Beta-Blocker Safety

Beta-blockers reduce blood pressure by blocking the effects of epinephrine on the heart. Because these drugs affect the heart and blood vessels, caution should be used when taking beta-blockers or administering them to children.

Significance

• Beta-blockers slow the heartbeat, which affects the circulatory system and may cause blood pressure to drop too low (hypotension). Hypotension can cause serious complications, so it’s important to avoid these severe drops in blood pressure.

Safety Tips

• Avoid hypotension by taking your beta-blocker drug exactly as prescribed. Do not increase the dosage without the supervision of a medical professional. Keep these drugs out of the reach of children.

Overdose

• Beta-blocker overdose can lead to difficulty breathing, blurred or double vision, irregular heartbeat, shock, heart failure, coma, convulsions, drowsiness, weakness, nervousness and fever. If you suspect an overdose, the National Institutes of Health recommends that you do not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by a physician or poison control center representative. Seek emergency treatment and report the name of the drug and the amount swallowed to the emergency responder.

Drug Interactions

• Beta-blockers can interact with other drugs, causing serious reactions. The Texas Heart Institute reports that anti-depressants, diabetes medications, allergy shots, asthma medications and other blood pressure medications may increase or decrease the effects of beta-blockers.

Rebound Hypertension

• Your doctor may recommend that you gradually taper your beta-blocker dose if you need to use a different drug. Do not stop taking a beta-blocker abruptly, as you can experience severe increases in blood pressure known as rebound hypertension.