Beta-blocker side effects
Although most patients are able to take beta-blockers without difficulty, there are a number of important side effects. First, these drugs should be used cautiously if you have asthma, emphysema, or other lung diseases. The reason is that beta-blockers can worsen the wheezing or airway obstruction seen in these disorders. There are a group of "selective" beta-blockers available that act on the heart much more strongly than they act on the lungs. These are useful when mild lung disease is present. Examples of these selective beta-blockers include metoprolol, bisoprolol, and atenolol.
The second important side effect of beta-blockers is impotence (or erectile dysfunction) in men. This is a fairly common problem, especially since most men who need beta-blockers may already be prone to have erectile dysfunction (because of the presence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis). Next, beta-blockers can cause blood pressure to become too low. This may not come as a surprise since these same medicines are used to lower high blood pressure in patients with hypertension. If you have diabetes, it is possible that a beta-blocker could make it harder to notice the symptoms of low blood sugar. Beta-blockers can still be very helpful for diabetics, but I recommend careful blood glucose monitoring. Finally, beta-blockers may cause what we call "constitutional symptoms," which refer to feelings of fatigue, mild depression, or lack of energy. In each case, it is important to discuss any side effects with your doctor. It is always a case-by-case issue whether the benefits of a medicine outweigh the side-effects or risk.
Calcium Channel-Blockers
