Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while using Beta blockers for management of arrhythmia as follows:
- Be aware of signs and symptoms of bradycardia and hypotension, to avoid any episodes of altered levels of consciousness and accidental falls. One should stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until they are used to the side effects caused by the Selective Beta-1 blockers.
- Beta – blockers have the potential to cause new arrhythmias or worsen the current arrhythmias, which is referred to as a proarrhythmic effect. So, caution must be exercised to prevent this situation and manage it, in case it was to occur.
- These medications can be combined with a diuretic, which helps with fluid volume loss and prevent exacerbation of symptoms of heart failure.
- Beta blockers can also be used in combination with ACE inhibitors, which bring on vasodilation and help reduce the blood pressure. Reduction in blood pressure also reduces workload on the heart and prevent exacerbation of symptoms of heart failure.
- Try changing the positions very slowly, as sudden change of positions can make the hypotensive episodes even worse and precipitate accidents and falls.
- Avoid using Beta blockers along with any other medications that can cause slowdown of heart rate, such as, calcium channel blockers. Using them together can result in extreme slowdown of heart rate and can present an emergency.
