What is a Beta Blocker? And Other Commonly Asked Questions
We're answering questions about beta blockers — learn what they are, how they work, common side effects, and more.
betaxolol
Used for Eye Pressure, Glaucoma, Hypertension
Used for Eye Pressure, Glaucoma, Hypertension
Betaxolol is a medication that's used to treat high blood pressure. But it's typically not a first-choice medication, unless you have certain health conditions, such coronary artery disease (CAD). Betaxolol can be taken alone or together with other medications used to lower blood pressure. It's taken by mouth, usually once daily.
What is Betaxolol?
What is Betaxolol used for?
- High blood pressure
How Betaxolol works
Betaxolol is a cardioselective beta blocker. It works by blocking chemicals that typically attach to receptors on your heart that raise your blood pressure and heart rate. In blocking these chemicals, betaxolol slows down your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Kerlone |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Beta blocker |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Betaxolol
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Slow heartbeat (8%)
- Headache (7%)
- Indigestion (5%)
- Dizziness (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Feeling tired
- Low energy
- Joint pain
- Trouble breathing
- Sore throat, runny nose, and other symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection
Betaxolol serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Heart failure: trouble breathing, swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet, feeling tired, unable to exercise
- Bronchospasm: tightness in the chest, trouble catching your breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, cough, dizziness, extreme tiredness
The following Betaxolol side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Chest pain or discomfort
lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
shortness of breath
slow or irregular heartbeat
unusual tiredness
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
blurred vision
chills
cold sweats
coma
confusion
convulsions (seizures)
cool, pale skin
decreased urine output
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
extreme fatigue
headache
increased hunger
irregular breathing
loss of consciousness
nervousness
nightmares
noisy breathing
shakiness
slurred speech
sweating
troubled breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Acid or sour stomach
belching
body aches or pain
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
congestion
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
difficulty in moving
dryness or soreness of throat
hoarseness
inability to have or keep an erection
indigestion
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
muscle pain or stiffness
rash
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
tender, swollen glands in neck
trouble in swallowing
trouble sleeping
unable to sleep
unusual drowsiness, dullness, or feeling of sluggishness
unusual or strange dreams
voice changes
Rare
Discouragement
feeling sad or empty
irritability
lack of appetite
loss of interest or pleasure
tiredness
trouble concentrating
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$75.00
GoodRx discount
$21.26
Pros and cons of Betaxolol
Pros
- Taken by mouth once daily
- Can be taken alone or combined with other medications to treat high blood pressure
- Less likely to cause breathing problems than some other beta blockers if you have asthma
- Can take with or without food
Cons
- Not a first-choice medication for high blood pressure
- Not an option if you have certain serious heart problems, such as heart failure or second or third degree heart block
- Makes it hard to tell when your low blood sugar level is too low
- Might not be safe in breastfeeding females
Pharmacist tips for Betaxolol
- You can take betaxolol with or without food. Try to take it at the same time every day for best results.
- Avoid any task (e.g., driving or operating other machinery) that requires you to be alert until you know how you'll respond to betaxolol. Side effects like dizziness and fainting are more common when you first start this medication or right after your dose is changed. Most people find these side effects get better or go away within several weeks after starting betaxolol.
- Betaxolol can cause dizziness, falling, or fainting, especially when moving from a lying or seated position to a standing position. If this happens often, speak with your healthcare provider about other options to treat high blood pressure.
- Because betaxolol lowers your blood pressure and heart rate, it can make it harder for you to identify symptoms of low blood sugar, such as fast heart beats. This is especially important for people with diabetes since you might not be able to rely on all the typical symptoms of low blood sugar to warn you of a dangerous drop in your sugar levels. Sweating might be the only symptom not affected by taking betaxolol.
- Before you have any surgeries, tell your provider you're taking betaxolol. Most of the time, they'll need to monitor your blood pressure and heart rate more closely during surgery. But in some cases, they might ask you to stop taking this medication for a while before your procedure.
- Don't stop taking betaxolol suddenly without talking to your healthcare provider. This can cause your blood pressure to rise to very high levels and raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
- If you have a history of a severe allergic reaction, let your provider know. Beta blockers like betaxolol can interact with life-saving allergy medications like epinephine (EpiPen, Auvi-Q) and make them work less well.
