Beta BLOCKER

Q) All are true except about Beta Blockers-
a. They are all water soluble
b. They should never be used in patients with diabetes
c. They are used in the treatment of heart failure, migraine and hypothyroidism
d. They should never be used in combination with digoxin

Ans: A,B,C,D.

Some beta blockers are water soluble and some are lipid soluble. Those that are water soluble are less likely to enter the brain and therefore cause less sleep disturbance and nightmares. They can be used with caution in patients with diabetes, but may blunt their awareness of hypoglycaemia and cause deterioration in their glucose tolerance. They are useful in the treatment of many conditions including angina, heart failure, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, thyrotoxicosis, anxiety, migraine and glaucoma. They should not be used with verapamil because this may cause severe hypotension, heart failure and asystole, but may be useful when combined with digoxin to control the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation, especially when associated with thyrotoxicosis.