Which medications that may inhibit therapeutic activity for a patient receiving adrenergic agents

What are adrenergic drugs?

Adrenergic drugs are medications that stimulate certain nerves in your body. They do this either by mimicking the action of the chemical messengers epinephrine and norepinephrine or by stimulating their release. These drugs are used in many life-threatening conditions, including cardiac arrest, shock, asthma attack, or allergic reaction.

Adrenergic drugs stimulate the nerves in your body’s sympathetic nervous system (SNS). This system helps regulate your body’s reaction to stress or emergency. During times of stress, the SNS releases chemical messengers from the adrenal gland. These chemical messengers act on your body to increase heart rate, sweating, and breathing rate and to decrease digestion. This is sometimes called the “fight or flight” response.

Adrenergic drugs have similar structures as the chemical messengers that your body produces during times of stress, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. Certain areas called adrenergic receptors receive the messages from epinephrine and norepinephrine that tell your body how to respond. Adrenergic drugs also interact with these receptors. They can mimic epinephrine and norepinephrine and bind with the receptors, causing the fight or flight responses. These drugs can also bind with the receptors to stimulate the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Adrenergic drugs can help do the following:

  • increase blood pressure
  • constrict blood vessels
  • open the airways leading to the lungs
  • increase heart rate
  • stop bleeding

Each type of adrenergic drug treats different conditions depending on which receptors are targeted. The specific action of the drug also depends on whether the drug acts directly as a chemical messenger or indirectly by stimulating the release of chemical messengers.

Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators open up the bronchial tubes, or air passages. These adrenergic drugs act on the beta receptors directly. When they bind with beta-2 receptors, they cause the airways leading to the lungs to open up. This helps improve breathing in patients with respiratory diseases such as:

  • asthma
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • emphysema
  • bronchitis

Examples of bronchodilators include:

  • albuterol
  • formoterol
  • levalbuterol
  • olodaterol
  • salmeterol

Vasopressors

Vasopressors can act on the alpha-1, beta-1, and beta-2 adrenergic receptors. They also can act on dopamine receptors. These drugs stimulate smooth muscle contraction in the blood vessels. This causes your blood vessels to become narrow. This effect also causes your blood pressure to increase.

Increasing blood pressure can help treat shock. Narrowing blood vessels can help stop bleeding. It can also help keep anesthetics (drugs that numb your body) from spreading by closing off nearby blood vessels.

Certain vasopressors may also be used for colds or allergies. They can shrink the swollen blood vessels in the mucous membranes of your nose. These drugs are often referred to as nasal decongestants.

Examples of different vasopressors include:

  • ephedrine
  • epinephrine
  • dopamine
  • phenylephrine
  • pseudoephedrine
  • oxymetazoline

Cardiac stimulators

Cardiac stimulators can be used to stimulate and restore the heart beat. They’re used if your heart stops beating suddenly because of electrocution, suffocation, or drowning. When this happens, epinephrine can be injected directly into your heart to help make it start beating again.

If you’re thinking about an adrenergic drug, you should also consider side effects and your own medical history. Side effects of adrenergic drugs vary and depend on the specific drug you’re taking. Not all people will experience all possible side effects of each adrenergic drug. Likewise, not every adrenergic drug is right for every person. Health conditions other than what you need to treat with an adrenergic drug can play a role in deciding which drug is right for you. You can discuss all of these factors with your doctor to find a good choice.

These drugs are often used to treat high blood pressure when other medications haven't worked.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Beta blockers, also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, are medications that reduce blood pressure. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline.

Beta blockers cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force, which lowers blood pressure. Beta blockers also help widen veins and arteries to improve blood flow.

Examples of beta blockers

Some beta blockers mainly affect the heart, while others affect both the heart and blood vessels. Your doctor will choose which beta blocker is best for you based on your health conditions.

Examples of beta blockers taken by mouth include:

  • Acebutolol
  • Atenolol (Tenormin)
  • Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
  • Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
  • Nadolol (Corgard)
  • Nebivolol (Bystolic)
  • Propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran XL)

When beta blockers are used

Beta blockers aren't recommended as a first treatment in people who have only high blood pressure. Beta blockers aren't usually prescribed for high blood pressure unless other medications, such as diuretics, haven't worked well. Also, a doctor may prescribe a beta blocker as one of several medications to lower blood pressure.

