Posted by yxibow on January 12, 2005, at 18:43:19
In reply to Re: propranolol/beta blockers, posted by med_empowered on January 12, 2005, at 16:45:54
There are definite differences between the beta blockers... they belong either to a class called cardioselective (acting primarily on Beta-1) or noncardioselective (acting to degrees of extent both at Beta-1 and Beta-2). (roughly so).
Cardioselective ones tend to be slightly newer agents intended for cardiac use and related conditions. Non-cardioselective drugs, while also affecting Beta-1, your heart, are used for anti-tremor and the modulation of muscular
effects.
These include propranolol, carteolol, labetalol , nadolol , penbutolol, pindolol, sotolol, and timolol. Others, such as metropolol are cardioselective (Beta-1).
The reasoning behind using non-cardioselective agents is that they dont act primarily on your heart, but they also act as noted before on peripheral areas of the body.In either case, there are several cautions; since they do act on your heart, should not take them if your heart rate is already around 60 or so, or you may end up with out much of a pulse especially if you take a large dose. The other thing to note is longer term use requires a withdrawal period because your body will adjust to the agent in the heart rate - blood pressure equilibrium; I don't believe you can just drop it. And they affect serotonin levels on a very mild level so they can also increase depression. But as for an anti-tremor agent, propranolol is probably used the most widely up to the 200s in mg per day. 600 is more reserved for heart patients.
(disclaimer, void where prohibited, etc... :)Tidings
poster:yxibow
thread:441015
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050108/msgs/441293.html