Beta blockers

Wirkungsweise Bluthochdruck Medikament Betablocker

Beta blockers like atenolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol and similar drugs are prescribed to treat high blood pressure, especially when there is a specific additional reason. Examples include angina (a feeling of tightness in the chest), after a heart attack, heart failure, or when heart rate control is needed.

What do beta blockers block?

Stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline raise blood pressure and heart rate. Beta blockers prevent this by blocking the receptors involved the socalled beta receptors (1 and 2 receptors).

Beta1 receptors are found mainly in the heart. When they are activated, heart rate and heart performance increase; after the release of adrenaline or noradrenaline, blood pressure rises.

Beta2 receptors are mainly located in smooth muscle, for example in blood vessels and the airways. When this muscle tightens, the vessels constrict and blood pressure goes up. This is an ancient reaction to prepare the body for fight or flight. In the past this was followed by physical activity (flight or fight), which would reduce the stress hormones. Today that usually doesn't happen, so the tension can remain. Ongoing stress keeps both blood pressure and heart rate elevated.

Here is where beta blockers come in. By blocking these receptors they lower blood pressure and heart rate.

Beta blockers also reduce the production of renin, which narrows the blood vessels and thereby raises blood pressure.

You should never stop beta blockers on your own. Sticking to the prescribed treatment (compliance, adherence) is essential to keep the benefits of beta blockers for your blood pressure and heart. Stopping suddenly can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure and pulse (rebound phenomenon), dizziness and/or angina. The risk of having a heart attack can increase again.

Therefore beta blockers should always be tapered off. That means the dose is gradually reduced according to your doctor's instructions.

Be careful with alcohol while taking beta blockers. Alcohol can increase both their effects and their side effects.

Exercise is also possible while on beta blocker therapy. However, it should be discussed with your doctor to find a suitable exercise program.

Note: In some sports beta blockers are considered a doping substance.

Beta blockers: Side effects

Beta blockers slow the heart rate and often cause tiredness, headaches and gastrointestinal complaints. Some patients develop sleep problems, and men may experience erectile dysfunction.

In patients with asthma, certain beta blockers can lead to lifethreatening situations.

Beta blockers: Medications

There are different types of beta blockers:

Selective beta blockers that specifically target 1 receptors, so they mainly affect the heart, e.g. atenolol, bisoprolol, esmolol, metoprolol particularly suitable for lowering blood pressure
Nonselective blockers that block both 1 and 2 receptors, e.g. carvedilol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol
Thirdgeneration beta blockers have additional effects, such as blocking other receptors or having antiarrhythmic actions, e.g. carvedilol, nebivolol, sotalol

Wirkstoff	Produkte
Atenolol	AteHexal, Atenogamma, Atenolol, Bresben Kombipräparat, Juvental, Nif-Ten Kombipräparat, Nifatenol Kombipräparat, Teneretic Kombipräparat, Tenoretic Kombipräparat, Tenormin, TRI-Normin Kombipräparat
Bisoprolol	Biramlo Kombipräparat, Biso Lich, Biso-Henning, Bisobeta, BisoDipin Kombipräparat, Bisogamma, BisoHexal, BisoLich Kombipräparat, Bisoplus Kombipräparat, Bisoprolol, Concor, Jutabis
Carvedilol	Carve TAD, Carve-Q, Carvedi-Denk, Carvedigamma, Carvedilol, Dilatrend, Querto
Celiprolol	Celipro, Celitin, Selectol
Esmolol	Brevibloc, Esmocard, Esmolol
Metoprolol	Belnif Kombipräparat, Beloc-Zok, Implicor, Jutabloc, Logimat Kombipräparat, Logimax Kombipräparat, Logroton, Lopresor, Meto-Henning, Meto-Succinat, Meto-Tablinen, Metobeta, Metodura, MetoHexal, Metoprogamma, Metoprolol, Metoprololsuccinat, Metoprololtartrat, Metostad, Mobloc Kombipräparat, Prelis, Seloken
Nebivolol	Nebilet, Nebivolol
Pindolol	Visken
Propranolol	Beta-Turfa Kombipräparat, Dociretic, Dociton, Hemangiol, Inderal, Obsidan, Pertenso, Propra, Propranolol
Sotalol	Darob, Renibloc, Sotabeta, Sotagamma, SotaHexal, Sotalex, Sotalol

Sources:

This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 12/2025).

Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.

We hope you found the article helpful. For good blood pressure control, it's important to take your medications correctly. Our app BloodPressureDB will gladly remind you when to take them. It also keeps track of your medication supply and notifies you in time when you're running low. This feature is fully available in the free version as well. Get the free app now.

Beta blockers

What do beta blockers block?

Beta blockers: Side effects

Beta blockers: Medications

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