Beta blockers may not work as effectively for black people and older people, especially when taken without other blood pressure medications.

Beta blockers are used to prevent, treat or improve symptoms in people who have:

  • Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
  • Heart failure
  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Heart attacks
  • Migraine
  • Certain types of tremors

Your doctor may prescribe beta blockers along with other medications.

Side effects

Common side effects of beta blockers can include:

  • Cold hands or feet
  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain

Less common side effects include:

  • Depression
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trouble sleeping

Beta blockers generally aren't used in people with asthma because of concerns that the medication may trigger severe asthma attacks.

In people who have diabetes, beta blockers may block signs of low blood sugar, such as rapid heartbeat. It's important to check your blood sugar regularly if you have diabetes and you're taking a beta blocker.

Beta blockers can also affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They can cause a slight rise in triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood, and a modest decrease in good cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. These changes often are temporary.

You shouldn't abruptly stop taking a beta blocker because doing so could increase your risk of a heart attack or other heart problem.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Aug. 13, 2021

  1. Types of blood pressure medications. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/types-of-blood-pressure-medications. Accessed July 14, 2021.
  2. Argulian E, et al. Misconceptions and facts about beta-blockers. The American Journal of Medicine. 2019; doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.01.039.
  3. Whelton PK, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Hypertension. 2018;71:e13.
  4. Mann JFE. Choice of drug therapy in primary (essential) hypertension. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed June 28, 2019.
  5. Sidawy AN, et al., eds. Atherosclerotic risk factors: Hypertension. In: Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed June 28, 2019.
  6. Bloch MJ, et al. Antihypertensive drugs and lipids. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 14, 2021.

