Table of Contents
Beta-blockers should not be used to treat hypertension in patients older than age 60 unless they have another compelling indication to use these agents, such as heart failure or ischemic heart disease.
Why are beta blockers bad for elderly?
It is argued that the use of beta blockers in older adults may not be justified because of physiologic changes in people over 60 years of age. These include a low cardiac output, bradycardia, high total peripheral resistance, reduced renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate, and low plasma renin activity [18].
Who should avoid beta blockers?
Beta-blockers may not work as well for older people and for African-Americans. Doctors don’t usually prescribe them for people with asthma, COPD, or breathing trouble or for those with very low blood pressure (hypotension), a type of heart rhythm problem called a heart block, or a slow pulse (bradycardia).
What is the safest blood pressure medicine for the elderly?
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers ARBs are considered the alternative first-line treatment for hypertension in the elderly population when a diuretic is contraindicated. In elderly hypertensive patients with diabetes or HF, ARBs are considered first-line treatment and an alternative to ACE inhibitors.
When should you not take beta blockers?
There are some conditions in which beta blockers are not recommended. This includes uncontrolled heart failure, hypotension (low blood pressure), certain problems with the rhythm of your heart, or bradycardia (a very slow heart beat).
What is the safest beta blocker?
Cardioselective. A number of beta blockers, including atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Toprol, Lopressor), were designed to block only beta-1 receptors in heart cells. Since they don’t affect beta-2 receptors in blood vessels and the lungs, cardioselective beta blockers are safer for people with lung disorders.
What are the dangers of beta blockers?
The most common side effects of beta-blockers are: Fatigue and dizziness. Beta-blockers slow down your heart rate. Poor circulation. Your heart beats more slowly when you take beta-blockers. Gastrointestinal symptoms. These include upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea or constipation. Sexual dysfunction. Weight gain.
Do beta-blockers shorten your life?
A large study published last month in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that beta blockers did not prolong the lives of patients – a revelation that must have left many cardiologists shaking their heads (JAMA, vol 308, p 1340).
What can I take instead of beta-blockers?
The selective inhibitor, ivabradine, provides an alternative way of heart rate reduction in addition to beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. This could become particularly useful in patients who are intolerant of beta-blockers, for example, in the presence of asthma or severe chronic obstructive airway disease.
What are the long term side effects of beta-blockers?
As an extension of their beneficial effect, they slow heart rate and reduce blood pressure, but they may cause adverse effects such as heart failure or heart block in patients with heart problems.Other important side effects include: Rash. Blurred vision. Disorientation. Insomnia. Hair loss. Weakness. Muscle cramps. Fatigue.
What is the average blood pressure for a 70 year old?
New Blood Pressure Standards for Seniors The ideal blood pressure for seniors is now considered 120/80 (systolic/diastolic), which is the same for younger adults.
What is the safest blood pressure medication with the least side effects?
Thiazide diuretics generally have fewer side effects than the others. This is especially true when they’re prescribed in the low doses that are generally used in treating early high blood pressure. Examples of thiazide diuretics include: chlorthalidone (Hygroton)Mar 19, 2018.
What are the new blood pressure guidelines for seniors 2020?
The new guidelines change nothing if you’re younger than 60. But if you’re 60 or older, the target has moved up: Your goal is to keep your blood pressure at 150/90 or lower. If you have kidney disease or diabetes, your target used to be 130/80 or lower; now it’s 140/90 or lower.
Do beta-blockers help you sleep?
A clinical study conducted with patients taking beta-blockers showed significant improvement in people’s quality of sleep when they continually took a 2.5mg melatonin supplement one hour prior to going to sleep.
Should beta-blockers be taken at night?
You can take them in the morning, at meals, and at bedtime. When you take them with food, you may have fewer side effects because your body absorbs the drug slower.
What happens when you come off beta-blockers?
Beta-blocker withdrawal can result in a rise in blood pressure, and in patients with heart disease, chest pain, heart attack, and even sudden death. The crazy thing is, these symptoms can occur even in patients who have no previous history of heart issues.
What is the mildest beta blocker?
Non-selective, cardioselective and vasodilating beta-blockers Beta-blocker Selectivity Vasodilation Carvedilol Non-selective Yes Celiprolol Non-selective Mild Metoprolol β 1 selective+ No Nadolol Non-selective No.
What is the most commonly prescribed beta blocker?
As seen in figure 1, the most commonly prescribed beta-blocker medications are metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate. While both drugs are used to treat heart-related issues, their applications are very different.
Is there a better beta blocker than metoprolol?
Is there a better beta blocker than metoprolol? Possible alternatives to metoprolol succinate for treating heart failure include bisoprolol and carvedilol. The better beta blocker will be the one that works best for you.
Can beta-blockers damage your heart?
Shill explains that if taken incorrectly they could actually weaken the heart. When not taken as prescribed, they can do more harm than good. Beta blockers can cause a dangerously low heart rate called bradycardia which can lead to low blood pressure.
Are statins the same as beta-blockers?
Statins are typically prescribed to reduce cholesterol, one of the warning signs for heart disease. Beta-blockers are given to patients with high blood pressure, another warning sign for heart disease.
Do beta-blockers cause dementia?
We observed that use of beta-blockers, as a class, is associated with increased longitudinal risk of vascular dementia in the general elderly population, regardless of cardiovascular risk factors, prevalent or incident history of atrial fibrillation, stroke, coronary events and heart failure.
