PENDIDIKAN PESAKIT Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
Indication
Antihypertensive
Dose
Doses are individualized depending on patient’s condition. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist for suggestion of treatment for your hypertension. Once you have started with your medications for hypertension, take the medications regularly and according to the instructions.
Administration
| Generic Name | Administration |
|
Atenolol
|
With or without food. |
|
Metoprolol
|
With or without food. |
| Labetalol | With food, preferably take after meals |
|
Carvedilol
|
With food. |
| Bisoprolol | With or without food. |
Mechanism Of Action
Beta blockers block the beta-adrenergic receptors that produce epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, (a hormone or neurotransmitter that constricts the blood vessels). Beta blockers also reducing blood pressure help the heart to beat slower with less force.
Side Effects
Side effects for each drugs are individualized. Most common side effects for each drugs are listed below:
| Generic Name | Possible common side effects include |
| Atenolol | Dizziness, vertigo, nausea, fatigue |
| Metoprolol | Fatigue, headache, dizziness, peripheral coldness extremities, insomnia, gastrointestinal disturbance, impotence |
| Labetalol | Postural hypotension (a drop in blood pressure due to a change in body position /posture), tingling (decreased or abnormal sensations caused by altered sensory nerve function), gastrointestinal disturbance, headache, tiredness, impotence, insomnia |
| Carvedilol | Dizziness, headache, fatigue, sleep disturbance, sleep disturbance, impotence |
| Bisoprolol | Bradycardia (slower the heart rate / resting heart rate of under 60 beats per minute), fatigue, dizziness, headache, gastrointestinal discomfort, hypotension |
Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are facing any side effects from the antihypertensive drugs that you are taking.
Storage
Advisable to keep in the original envelope with instruction on how to take clearly stated on labels. Keep at room temperature otherwise, refer product insert for specific temperature storage.
References
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology Concepts
- http://www.cvpharmacology.com/cardioinhibitory/beta-blockers
- http://pharmacologycorner.com/mechanism-of-action-video
- British National Formulary (BNF) 61 March 2011
- MIMS 128th Edition 2012
- Mechanism of Action of Beta Blockers | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_6979507_mechanism-action-beta-blockers
| Last Reviewed | : | 2 March 2016 |
| Writer | : | Azura Binti Musa |
| Translator | : | Azura Binti Musa |
| Accreditor | : | Dr. Siti Norlina Binti Md. Said |
