beta-blockers

(noun)

Also called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-adrenergic antagonists, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists, or beta antagonists, these are a class of drugs used for various indications. As beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, they diminish the effects of epinephrine (adrenaline) and other stress hormones.

Related Terms

Examples of beta-blockers in the following topics:

  • Agonists, Antagonists, and Drugs

    • Beta blockers (sometimes written as β-blockers) or beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-adrenergic antagonists, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists, or beta antagonists, are a class of drugs used for various indications.
    • As beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists, they diminish the effects of epinephrine (adrenaline) and other stress hormones.
    • Beta blockers block the action of endogenous catecholamines—epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) in particular—on β-adrenergic receptors, part of the sympathetic nervous system that mediates the fight-or-flight response.

  • Signs and Symptoms of Shock

    • While a fast heart rate is common, those on beta blockers and those who are athletic may have a normal or slow heart rate.

  • Raynaud's Phenomenon

    • Drugs which may cause secondary Raynaud's include beta-blockers, chemotherapeutics, and anthrax vaccines.
    • Raynaud's can also be treated with medications that prevent vasoconstriction, such as calcium channel blockers.

  • Asthma

    • Treatment of acute symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (such as salbutamol).
    • The most common triggers include allergens, smoke (tobacco and other), air pollution, non selective beta-blockers, and sulfite-containing foods.

  • Marfan Syndrome

    • Beta blockers have been used to control arrhythmias and slow the heart rate.

  • Thyroid Gland Disorders

    • In the case of Graves' disease, beta blockers are used to decrease symptoms of hyperthyroidism and anti-thyroid drugs are used to decrease the production of thyroid hormones.

  • Prostate Disorders

    • Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis or male chronic pelvic pain syndrome (category III), which comprises about 95% of prostatitis diagnoses, is treated by a large variety of modalities including alpha blockers, phytotherapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, antihistamines, anxiolytics, nerve modulators, surgery, and other treatments.

  • Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

    • Diabetes mellitus type 1 results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas and is potentially fatal.
    • Diabetes mellitus type 1 (Type 1 diabetes, T1DM, formerly insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes) is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.
    • The pathophysiology in diabetes type 1 is basically a destruction of beta cells in the pancreas, regardless of which risk factors or causative entities have been present.
    • Some researchers believe it might be prevented at the latent autoimmune stage, before it starts destroying beta cells.
    • Experimental replacement of beta cells (by transplant or from stem cells) is being investigated in several research programs.

  • Types of Cells in the Pancreas

    • Beta cells that produce insulin and amylin, and make up 65–80% of the total islet cells.
    • The hormone glucagon activates alpha cells which then activate beta cells and delta cells.
    • The right image is the same section stained by immunofluorescence against insulin, indicating beta cells.

  • Overview of Pancreatic Islets

    • Beta cells that produce insulin and amylin and make up 65–80% of the total islet cells.
    • Insulin activates beta cells and inhibits alpha cells, while glucagon activates alpha cells, which activates beta cells and delta cells.
    • Somatostatin inhibits the activity of alpha cells and beta cells.
    • The small cells in the middle are beta cells, and the surrounding larger cells are alpha, delta, gamma, and epsilon cells.