BETA-BLOCKER TOXICITY

Course overview

BETA-BLOCKERS ANTAGONIZE BETA-ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS AND ARE USED MAINLY IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION, HEART FAILURE, TACHYDYSRHYTHMIAS, AND ANGINA PECTORIS. IN ADDITION TO CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS, BETA-BLOCKERS ARE ALSO USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ANXIETY, MIGRAINE HEADACHE, GLAUCOMA, TREMOR, HYPERTHYROIDISM, AND VARIOUS OTHER DISORDERS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF BETA-BLOCKERS HAS REVOLUTIONIZED THE MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS AND THEY ARE KNOWN TO PROVIDE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY BENEFITS TO PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASES. BETA-BLOCKERS PREVENT REMODELING OF THE HEART AFTER AN ISCHEMIC EVENT BY REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF CATECHOLAMINES ON CARDIAC TISSUE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSES, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF BETA-BLOCKER TOXICITY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.