If you take beta-blockers regularly, you may have serious withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop. For some people, the side effects of beta-blockers may actually cause anxiety symptoms. You should follow up with your doctor as soon as possible if you feel like taking beta-blockers is increasing your anxiety.

A large study published last month in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that beta blockers did not prolong the lives of patients – a revelation that must have left many cardiologists shaking their heads (JAMA, vol 308, p 1340).

Beta-blockers can cause lung muscle spasms that make it difficult to breathe. This is more common in people who have lung conditions. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Beta-blockers can trigger high blood sugar in people with diabetes.

Since beta blockers slow the heart rate to deceptively low levels, it’s important to avoid overexertion while exercising.

While beta-blockers have long been known as effective treatments for heart failure, many conservatory students and professional classical musicians use these drugs to relieve performance anxiety induced by their highly competitive and “no-room-for-error” line of work.

Blood pressure medications/beta blockers: If you’re taking these medications, talk to your health care provider about the ideal time of day to take them, though as a general rule of thumb, evening is best. “Providers may specify to take these in the evening because of side effects that can occur,” Verduzco said.

And in a separate look at 30 patients with high blood pressure, they found that people on beta-blockers generally burned fewer calories and fat after a meal — measured by a device called a calorimeter. The patients on beta blockers also reported lower physical activity levels in their day-to-day lives.

There are many reasons why people gain belly fat, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress. Improving nutrition, increasing activity, and making other lifestyle changes can all help. Belly fat refers to fat around the abdomen.

Yes. Weight gain can occur as a side effect of some beta blockers. The average weight gain is about 2.6 pounds (1.2 kilograms). Weight gain is more likely with older beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL).

Beta blockers lower metabolic rates, which means you’re burning fewer calories. They calm the body and reduce fidgeting, which can lower your calorie deficit by a couple of hundred a day.

While stopping any beta-blocker may cause a mild response, abruptly stopping propranolol may lead to a withdrawal syndrome. Beta-blocker withdrawal can result in a rise in blood pressure, and in patients with heart disease, chest pain, heart attack, and even sudden death.

Beta blockers are contraindicated because they allow caffeine’s (like cocaine’s) unopposed alpha effects and risk of severe hypertension. In summary, caffeine ingestion is usually benign, but it may have neurologic, cardiac and gastrointestinal side effects.