Skip to main content
Log in

β-Blockade and the Human Central Nervous System

  • Section 6: β-Blockade and the Central Nervous System
  • Published:
Drugs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

β-Adrenoceptor blocking drugs, although initially developed to treat ischaemic heart disease, have found their way into other therapeutic areas such as psychiatry and neurology.

The neuropharmacology of β-blockers is reviewed and an assessment made of their clinical role in anxiety states, tremor, migraine and psychoses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Atsmon, A.I. and Blum, J.: Treatment of acute porphyria variegata with propranolol. Lancet 1: 196–197 (1970).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, J.O.: Drug treatment of anxiety. Southern Medical Journal 71 (Suppl. 2): 10–14 (1978).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, J.P.: Dystonic reaction to high dose propranolol British Medical Journal 2: 1156–1157 (1977).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebadi, M.: Management of tremor by beta-adrenergic blocking agents. General Pharmacology 11: 257–260 (1980).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fleminger, R.: Visual hallucinations and illusions with propranolol. British Medical Journal 1: 1182 (1978).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grahame-Smith, D.G. and Orr, M.W.: Clinical psychopharmacology; in Turner and Shand (Eds) Recent Advances in Clinical Pharmacology (Vol. 1) pp. 163–187 (Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh 1978).

    Google Scholar 

  • Granville-Grossman, K.L. and Turner, P.: The effect of propranolol on anxiety. Lancet 1: 788–790 (1966).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helson, L. and Duque, L.: Acute brain syndrome after propranolol. Lancet 1: 98 (1978).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hong, C.Y.; Chaput de Saintonge, D.M. and Turner, P.: The inhibitory action of procaine, (+)-propranolol and (±)-propranolol on human sperm motility: antagonism by caffeine. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 12: 751–753 (1981).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jefferson, D.W.: Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs in psychiatry. Archives of General Psychiatry 31: 681–690 (1974).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnstone, E.C. and Ferrier, I.N.: Neuroendocrine markers of CNS drug effects. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 10: 5–21 (1980).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhr, B.M.: Prolonged delirium with propranolol. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 40: 74–75 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  • Middlemiss, D.N.; Blakeborough, L. and Leather, S.R.: Direct evidence for an interaction of beta-adrenergic blockers with 5HT receptor. Nature 267: 289–290 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neil-Dwyer, G.B.; Bartlett, J.; McAinsh, J. and Cruickshank, J.M.: Beta-adrenoceptor blockers and the blood-brain barrier. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 11: 549–554 (1981).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogle, C.W.; Turner, P. and Markomihelakis, H.: The effects of high doses of oxprenolol and of propranolol on pursuit rotor performance, reaction time and critical flicker frequency. Psychopharmacologia 46: 295–299 (1976).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patel, L. and Turner, P.: Central actions of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs in man. Medicinal Research Reviews 1: 387–410 (1981).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, J.M. and Pearson, S.B.: Beta-adrenoceptor blockade and ventilation in man. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 10: 624–625 (1980).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peet, M.; Middlemiss, D.N. and Yates, R.A.: Propranolol in schizophrenia II, clinical and biochemical aspects of combining propranolol with chlorpromazine. British Journal of Psychiatry 138: 112–117 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robson, R.H.: Recurrent migraine after propranolol. British Heart Journal 39: 1157 (1977).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, P.; Granville-Grossman, K.L. and Smart, J.V.: Effect of adrenergic receptor blockade on the tachycardia of thyrotoxicosis and the anxiety state. Lancet 2: 1316–1318 (1965).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waal-Manning, H.J.: Propranolol-induced depression. British Medical Journal 2: 50 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, R.D.S.; Stallard, T.J. and Littler, W.A.: Effects of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists on sino-aortic baroreflex sensitivity and blood pressure in hypertensive man. Clinical Science 57: 241–247 (1979).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weerasuriya, K.; Patel, L. and Turner, P.: Beta-adrenoceptor blockade and migraine: Cephalalgia 2: 33–45 (1982).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yorkston, N.J.; Zaki, S.A.; Malik, M.K.V.; Morison, R.C. and Havard, C.W.H.: Propranolol in the control of schizophrenic symptoms. British Medical Journal 4: 633–635 (1974).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Turner, P. β-Blockade and the Human Central Nervous System. Drugs 25 (Suppl 2), 262–264 (1983). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198300252-00080

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198300252-00080

Keywords

Navigation