Alpha and Beta blockers are medications that help regulate blood pressure levels in the body. Essentially, they are blocking agents that assist the veins in facilitating a smoother flow of blood.
Such supplements are helpful for tackling hypertension. However, there are major differences between the two in terms of how they work.
Key Takeaways
- Alpha-blockers primarily target the alpha receptors in the body, while beta blockers target the beta receptors.
- Alpha-blockers are used to treat high blood pressure and prostate problems, while beta-blockers treat heart conditions and anxiety.
- Alpha-blockers may cause more side effects than beta-blockers.
Alpha vs Beta Blockers
The difference between Alpha and Beta-blockers is that alpha blockers cause a relaxing effect in the muscles, which leads to smooth blood circulation as they help blood vessels to open up. On the other hand, beta blockers cause a reduction in heart rate which further causes the blood flow to slow down. In this case, the blood vessels widen and expand as well.
Alpha-blockers are antagonists for catecholamines in the body. These are a class of hormones that include norepinephrine or noradrenaline.
Such medications are helpful in the treatment of diseases such as hypertension, erectile dysfunction, BPH and even Raynaud’s disease. Their primary function is binding with receptors in arteries and certain muscles.
Beta-blockers are another kind of antagonist that works on epinephrine or adrenaline. However, unlike the former, they work on controlling the heart rhythm of the body.
These medications are useful for the treatment of hypertension, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. However, beta blockers are not always the first choice for such problems.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Alpha Blockers | Beta Blockers |
|---|---|---|
| Function | The function of alpha-blockers is to lower blood pressure by relaxing the muscles, leading to smooth blood circulation. | The function of beta blockers is to lower blood pressure by controlling the heart rhythm, which leads to a slower blood flow rate. |
| Hormones | It works on norepinephrine or noradrenaline. | It works on epinephrine or adrenaline. |
| Mechanism | It only controls the blood pressure level in the body. | It controls the blood pressure level as well as the heart rate. |
| Effect on Weight | The medication does not cause any weight gain in users. | The medication may cause weight gain in users. |
| Uses | It is used to treat hypertension, erectile dysfunction, BPH and even Raynaud’s disease. | It is used to treat hypertension, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. |
What are Alpha-Blockers?
Alpha-blockers are antagonists that work on the hormone noradrenaline. This hormone is responsible for the tightening of muscles which restricts blood circulation. The blockers stop the production of the chemical and thus prevent it from doing so.
It causes a relaxing effect on muscles which further leads to smooth blood flow.
The medication is available in two classifications – short-acting blockers and long-acting blockers. As the name suggests, short-acting blockers do the job in a quick manner, but the effect is not long-lasting.
The symptoms begin to pop back only a few hours after use. On the other hand, long-acting blockers take time to work on the body, but they have a long-lasting effect on the patient.
Some examples of these kinds of supplements include terazosin, prazosin, and doxazosin. However, there are certain risks involved in their use. They may cause side effects such as weakness, dizziness, abnormal heartbeat, headaches, and confusion.
Therefore, using them when prescribed by a medical professional is always advisable.
Moreover, these medications are not always the first choice for the treatment of such diseases. Doctors use diuretics which work much more effectively.
However, alpha-blockers may be prescribed in combination with other medicines when the blood pressure is too difficult to control.
What are Beta Blockers?
Like alpha-blockers, beta-blockers work as antagonists but for adrenaline. The way they function is different as well. Even though these medications aim at blood pressure, their mechanism also includes controlling the heart rate.
Primarily, they control abnormal heart rhythms and lower the rate, which leads to the blood vessels opening. This smoothens blood circulation.
Beta-blockers are useful in the treatment of hypertension, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. Some medications that are beta-blockers include bisoprolol, metoprolol, acebutolol, nebivolol, atenolol and propranolol.
However, they can cause side effects such as fatigue, breathing problems, insomnia, chills and even depression.
A major factor that distinguishes beta blockers from the former is that it causes weight gain in patients. Moreover, it is not the first choice of medication for blood pressure and other related problems.
However, when other supplements fail to work, doctors prescribe this along with other medications.
It was in 1964 when James Black discovered the first form of this medication. It was considered to be one of the most significant contributions to the field of medicine.
Functionally, it was synthesized to work against beta receptors that are present in the cells of the heart muscles, kidneys, certain tissues, and arteries.
Main Differences Between Alpha and Beta Blockers
- The function of alpha-blockers is to lower blood pressure by relaxing the muscles, which leads to smooth blood circulation, whereas that of beta-blockers is to lower blood pressure by controlling the heart rhythm, which leads to a slower blood flow rate.
- Alpha-blockers work on norepinephrine or noradrenaline, whereas beta-blockers work on epinephrine or adrenaline.
- Alpha-blockers only control the blood pressure level in the body, whereas beta-blockers control the blood pressure level as well as heart rate.
- Alpha-blockers do not cause any weight gain, whereas beta-blockers do.
- Alpha-blockers are used to treat hypertension, erectile dysfunction, BPH and even Raynaud’s disease, whereas beta blockers are used to treat hypertension, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases.
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10641969909061011
- https://www.bmj.com/content/288/6418/671.abstract
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