What are the side effects of beta blockers?
• Beta blockers may cause: • diarrhea, • stomach cramps, • nausea, and • vomiting. • Rash, blurred vision, muscle cramps, and fatigue may also occur. • As an extension of their beneficial effect, they slow heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and may cause heart failure or heart block in patients with heart problems. • Beta blockers should not be withdrawn suddenly because sudden withdrawal may worsen angina (chest pain) and cause heart attacks or sudden death. • Central nervous system effects of beta blockers include: • headache, • depression, • confusion, • dizziness, • nightmares, and • hallucinations. • Beta blockers that block β2 receptors may cause shortness of breath in asthmatics. • As with other drugs used for treating high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction may occur. • Beta blockers may cause low or high blood glucose and mask the symptoms of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) in diabetic patients. With which drugs do beta blockers interact? • Combining propranolol (Inderal) or
