Beta blockers blunt the effect of adrenaline on the heart, slowing it and reducing the force of each beat. That lowers blood pressure, eases angina, controls abnormal rhythms and — crucially — improves survival in heart failure. They differ in how selective they are for the heart versus the lungs, which matters for anyone with asthma, and some also relax blood vessels directly.
Class descriptions are written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Individual drug pages combine that summary with live label, approval, manufacturer and shortage data from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API. This page is general information and is not medical advice — it is not exhaustive, drugs within a class are not automatically interchangeable, and approvals and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions. Always consult the official prescribing information and your clinician or pharmacist. Related: Drug Shortages Tracker · FDA Approvals · All drug comparisons