- Make sure to tell your eye provider that you're taking betaxolol, since it can interfere with glaucoma tests.
Risks and warnings for Betaxolol
Betaxolol can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Heart failure
- Risk factors: Congestive heart failure
There have been reports of people developing heart failure while taking betaxolol. If you have heart failure and your symptoms aren't under control, let your provider know because they might need to monitor you carefully or consider a different medication for you. Talk to your provider if you notice symptoms of heart failure, such as tiredness, weakness, swelling in your feet or ankles, fast or irregular heartbeat, or if you have trouble catching your breath when you lie down or exercise.
Chest pain or heart attack from stopping betaxolol suddenly
- Risk factors: Coronary artery disease | Stopping betaxolol suddenly
Don't stop taking betaxolol suddenly without talking to your healthcare provider especially if you have coronary artery disease, since chest pain (angina) can get worse or could mean the beginning of a heart attack. Talk to your healthcare provider first if you would like to stop this medication.
Hiding symptoms of low blood sugar
- Risk factors: Diabetes
Taking betaxolol can make it difficult for you to identify symptoms of low blood sugar, such as fast heart beat or tremors. If you’re taking medications, like glipizide or insulin, to lower your blood sugar, you might not be able to rely on all the typical symptoms of low blood sugar (e.g., irritability, sight tremors, confusion, and fast heartbeat) to warn you of a dangerous drop in your sugar levels. Sweating might be the only symptom not affected by taking betaxolol. Speak with your healthcare provider about when and how to monitor your blood sugar if you start betaxolol.
Hidden symptoms of overactive thyroid
- Risk factors: Hyperthyroidism
People taking betaxolol who also have overactive thyroid might not recognize the signs of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), such as a fast heart rate. Don't stop taking betaxolol suddenly without talking to your healthcare provider, since this can worsen thyroid problems.
Breathing problems
- Risk factors: History of asthma | History of COPD | History of lung problems
Beta blocker medications, like betaxolol, are usually not recommended for people with bronchospastic disease like asthma because they can cause difficulty breathing. Betaxolol has a lower chance of causing breathing problems than other beta blockers, but should still be carefully monitored by a healthcare provider. Your provider might start you on a lower dose or have you take betaxolol twice a day to make sure it's not causing breathing problems.
Greater risk during surgery
- Risk factors: Major surgery requiring anesthesia
Both beta-blockers and medications used for anesthesia can lower your heart rate. So, if you’re planning to undergo a major surgery that requires anesthesia, tell your surgeon that you’re on betaxolol so that they can monitor your heart closely.
Betaxolol dosage
The average cost for 1 eye dropper of 5ml of 0.5% of Betaxolol is $21.26 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 71.65% off the average retail price of $75.00.
Typical dosage for Betaxolol
The typical starting dose is 10 mg by mouth once daily. If needed, your provider will raise your dose slowly over time. The typical maximum dose is 20 mg daily.
Your dose might differ if you've kidney problems or if you're 65 years or older.
Interactions between Betaxolol and other drugs
Betaxolol may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Betaxolol. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Albuterol
- Ceritinib
- Crizotinib
- Disopyramide
- Dronedarone
- Fenoldopam
- Fingolimod
- Formoterol
- Indacaterol
- Iohexol
- Lacosamide
- Levalbuterol
- Olodaterol
- Ponesimod
- Rivastigmine
- Salmeterol
- Siponimod
- Terbutaline
- Vilanterol
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Aspirin
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Celecoxib
- Choline Salicylate
- Clonixin
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dipyrone
- Droxicam
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flurbiprofen
- Ibuprofen
- Indomethacin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumiracoxib
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Morniflumate
- Nabumetone
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piroxicam
- Pranoprofen
- Proglumetacin
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Rofecoxib
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sodium Salicylate
- St John's Wort
- Sulindac
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Valdecoxib
How much does Betaxolol cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Betaxolol (generic)
$21.26
Betaxolol contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Betaxolol will not be safe for you to take.
- Untreated pheochromocytoma
- Sinus bradycardia (a type of slow heartbeat)
- Heart block greater than first degree
- Shock
- Heart failure
What are alternatives to Betaxolol?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Betaxolol. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Betaxolol
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ACE inhibitors and beta blockers work differently to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Learn about the differences here.
Betaxolol images
