers
1st
generation
Classical
Non
selective
2nd
generation
Classical
Beta 1
selective
3rd generation
Newer
Non selective &
beta1 selective +
Add. properties
1ST GENERATION – NON SELECTIVE
With ISA only
Penbutolol
With MSA only
Propranolol
With ISA & MSA
Pindolol
Without ISA &MSA
Timolol
Nadolol
Sotalol
2ND GENERATION – SELECTIVE Β1
AGENTS
With MSA only
Metoprolol
With ISA & MSA
Acebutolol
Without ISA &MSA
Atenolol
Bisoprolol
Esmolol
3RD GENERATION
Non-selective Selective
With ISA
Carteolol
With ISA
Celiprolol
With MSA
Betaxolol
With MSA
Carvedilol
With MSA & ISA
Labetalol
Β BLOCKERS
With ISA
Penbutolol
Carteolol
Celiprolol
Both
Pindolol
Acebutolol
Labetalol
With MSA
Propranolol
Metoprolol
Betaxolol
Carvedilol
Without ISA & MSA
Timolol, Sotalol, Nadolol
Atenolol, Bisoprolol, Esmolol
PROPERTIES OF Β1 SELECTIVITY
Less broncho constriction
Less interference with CHO metabolism less
hypoglycemia  preferred in diabetics
Less chances of Raynaud's phenomenon
Less deleterious effect on blood lipid profile
Less impairment of exercise capacity
Less effect on tremor
PROPERTIES OF ISA
Less bradycardia
Less rebound effect on withdrawal
Less deleterious effect on blood lipid
profile
Not effective in migraine prophylaxis
Not suitable for secondary prophylaxis of
MI
ACTIONS
On CVS
Heart
 Negative
Ionotropy
Chronotropy
Dromotropy
Bathmotropy
ACTIONS….
On CVS
Blood vessel
Vasoconstriction in prone
individuals  Direct
Vasodilatation  due to
additional properties
Precipitates
Reynaud's disease
•α1 blockade
•β2 agonism
•Ca ++ channel
block
•K+ channel
opening
•NO production
ACTIONS….
On CVS
Antihypertensive action
Decreased CO
Decreased TPR on long term
administration
Decreased renin release
BETABLOCKERS WITH
VASODILATOR PROPERTY
Alpha blockade
Labetalol
Carvedilol
Bucindolol
Bevantolol
Nipradilol
Beta2 agonism
Celiprolol
Carteolol
Bopindolol
CCB action
Betaxolol
Bevantolol
Carvedilol
K+ Channel
opening
Tilisolol
NO production
Celiprolol
Carteolol
Bopindolol
Nipradilol
Nebivolol
Anti oxidant
Carvedilol
ACTIONS -CNS
Anti anxiety
Behaviour changes
Forgetfulness
Night mares
Increased dreaming
Non-selective
lipid soluble
ACTIONS -METABOLIC
CHO metabolism
Hypoglycemia
Inhibits muscle glycogenolysis
Hypoglycemic unawareness
Lipid
Increases VLDL(TG) levels
Alters HDL/LDL ratio
Less with
β 1 selective
agents
ACTIONS - EYE
Decrease secretion
of aqueous
Decrease IOT
No effect on pupil size or
accommodation
Ciliary
body
ACTIONS- BRONCHUS
Increases airway
resistance
Less with
beta 1 selective
agents
SKELETAL MUSCLES
o Decrease exercise capacity
By decreasing blood flow
Inhibit glycogenolysis and
lipolysis.
MISCELLANEOUS
o Antagonise catecholamine
induced
Tremor
Inhibition of mast cell
degranulation
o Prevent platelet aggregation and
promote fibrinolysis
Water soluble
Lipid solubleBy Liver
By Kidney
100% 80 60 40 20 0
0 20 40 60 80 100%
PROPRANOLOL TIMOLOL PINDOLOL BISOPROLOL ACEBUTOLOL ATENOLOL
CARVEDILOL NADOLOL
METOPROLOL SOTALOL
LABETALOL CARTEOLOL
PENBUTOLOL
Pharmacokinetics
ADVERSE EFFECTS - CVS
Bradycardia
Exacerbation of
angina
Precipitation of CHF
ADVERSE EFFECTS…
Increased air way
resistance
worsening of
bronchial asthma
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Impairment of carbohydrate tolerance
Alteration of lipid profile
Rebound hypertension on withdrawal
Cold hands and feet, worsening of PVD
ADVERSE EFFECTS…
Nightmares
Decreased exercise capacity
Tiredness
Lack of drive
DRUG INTERACTIONS
PHARMACOKINETIC
• Al salts, Cholestyramine
Decrease absorption
• Enzyme inducers
Decrease plasma conc.
