Beta blockers inhibit the chronotropic, inotropic, and vasoconstrictor responses to the catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine by blocking beta receptors in the heart and vasculature. Beta blockers are used for various indications specific to each beta blocker and can include hypertension, chronic stable angina, atrial arrhythmias, asymptomatic and symptomatic heart failure, migraine, and secondary prevention post-myocardial infarction. The purpose of this review is to compare the efficacy, effectiveness, and harms of beta blockers.

Contents

• Introduction
  • Scope and Key Questions
• Methods
  • Study Selection
  • Data Abstraction
  • Quality Assessment
  • Data Synthesis
• Results
  • Overview
  • Key Question 1: Do beta blocker drugs differ in efficacy?
  • Key Question 2: Do beta blocker drugs differ in safety or adverse effects?
  • Key Question 3: Are there subgroups of patients based on demographics (age, racial groups, gender), other medications, or co-morbidities for which one beta blocker is more effective or associated with fewer adverse effects?
• Summary
• References
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Search strategy
  • Appendix B. Search strategies for Update 3
  • Appendix C. Quality assessment methods for drug class reviews for the Drug Effectiveness Review Project
  • Appendix D. List of included studies
• Evidence Tables

The funding source, the Center for Evidence-based Policy, is supported by 17 organizations, including 15 state Medicaid programs. These organizations selected the topic and had input into the Key Questions for this review. The content and conclusions of the review are entirely determined by the Evidence-based Practice Center researchers. The authors of this report have no financial interest in any company that makes or distributes the products reviewed in this report.

Suggested citation:

Helfand M, Peterson K, Dana T. Drug Class Review on Beta Adrenergic Blockers. 2007. http://www.ohsu.edu/drugeffectiveness/reports/final.cfm

The purpose of this report is to make available information regarding the comparative effectiveness and safety profiles of different drugs within pharmaceutical classes. Reports are not usage guidelines, nor should they be read as an endorsement of, or recommendation for, any particular drug, use or approach. Oregon Health & Science University does not recommend or endorse any guideline or recommendation developed by users of these reports.