Details

Esmolol is a beta 1-selective (cardioselective) adrenergic receptor blocking agent. Esmolol is used for the rapid control of ventricular rate. Other drugs can interact with esmolol resulting in dangerous side effects or decreased effectiveness. Esmolol use has been associated with low blood pressure and other serious side effects.

Typical Uses

Esmolol is used to control rapid heartbeats or abnormal heart rhythms. This medicine is also used to treat fast heartbeat and high blood pressure during surgery, after surgery, or during other medical procedures. Esmolol is a beta-blocker. It works by affecting the response to nerve impulses in certain parts of the body, like the heart. As a result, the heart beats slower and decreases the blood pressure. When the blood pressure is lowered, the amount of blood and oxygen is increased to the heart.

Side Effects

Common side effects of esmolol include blurred vision confusion dizziness, faintness, or light-headedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly increased sweating unusual tiredness or weakness less common itching of skin numbness and tingling of face, fingers, or toes pain in arms, legs, or lower back, especially pain in calves or heels upon exertion pale, bluish-coloured, or cold hands or feet weak or absent pulses in legs.

Drug Interactions

• Esmolol+aminophylline- Ask your doctor before using esmolol together with aminophylline. Using these medications together can make esmolol less effective and increase the effects of aminophylline.

• Esmolol+arbutamine- Using esmolol and arbutamine is not recommended. Taking these drugs together can affect the rhythm of your heart. Call your doctor if you have symptoms of irregular heartbeat, chest tightness, blurred vision or nausea.

• Esmolol+diltiazem- Using diltiazem and esmolol together may lead to increased side effects. This can cause fatigue, headache, fainting, swelling of the extremities, weight gain, shortness of breath, chest pain, increased or decreased heartbeat, or irregular heartbeat. If you take both medications together, tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

• Esmolol+fingolimod- Before starting fingolimod, let your doctor know if you are currently receiving treatment with esmolol. Using fingolimod in this situation can cause excessive slowing of your heart rate that can lead to serious or life-threatening cardiac complications. This is most likely to occur early on after you start treatment with fingolimod, especially within the first 20 hours after the first dose.

• Esmolol+oxtriphylline- Ask your doctor before using esmolol together with oxtriphylline. Using these medications together can make esmolol less effective and increase the effects of oxtriphylline. Contact your doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremors, restlessness, uneven heartbeats, or

Mechanism of action

Esmolol belongs to the class of drugs called Beta-blockers. It binds to the ?-adrenergic receptors in the heart, blocks them, opposes the action of certain endogenous chemicals and slows the heart rate as well as relaxes the blood vessels, thereby controlling the arrhythmia and lowering the blood pressure.