... sotalol, labetalol, carvedilol, nevibolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, timolol, propranolol, esmolol.
Beta-blockers are used to treat a range of ailments associated with anxiety and tension, such as high blood pressure, angina, irregular heart rhythms, migraines, prevention of a second heart attack, tremors, alcohol withdrawal, anxiety and glaucoma. In 2000, over 18 million prescriptions of the drugs were made.
They work by blocking the receptors for the fight or flight response. Beta-receptors are found in a number of places in the body, such as the heart, lung, arteries, brain and uterus. Different beta-blockers tend to affect different areas, with some more appropriate for treating blood pressure and others anxiety, without necessarily affecting performance.
Their ability to relieve anxiety led to their non-medical use. Students when cramming for exams and performers before going on stage are known to use them for their ability to relieve anxiety. Competitors in sports that require a steady arm such as snooker and darts have also been linked to its use, culminating in threats of competitive drug testing.
Tolerance can develop with regular use to the extent that stopping them can cause problems - exaggerating the original symptoms, which in the case of high blood pressure can prove fatal. Those with asthma and low blood pressure in particular should avoid beta-blockers.
Updated January 2006
