Esmolol hydrochloride (
Brevibloc®) is a prescription medication approved to treat the following conditions:
- Certain irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) in emergency situations
- A rapid heart rate (tachycardia) or high blood pressure (hypertension) during or after surgery.
As with any medicine, esmolol may cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects (most people actually tolerate it quite well). If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Some of the most common side effects include, but are not limited to:
(Click Side Effects of Esmolol to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Esmolol?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking this medication if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Esmolol belongs to a group of drugs called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, more often known as
beta blockers. As the name implies, these medications block beta receptors in the body. Beta receptors are located in a number of places within the body, including the heart and blood vessels. Stress hormones (such as adrenaline) bind to these receptors and cause certain reactions in the body, such as:
By blocking beta receptors, esmolol causes the reverse effect of stress hormones and reduces blood pressure and heart rate. It is also important to note that esmolol is more likely to block beta-1 receptors (such as those in the heart), opposed to beta-2 receptors (such as those found in the lungs), which can theoretically make the medication safer than other beta blockers for people with breathing problems such as asthma.
Esmolol is very rapid and short-acting, making it ideal for use in emergency situations when immediate (but temporary) treatment of rapid heart rates or
hypertension is necessary.
When and How to Take Esmolol
Some general considerations include the following:
- Esmolol comes in injectable form. It is given by IV.
- Esmolol is usually used only temporarily. If long-term treatment is required, the patient should be switched to a different medication.
- As with many IV medications, healthcare providers must take care to prevent the medication from leaking outside of a vein, as it can be very irritating and damaging to the tissues.
- Healthcare providers must be very careful when making IVs with this medication. Deaths have resulted from inaccurately diluting the medication (usually from accidentally making the concentration too high).
The dose of esmolol that your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The medical condition being treated
- The urgency of the situation
- Your weight
- How you respond to the medication
- Other medications you are taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Esmolol Drug Interactions
An overdose of esmolol can cause cardiac arrest, dangerously low
blood pressure (hypotension), a slow heart rate (bradycardia), and other serious problems. Massive overdoses (caused by inaccurate dilution of the medication) have caused deaths and permanent disability.
Esmolol is usually stored at room temperature or (in some situations) under refrigeration.
Generic Availability of Esmolol
Brand-name esmolol is made by Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Generic versions are made by various manufacturers.
This medication is available in the following strengths and forms:
- Esmolol Premixed 2500 mg in a 250 mL IV bag (10 mg per mL strength)
- Esmolol Double Strength 2000 mg in a 100 mL IV bag (20 mg per mL strength)
- Esmolol 100 mg in 10 mL vials (10 mg per mL strength)
- Esmolol 100 mg in 5 mL vials (20 mg per mL strength)
- Esmolol Concentrate 2500 mg in 10 mL ampuls (250 mg per mL strength).
