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Pharmacy Hot Topics
11/13/2009: The Support for Beta-blockers As First-line Agents to Treat Essential Hypertension Is Crumbling
Jackie McDougal
Feik School of Pharmacy, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
William D. Linn
Feik School of Pharmacy, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
Topics Discussed: amlodipine; atenolol; bendroflumethiazide; beta-blocker; cardiovascular event; coronary heart disease; drugs affecting cardiovascular function; hypertension; hypertension, essential; ischemic stroke; myocardial infarction; perindopril; pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular disorders; stroke; stroke prevention.
Excerpt:
"Resting heart rate is a known risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with and without cardiovascular disease.1 Many physicians feel patients with uncomplicated hypertension (HTN) and elevated heart rates should be given beta blockers as first line agents to manage their blood pressure even though clinical data is lacking to support the benefits of beta blockers in this patient population. Beta blockers’ heart rate lowering effects decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure or prior myocardial infarction, but it is unknown if these protective benefits extend to patients with uncomplicated hypertension and elevated resting heart rates. ..."
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