ATC Group: C07AA Beta blocking agents, non-selective

Alprenolol is a non-selective beta blocker as well as a 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor antagonist, used in the treatment of angina pectoris.

Carteolol is a non-selective beta-adrenergic blocking agent with associated intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) and without significant membrane stabilizing activity. Carteolol reduces normal and elevated intraocular pressure whether or not accompanied by glaucoma.

Nadolol is a synthetic nonselective beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent. Clinical pharmacology studies have demonstrated beta-blocking activity by showing (1) reduction in heart rate and cardiac output at rest and on exercise, (2) reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at rest and on exercise, (3) inhibition of isoproterenol-induced tachycardia, and (4) reduction of reflex orthostatic tachycardia.

Oxprenolol is a non-selective, lipophilic betablocker exerting a sympatholytic effect and displaying mild to modest partial agonistic activity (PAA), also known as intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA). Oxprenolol decreases cardiac impulse formation in the sinus node with resultant slowing of the sinus rate.

Penbutolol is a β-1, β-2 (nonselective) adrenergic receptor antagonist. The β-blocking potency of penbutolol is approximately 4 times that of propranolol. Penbutolol is used for the management of mild to moderate arterial hypertension, alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents.

Pindolol is a potent beta-adrenoceptor antagonist (beta-blocker) with uses similar to those of propranolol. It is classified as non cardioselective. It blocks both B₁- and B₂-adrenoceptors for more than 24 hours after administration. It has negligible membrane-stabilising activity. Pindolol exhibits low cardiodepressant activity at therapeutic dose.

Propranolol is a competitive antagonist at both beta, and beta₂-adrenoceptor, but has membrane stabilising activity at concentrations exceeding 1-3mg/litre, though such concentrations are rarely achieved during oral therapy. Competitive beta-blockade has been demonstrated in man by a parallel shift to the right in the dose-heart rate response curve to beta-agonists such as isoprenaline.

D,l-sotalol is a non-selective hydrophilic β-adrenergic receptor blocking agent, devoid of intrinsic sympathomimetic activity or membrane stabilizing activity. Sotalol has both beta-adrenoreceptor blocking (Vaughan Williams Class II) and cardiac action potential duration prolongation (Vaughan Williams Class III) antiarrhythmic properties.

Timolol is a non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent that does not have significant intrinsic sympathomimetic, direct myocardial depressant, or local anaesthetic activity. Timolol reduces intra-ocular pressure, whether or not this is associated with glaucoma.