Course Summary

Beta-blockers are a diverse class of medications primarily used to manage cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmias, and heart failure. They function by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors, leading to decreased heart rate, myocardial contractility, and blood pressure. Beyond cardiovascular applications, beta-blockers are also utilized for off-label indications, including migraine prophylaxis, anxiety management, and treatment of essential tremor. Their pharmacological versatility and efficacy across various conditions make them integral to contemporary medical practice.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Pharmacological Profile
  • Mechanism of Action
  • Indications, Dosing, and Administration
  • Off-label Uses
  • Hepatic and Renal Impairment: Dosing Adjustments
  • Geriatric Patients: Dosing Adjustments
• Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Effects
  • Drug-Drug Interactions
• Clinical Applications and Primary Indications for Use
  • Hypertension
  • Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)
  • Arrhythmias
  • Angina and Ischemic Heart Disease
  • Acute Myocardial Infarction (Post-MI)
  • Preeclampsia
  • Key Points Across Indications
  • Off-Label Uses
• Toxicity and Clinical Presentation
  • Common Symptoms
  • Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Management
  • Key Points
• Clinical Pearls
• Case Study: Hypertension During Pregnancy
  • Differential Diagnosis
• Summary

Authors

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.

Elisabeth Gordon, BScPharm, RPh

Elisabeth Gordon earned her BSc(Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After graduation, she worked in community retail pharmacies on Vancouver Island, before returning to her rural hometown of Salmon Arm. In 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth trained with Pallium Canada and Victoria Hospice to enhance her knowledge of end-of-life-care and palliative services. She is a volunteer medical supervisor for T1DOutreach, a peer support platform for adults living with type 1 diabetes, and a member of a Canadian peer support group for adults living with Birdshot Uveitis. Elisabeth enjoys working in a small, fast-paced rural pharmacy where she brings compassion and empathy to her everyday practice.