Heart failure 3 adrenergic receptor antagonists

Although bradycardia, transient asystole, and exacerbation of heart failure have been reported with verapamil, these responses usually have occurred after intravenous administration in patients with disease of the S A node or AV nodal conduction disturbances or in the presence of f) adrenergic receptor blockade. The use of intravenous verapamil with a f) adrenergic receptor antagonist is contraindicated because of the increased propensity for AV block and/or severe depression of... 

P receptor antagonists do not usually cause salt and water retention, and diuretic administration is not necessary to avoid edema or the development of tolerance. However, diuretics do have additive antihypertensive effects when combined with /5 blockers. The combination of a /5 receptor antagonist, a diuretic, and a vasodilator is effective for patients who require a third drug. /5 Adrenergic receptor antagonists are preferred drugs for hypertensive patients with conditions such as myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, or congestive heart failure. 

ADVERSE EFFECTS The use of doxazosin as monotherapy for hypertension increases the risk of developing congestive heart failure. This may be an adverse effect of all of the adrenergic receptor antagonists. 

Clinical Use of /3 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists in Heart Failure... 

Receptor antagonists improve symptoms, exercise tolerance, and measures of ventricular function over a period of several months in patients with heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Serial measurements indicate that a decrease in systolic function does occur immediately after initiation of a /I antagonist in CHF patients, but systolic function recovers and improves beyond baseline levels over the ensuing 2-4 months. Improved ventricular function with chronic /3 receptor antagonist therapy may be due to attenuation or prevention of the /3 adrenergic receptor-mediated adverse effects of catecholamines on the myocardium. 

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