The Committee takes the view that performance enhancing drugs should be banned because they can potentially damage the health of those taking them, whether they are elite athletes who stand the risk of being detected using them, or the recreational sportsperson who is unlikely ever to be tested.

While beta-blockers have long been known as effective treatments for heart failure, many conservatory students and professional classical musicians use these drugs to relieve performance anxiety induced by their highly competitive and “no-room-for-error” line of work.

A large study published last month in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that beta blockers did not prolong the lives of patients – a revelation that must have left many cardiologists shaking their heads (JAMA, vol 308, p 1340).

A number of beta blockers, including atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Toprol, Lopressor), were designed to block only beta-1 receptors in heart cells. Since they don’t affect beta-2 receptors in blood vessels and the lungs, cardioselective beta blockers are safer for people with lung disorders.

Beta-blockers stop the effects of epinephrine (adrenaline), and this causes the heart to beat slower and lowers your blood pressure. Some foods, herbs, and supplements can also act as natural “beta-blockers” by helping to lower blood pressure naturally.

A cardioselective beta-blocker such as bisoprolol or metoprolol succinate will provide the maximum effect with the minimum amount of adverse effects.

When taken in very high doses, beta blockers can worsen heart failure, slow the heart rate too much, and produce wheezing and a worsening of lung disease. High doses may also cause lightheadedness from a drop in blood pressure, which puts people at risk for falls and injury.

Guidelines recommend beta blocker therapy for three years, but that may not be necessary. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also called adrenaline. Taking beta blockers reduces your heart rate and blood pressure. This eases the workload on your heart and improves blood flow.

Beta-blockers slow your heart rate. As a result, you may notice that you feel more tired. You may also feel like you can’t exercise as hard as you used to. Beta-blockers can decrease your sex drive.

People who took beta blockers or ACE inhibitors benefited the most, with 69 and 65 percent reductions in risk. Blood pressure measurements were better among those taking their medication at night, with those participants achieving, on average, lower blood pressure while sleeping and better blood pressure control.

Reason 1: Are beta blockers making you tired? The anti-adrenaline effect of beta-blockers — the very quality that makes them valuable for treating heart failure — can make patients feel tired. Most patients do not experience any side effects.

If you take beta-blockers regularly, you may have serious withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop. For some people, the side effects of beta-blockers may actually cause anxiety symptoms. You should follow up with your doctor as soon as possible if you feel like taking beta-blockers is increasing your anxiety.

As seen in figure 1, the most commonly prescribed beta-blocker medications are metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate. While both drugs are used to treat heart-related issues, their applications are very different.

Propranolol and atenolol have been studied most intensely in hypertension. For secondary prevention of myocardial infarction, the evidence is best for timolol. Sotalol is probably the best antiarrhythmic among the beta-blockers.

Propranolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta blockers. It’s used to treat heart problems, help with anxiety and prevent migraines. If you have a heart problem, you can take propranolol to: treat high blood pressure.

Adults—10 to 30 milligrams (mg) three or four times a day, given before meals and at bedtime. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Propranolol is a beta-blocker medicine, which helps to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, including sweating and shaking. It doesn’t treat the feeling of anxiety, only the physical symptoms that come with it.

Propranolol oral tablet may cause drowsiness. Don’t drive, use machinery, or perform any activities that require mental alertness until you know how this drug affects you. Propranolol can also cause other side effects.

Propranolol should help you feel calm and relaxed. It could take some time for propranolol to have its full effect. This effect should reduce your behaviour problem. For example, it may… • help you control your temper • help you stop hurting yourself • help you stop breaking things.

In the smaller study of patients with high blood pressure, the researchers compared calorie- and fat-burning in 11 people on beta blockers and 19 adults the same age and weight who were not on the drugs. They found that after a meal, the beta blockers users burned roughly 30 to 50 percent fewer calories and fat.

What is the lethal dose of propranolol? Any ingested dose of propranolol > 1 g is considered to be potentially lethal.

Isoprenaline proved to be the best antidote for the treatment of propranolol intoxication antagonizing the bradycardia by 76% and the hypotension completely. The antagonistic activities of orciprenaline and prenalterol were lower than those of isoprenaline.

People taking propranolol should also avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. These drugs may reduce the effects of propranolol. If a person needs to take NSAIDs, they should work directly with a doctor.

Propranolol was found to cause depression as a side effect with a statistically greater frequency than the control medications used in these trials.