Activity profile of beta blockers
Drexel, H.
Praxis 84(10): 278-280
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 1661-8157 PMID: 7892547 Document Number: 454723
Beta-adrenergic blockers are heterogeneous with respect to their array of specific actions. Major characteristics of a compound's profile include beta-1 specificity, hydrophilicity, duration of action, antiarrhythmic potency, and intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA). Hydrophilicity parallels duration of action, and beta-1 specificity is inversely related to the strength of metabolic effects. An ideal profile of a beta-adrenergic blocker encompasses high beta-1 specificity, long action, strong antiarrhythmic effects, and low ISA.