Allergic Reactions to Beta Blockers

Beta blockers are drugs that are antagonistic towards the effect of the neurotransmitter adrenaline on beta-receptors in the body. Beta blockers decrease the strength and rate of each heart beat. This lowers blood pressure and reduces the heart's oxygen demands. Beta blockers are prescribed for angina, arrhythmia and high blood pressure and some forms of glaucoma.

Prescription and Dosage

• Dosage for different beta blockers varies with diagnosis, type, concentration and formulation of the drug. A patient should follow the physician's dosage instructions explicitly. The effects of the medication may not be immediate, taking a number of weeks to have a noticeable effect on blood pressure.

  Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without prior consultation with the prescribing physician. It may worsen a preexisting condition and even increase the heart attack risk for some patients.

Allergic Reactions

• Allergic reactions to beta blocking medication itself are relatively rare but should not be taken lightly in the event they occur. The following symptoms can manifest if a person develops allergic reactions to the medication: itching, rashes, dizziness, breathing difficulties or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.

  Immediate medical attention is extremely important in the event of an allergic reaction, and the physician should be informed of the patient's use of beta blockers.

Cross Reactions with Existing Allergies

• It has been reported that allergic reactions that occur due to drugs, immunotherapy, food or insect stings can be more severe if the patient has been medicated with beta blockers.

  Beta blockers also can worsen the effects of anaphylaxis by increasing the severity of the reaction, interfere with routine anaphylactic treatment and even augment the occurrence of anaphylaxis. Because beta blockers can possibly enhance an occurrence of anaphylaxis, use of the medication is inadvisable when allergy skin tests are carried out.

Drug Interaction

• Although they are used to treat high blood pressure, arrhythmia and sometimes glaucoma, beta blockers may also exacerbate other conditions due to their interaction with medication targeting asthma or allergies. As they have an antagonistic effect on adrenaline, beta blockers effectively neutralise the outcome of adrenaline or epinephrine for the treatment of severe allergic reactions. Additionally, the potential that beta blockers have in exacerbating anaphylactic reactions means that they may lead to severe reactions in individuals receiving allergy shots.

Side Effects

• Side effects that new beta blocker users report include lightheadedness, blurred vision, dizziness and drowsiness. As a result, users should exercise caution when carrying out any task that requires mental and physical alertness when in the early stages of a beta blocker regime.

  Due to the beta blockers' effect on blood pressure, the hands and feet may feel cold from reduced blood circulation. The physician should be informed if the following side effects develop - swollen extremities, depression, sore throat, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, back/joint pain, constipation, rashes, confusion/hallucination, memory loss, easy bruising/bleeding or impotence.