Beta blockers don't work (apparently)

[bibblebub]

http://www.newscienti...12-GLOBAL|online-news

Beta blockers don't work for heart disease or high blood pressure even though they have been prescribed for decades, according to 2 latest studies quoted in the New Scientist (so would be expected to have some validity).

I don't take any medications but thought that those that do might be interested in this information.

[cazzz1975]

I was prescribed them once, I didnt find them helpful but that could be for different reasons, On a different note, I find your avatar pic rather disturbing :o

[Sqad]

Interesting................I will look into this in greater detail before commenting.

[Robinia]

hmmm? A low dose beta blocker, antenolol, has controlled my migraines (I don't like to say cured).

[bibblebub]

these studies are about their efficacy for heart conditions

[rojash]

Yes Robinia, the claim is not actually that beta-blockers don't do what they are supposed to do, but that they don't prolong life in post-heart-attack patients.

It also suggests that (in simple terms) it may be because they have become redundant with the adoption of new procedures, rather than that they never worked in the first place.

I was on beta-blockers for about three years for what my neurologist described as a "permanent pre-migraine state". They seemed to work for me.

[Sqad]

A large and involved subject bibblebub

\\\\Beta Blockers Don't Work (Apparently)\\

Too simple a heading.

I am not an academic.

I am not a Cardiologist

But here are my thoughts.....depending upon the reason for taking betablockers.

How do beta blockers compare in hypertension?
Evidence is mixed for the long-term use of beta blockers; they are generally less effective than diuretics and no better than placebo in reducing cardiovascular events such as stroke. The exception is one large trial that found that metoprolol was better than a thiazide diuretic in reducing all-cause mortality.

How do beta blockers compare in angina?
In the short term, comparisons of several beta blockers in patients with chronic stable angina have shown that they have similar effects on increasing exercise tolerance and reducing the frequency of angina attacks.

How do beta blockers compare in patients who recently had a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)?
The long-term use of a beta blocker after CABG does not reduce the risk of death. Other outcomes are also not improved, for
How do beta blockers compare in patients who recently had a heart attack?
Depends upon which bêta blocker.
How do beta blockers compare in heart failure?
Compared to placebo, in patients with mild to moderate heart failure, carvedilol, metoprolol succinate, and bisoprolol reduce the risk of death.
In patients with severe heart failure, both carvedilol and metoprolol succinate reduce mortality, but evidence is stronger for carvedilol. [full review]

How do beta blockers compare in patients who recently had a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)?
The long-term use of a beta blocker after CABG does not reduce the risk of death. Other outcomes are also not improved, for
How do beta blockers compare in patients who recently had a heart attack?
Depends upon which bêta blocker.
How do beta blockers compare in heart failure?
Compared to placebo, in patients with mild to moderate heart failure, carvedilol, metoprolol succinate, and bisoprolol reduce the risk of death.
In patients with severe heart failure, both carvedilol and metoprolol succinate reduce mortality, but evidence is stronger for carvedilol. [full review]

So really ...horses for courses.......depending upon what you expect from your betablocker.

I look forward to the analysis of LazyGun

[bibblebub]

The item appeared in one of my news feeds and I thought it interesting enough to pass on. I kept the title simple because there is too much detail to squeeze into a few words.

If anyone considers that this thread might cause some people unnecessary worry then I'm quite happy to have it removed.

[Sqad]

bibblebub.......have read it and my "long winded answer" again and in a nutshell, if you have no heart muscle damage (ECG or enzyme studies) then taking betablockers will afford no value.

If you have heart damage (ECG or abnormal enzymes) then beta blockers are useful.

Is that a better analysis?

[LazyGun]

I think you4 contributions.especially your last one summed it up succinctly and accurately, Sqad.

This is not so much that beta blockers do not work, as much as that they have been rendered far less useful by significant improvements in other areas of the treatment of heart conditions.

It is also an excellent example of the value of large scale, high quality double blind randomised clinical trials, and a great example of the advances in medical treatments.

[Robinia]

ah, I see...I should have read the article thoroughly!