BETA-BLOCKERS
Beta-adrenoceptor
blocking drugs. Oxyprenolol, pindolol, acebutolol, celiprolol, atenolol,
celiprolol, nadolol, 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.
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