See more In-depth

See also

  1. Medication-free hypertension control
  2. After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use?
  3. Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure?
  4. Alpha blockers
  5. Amputation and diabetes
  6. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  7. Angiotensin II receptor blockers
  8. Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure?
  9. Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis
  10. Artificial sweeteners: Any effect on blood sugar?
  11. AskMayoMom Pediatric Urology
  12. Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain?
  13. Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise?
  14. Birth control pill FAQ
  15. Blood glucose meters
  16. Blood glucose monitors
  17. Blood pressure: Can it be higher in one arm?
  18. Blood pressure chart
  19. Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter?
  20. Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern?
  21. Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather?
  22. Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight?
  23. Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides?
  24. Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home?
  25. Blood pressure test
  26. Blood pressure tip: Get more potassium
  27. Blood pressure tip: Get off the couch
  28. Blood pressure tip: Know alcohol limits
  29. Blood pressure tip: Stress out no more
  30. Blood pressure tip: Watch the caffeine
  31. Blood pressure tip: Watch your weight
  32. Blood sugar levels can fluctuate for many reasons
  33. Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how
  34. Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes
  35. How kidneys work
  36. Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?
  37. Caffeine and hypertension
  38. Calcium channel blockers
  39. Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs?
  40. Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?
  41. Central-acting agents
  42. Choosing blood pressure medications
  43. Chronic daily headaches
  44. Chronic kidney disease
  45. Coarctation of the aorta
  46. COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
  47. Cushing syndrome
  48. DASH diet
  49. DASH diet
  50. DASH diet: Recommended servings
  51. DASH diet: Shopping and cooking tips
  52. Diabetes
  53. Diabetes and dental care
  54. Diabetes and depression: Coping with the two conditions
  55. Diabetes and exercise: When to monitor your blood sugar
  56. Diabetes and fasting: Can I fast during Ramadan?
  57. Diabetes and foot care
  58. Diabetes and Heat
  59. 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications
  60. Diabetes diet: Should I avoid sweet fruits?
  61. Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan
  62. Diabetes foods: Can I substitute honey for sugar?
  63. Diabetes and liver
  64. Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
  65. Diabetes: Eating out
  66. Diabetes nutrition: Sweets
  67. Diabetes symptoms
  68. Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar?
  69. Using insulin
  70. Diuretics
  71. Diuretics: A cause of low potassium?
  72. Diuretics: Cause of gout?
  73. Dizziness
  74. Do infrared saunas have any health benefits?
  75. Do you know your blood pressure?
  76. Drug addiction (substance use disorder)
  77. High blood pressure and exercise
  78. Fibromuscular dysplasia
  79. Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate?
  80. Home blood pressure monitoring
  81. Glomerulonephritis
  82. Glycemic index: A helpful tool for diabetes?
  83. Guillain-Barre syndrome
  84. Headaches 101: Know your type
  85. Headaches and hormones
  86. Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms
  87. Herbal supplements and heart drugs
  88. High blood pressure (hypertension)
  89. High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe?
  90. High blood pressure and sex
  91. High blood pressure: Can you prevent it?
  92. High blood pressure dangers
  93. How opioid addiction occurs
  94. How to tell if a loved one is abusing opioids
  95. Hunter syndrome
  96. What is hypertension? A Mayo Clinic expert explains.
  97. Hypertension FAQs
  98. Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms?
  99. Hypothermia
  100. IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease)
  101. Insulin and weight gain
  102. Intracranial hematoma
  103. Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?
  104. What is kidney disease? An expert explains
  105. Kidney disease FAQs
  106. Kratom for opioid withdrawal
  107. L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
  108. Late-night eating: OK if you have diabetes?
  109. Lead poisoning
  110. Low-phosphorus diet: Helpful for kidney disease?
  111. Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure
  112. Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection?
  113. Molar pregnancy
  114. MRI: Is gadolinium safe for people with kidney problems?
  115. New Test for Preeclampsia
  116. Nighttime headaches: Relief
  117. Nosebleeds
  118. Obstructive sleep apnea
  119. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  120. Pain Management
  121. Pheochromocytoma
  122. Picnic Problems: High Sodium
  123. Pituitary tumors
  124. Polycystic kidney disease
  125. Polypill: Does it treat heart disease?
  126. Porphyria
  127. Postpartum preeclampsia
  128. Preeclampsia
  129. Prescription drug abuse
  130. Primary aldosteronism
  131. Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health?
  132. Mayo Clinic Minute: Rattlesnakes, scorpions and other desert dangers
  133. Reactive hypoglycemia: What can I do?
  134. Reading food labels
  135. Renal diet for vegetarians
  136. Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?
  137. Sample DASH menus
  138. Scorpion sting
  139. Secondary hypertension
  140. Serotonin syndrome
  141. Sleep deprivation: A cause of high blood pressure?
  142. Sleep tips
  143. Vegetable recipes
  144. Blood sugar testing
  145. Snoring
  146. Snoring solution: Sleep on your side
  147. Spider bites
  148. Stress and headaches: Stop the cycle
  149. Stress and high blood pressure
  150. Symptom Checker
  151. Takayasu's arteritis
  152. Tapering off opioids: When and how
  153. Tetanus
  154. Tetanus shots: Is it risky to receive 'extra' boosters?
  155. The dawn phenomenon: What can you do?
  156. Infographic: Transplant for Polycystic Kidney Disease
  157. Vasodilators
  158. Vegetarian diet: Can it help me control my diabetes?
  159. Vesicoureteral reflux
  160. Video: Heart and circulatory system
  161. How diabetes affects your blood sugar
  162. How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor
  163. How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor
  164. Obstructive sleep apnea: What happens?
  165. What is blood pressure?
  166. Can having vitamin D deficiency cause high blood pressure?
  167. What are opioids and why are they dangerous?
  168. What's your high blood pressure risk?
  169. White coat hypertension
  170. Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate?
  171. Effectively managing chronic kidney disease

.

What drug blocks adrenergic receptors?

Alpha blockers are also called alpha-adrenergic blocking agents, alpha-adrenergic antagonists, adrenergic blocking agents and alpha-blocking agents. Examples of alpha blockers used to treat high blood pressure include: Doxazosin (Cardura) Prazosin (Minipress)

Which should not be taken with beta

What are the drug interactions? Beta blockers [pindolol (Visken) and propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran)] should not be taken with phenothiazines [thioridazine and chlorpromazine (Thorazine)] as this will cause an increase in blood plasma levels of either or both classes of drugs.

Which common adverse effects might a patient experience when taking an anticholinergic agent?

Typical symptoms include dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, bowel obstruction, dilated pupils, blurred vision, increased heart rate, and decreased sweating (Table 1).

Which of the following are known as adrenergic drugs?

Adrenergic drugs are medications that stimulate certain nerves in your body. They do this either by mimicking the action of the chemical messengers epinephrine and norepinephrine or by stimulating their release..
ephedrine..
epinephrine..
dopamine..
phenylephrine..
pseudoephedrine..
oxymetazoline..