Heart failure medicine: Beta blockers

Beta blockers are used for various heart conditions, including high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems and heart failure. With heart failure, your body makes too many stress hormones. Over time, these hormones can be harmful to your heart.

Beta blockers, like ACE inhibitors, block the effects of these hormones and reduce the workload of your heart. ACE inhibitors block different hormones than the beta blockers so you get the most benefit from taking both kinds of medicine.

Beta blockers can improve your heart function, decrease the need for hospital stays, and help you live longer. Beta blockers are started at low doses and are increased gradually.

Side effects

When you start taking a beta blocker or when the dose is increased, you may feel more tired, dizzy and short of breath for a while. These symptoms should go away as your body adjusts to the medicine.

When to call your health care provider

If you have any of the problems listed below while taking a beta blocker, tell your health care provider:

lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting
shortness of breath, wheezing or problems breathing
swelling of your feet or lower legs
weight gain
slow or irregular pulse
sexual problems