What Are The Side Effects Of Beta Blockers?

Posted on Wed, 29 Mar 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 Answered on

Sat, 29 Apr 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : i had 3 reactions to beta blockers fell,bumped into another car and a turn over my car.

Answered by Dr. Priyank Mody (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Beta blocker unlikely to have caused the episode you describe

Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
I would like to know the time span and more details about those 3 episodes.

The symptoms you describe is a blackout like situation.
Metoprolol particularly would not cause such blackouts.

Two things which explain them are:

-Seizure-like episodes or an arrhythmia which would transiently decrease blood supply to the brain causing a transient blur.

Considering your age of 80 years and an accident which could be quite severe (life threatening), I strongly suggest a complete evaluation at this point.

-A brain scan and an EKG plus a Holter monitoring for the heart rhythm should be considered.

Lastly, you should consider a misjudgment or reduction of reflex which may have caused the accident.
If everything is found to be normal then only beta blocker may be substituted with another antihypertensive.

Let me know if any further clarification is needed.

Regards
Dr. Mody

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee