Switching Between β-Blockers: An Empiric Tool for the Cardiovascular Practitioner

Abstract

β-Blockers are a cornerstone of therapy for cardiovascular disease, but their clinical benefits are not consistent across the class and specific agents are preferred for certain indications. Further, when prescribed, a patient's clinical status might change, requiring the cardiologist to switch to an alternate agent. Examples of such scenarios include the development or a worsening of chronic noncardiac diseases (eg, hyperthyroidism, renal failure), new cardiac-related disease (eg, heart failure, atrial fibrillation), or practical/safety issues (eg, pregnancy, cost, side effects). However, guidelines on how to best switch to a different β-blocker are lacking. Additionally, most hospital-based formularies and guidelines do not provide recommendations around common challenges, like medication intolerance or adjustments for acute illness. We present a practical approach to switching between commonly prescribed β-blockers, which considers drug interchangeability for various indications, rationale for switching, necessary initial adjustments to dose/frequency, and differences in target/maximal doses.