Beta-adrenergic blocking agents are a class of medicines that bind to beta-adrenoreceptors and prevent the binding of norepinephrine and epinephrine at these receptors. This prevents sympathetic stimulation of the heart and reduces heart rate, cardiac contractility, conduction velocity, and relaxation rate which decreases myocardial oxygen demand and increases exercise tolerance.
Beta-blockers can be grouped into those that are non-selective (block both beta-1 and beta-2 receptors, such as nadolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, and timolol), and those that are cardioselective (only block beta-1 receptors, and include acebutolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, esmolol, and metoprolol).

Drug classes:

• cardioselective beta blockers
• non-cardioselective beta blockers