• Cimitidine, Hydralazine
Increase BA
• They impair clearance of
lidocaine
PHARMACODYNAMIC
Digoxin
CCB (Verapamil)
CCB (DHP)
NSAIDs
Adrenaline & other α
agonists
USES
CARDIOVASCULAR
Hypertension
Angina
Myocardial infarction
Arrhythmia
Cardiomyopathy
CCF
Dissecting aneurysm of
aorta
NON - CARDIOVASCULAR
Thyrotoxicosis
Pheochromocytoma
Migraine prophylaxis
Essential tremor
Glaucoma
Anxiety
Portal hypertension
Anti psychotic induced
akathesia
HYPERTENSION
Cardioselective beta blockers
Rationale
Decrease in HR,CO,
myocardial contractility.
Decrease renin release
Decrease central sympathetic
out flow
ANGINA
Metoprolol
Atenolol
Bisoprolol
ProphylaxisTreatment
Contraindication
•Variant angina
ANGINA - RATIONALE
Decrease HR & contractility
Decrease myocardial oxygen demand
Antianginal action
MI
o Prophylaxiso Treatment
 Anti anginal action
 Reduce infarct size
 Prevents arrhythmia
 Prevents reinfarction
 Prevents arrhythmia
Metoprolol
Esmolol
Timolol
ARRYTHMIAS
Propranolol
Esmolol
Acebutolol
Sotalol
Decreases AV conduction
Inhibits impulses from
atria to ventricle 
controls ventricular rate
Mainly effective in
Arrhythmias precipitated
by catecholamines
Sotalol K+ channel block
class3 anti arrhythmic
Esmolol ultra short acting
supraventricular
tachycardia
ARRHYTHMIA
Control ventricular rate in atrial flutter and
fibrillation.
Suppress extrasystole and tachycardia especially
mediated adrenergically .
HOCM
↓ contractility
↓ LV outflow obstruction
Improve cardiac output in
exercise
CHF
ONLY in compensated CHF
Antagonise sympathetic overactivity
on myocardium
Prevents myocyte apoptosis
↓ cardiac remodelling
Retard progression of CHF Metoprolol
Bisoprolol
Carvedilol
DISSECTING AORTIC ANEURYSM
↓ cardiac contractility, and aortic
pulsation.
NON - CARDIAC USES
o Pheochromocytoma
Used after an α blocker
To control tachycardia and arrhythmia
Suppress cardiomyopathy due to excess
catecholamines
o Thyrotoxicosis
Control sympathetic symptoms
Inhibit peripheral conversion of T4 to T3
Preoperative use
MIGRAINE PROPHYLAXIS
Propranolol
Nadolol
Metoprolol
PORTAL HYPERTENSION
To Decrease Portal Vein
Pressure in Patients with
Cirrhosis
Decrease variceal bleeding
Propranolol
GLAUCOMA
Decrease aqueous
humour secretion
Attenuating neuronal Ca
and Na influx 
Protection to retinal
neurons
Inhibit ganglion cell
death
Timolol
Carteolol
Betaxolol
Levobetaxolol
Levobunolol
Metipranolol
CNS
Anxiety
Essential tremor
Akathisia induced by
antipsychotics
Alcohol withdrawal
3RD GENERATION AGENTS
Drug MSA ISA Beta blockade Other properties
Labetalol + + Non selective α1 blockade
Carvedilol + Non selective α1 blockade,CCB
Antioxidant
Bucindolol + Non selective α1 blockade,β2,β3 agonism
Increases HDL cholesterol
Celiprolol + β1 selective β2 agonism
NO release
Nebivolol β1 selective •NO release
•Inhibits platelet aggregation
Bevantolol Nonselective α1 blockade
CCB
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Absolute
1. Severe Bradycardia
2. Pre-existing High Grade Heart Block
3. Overt Untreated Heart Failure
4. Cardiogenic Shock
5. Severe Bronchospasm
6. Severe Depression
7. Active Raynaud’s Phenomenon
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Relative
1. Prinzmetals Angina
2. Concomitant Use Of :Verapamil/
Diltiazam/Digoxin
3. Mild Asthma
4. Insulin Requiring DM
OVERDOSAGE
Manifestations  extension of pharmacological
properties
Hypotension
Bradycardia
Prolonged Conduction Times
Widened QRS Complexes
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Seizures
Depression
Hypoglycemia
Bronchospasm
TREATMENT
Atropine Initially
Cardiac Pacemakers Required
Large amt of Isoproterenol /  Agonist
Glucagon
B blockers

B blockers