What Is Acebutolol Used For?

Acebutolol helps treat certain irregular heart rhythms and high blood pressure. This medication has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure and can reduce the number of irregular PVC (premature ventricular contraction) heartbeats. Healthcare providers will sometimes recommend off-label uses of acebutolol as well, such as for treating chest pain.

Acebutolol Drug Information

What Is Acebutolol Used For?

Acebutolol hydrochloride (Sectral^®) is a prescription beta blocker medication approved for the treatment of the following medical conditions:

Certain irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
High blood pressure (hypertension).

Arrhythmias

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. There are many different types of arrhythmias. Some arrhythmias are life-threatening, while others are harmless. Acebutolol is approved to treat a specific type of arrhythmia known as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), also known as ventricular premature beats or ventricular ectopic beats.

Normally, a heartbeat originates in a certain part of the heart known as the sinoatrial node. However, with a PVC, a heartbeat starts in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is usually sensed as a skipped heartbeat. In most cases, PVCs are not dangerous and require no treatment.

However, if the PVCs are frequent, cause intolerable symptoms, or occur in such a way as to suggest that they might lead to a more serious heart problem, treatment may be recommended.

Acebutolol can reduce the number of irregular PVC heartbeats.

High Blood Pressure

In clinical studies, acebutolol has been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure. By lowering blood pressure, blood pressure medications are thought to decrease the risks that occur with long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure). Acebutolol does not, however, cure high blood pressure. It can be used alone or in combination with other blood pressure medications (it is particularly useful in combination with diuretics).

(What Is Acebutolol Used For? Continued: Page 2)