Question 14

Outline the classification and effects of beta-blocking drugs with examples (50% of marks). Compare and contrast the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol with esmolol (50% of marks).

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College Answer

Beta-blocking drugs were generally well classified. Selectivity, membrane stabilising activity and ISA should have been mentioned. Many candidates omitted or poorly answered the ‘effects’ of  beta blockers. Candidates who performed well answering the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol and esmolol provided a table of the two drugs. Superficial statements such as “hepatic metabolism and renal excretion” attracted minimal marks. The mechanism of action of beta blockers was not requested.

Discussion

No classification of beta-blockers could possibly incorporate "selectivity, membrane stabilising activity and ISA" all into a single taxonomy, so where the college examiners asked to "outline", what they really mean was "give us three separate classification systems". Thus:

Three Different Classification of Beta-blockers
According to selectivity According to membrane stabilising effects According to intrinsic sympathomimetic activity

Non-selective

  • Propanolol
  • Sotalol

β1-selective

  • Atenolol
  • Metoprolol
  • Bisoprolol
  • Nebivolol
  • Esmolol

Combined α- and β-blocker effect

  • Carvedilol
  • Labetalol

Stabilising

  • Propanolol
  • Sotalol
  • Metoprolol
  • Nebivolol

Non-stabilising

  • Atenolol
  • Bisoprolol
  • Esmolol
  • Carvedilol
  • Labetalol

ISA

  • Labetalol
  • Acebutolol
  • Pindolol

Non-ISA

  • Propanolol
  • Atenolol
  • Metoprolol
  • Bisoprolol
  • Nebivolol
  • Esmolol
  • Sotalol
  • Carvedilol

With this anagram-like exercise behind us, the rest of the question can be answered by the reptilian hindbrain, requiring nothing more than the direct recall of stored information.

Name Metoprolol Esmolol
Class Beta blocker Beta blocker
Chemistry aryloxypropanolamine aryloxypropanolamine
Routes of administration Oral or IV IV
Absorption 50% oral bioavailability 0% oral bioavailability
Solubility pKa 9.7, poor lipid solubility pKa 9.5, minimal lipid solubility
Distribution VOD 2.8-4.8 L/kg; only 12% protein bound VOD 3.4 L/kg; 60% protein bound
Target receptor Selective β1 receptor blocker Highly selective β1 receptor blocker
Metabolism Mainly hepatic clearance rapidly metabolized in blood by hydrolysis of its methyl ester linkag
Elimination minimal renal excretion; half-life 3-4 hrs minimal renal excretion; half-life 9 min
Time course of action Clinical effects persist for longer than the half life would suggest, because they are mainly determined by drug-receptor affinity Rapid onset and offset of effect

References

Cruickshank, J. M. "Are we misunderstanding beta-blockers." International journal of cardiology 120.1 (2007): 10-27.

López-Sendó, José, et al. "Expert consensus document on β-adrenergic receptor blockers: The Task Force on Beta-Blockers of the European Society of Cardiology." European heart journal 25.15 (2004): 1341-1362.

Oliver, Eduardo, Federico Mayor Jr, and Pilar D’Ocon. "Beta-blockers: Historical perspective and mechanisms of action." Revista Española de Cardiología (English Edition) 72.10 (2019): 853-862.

Gorre, Frauke, and Hans Vandekerckhove. "Beta-blockers: focus on mechanism of action Which beta-blocker, when and why?." Acta cardiologica 65.5 (2010): 565-570.

Johnsson, Gillis, and C-G. Regårdh. "Clinical pharmacokinetics of β-adrenoceptor blocking drugs." Clinical pharmacokinetics 1.4 (1976): 233-263.

Kendall, Martin J. "Clinical relevance of pharmacokinetic differences between beta blockers." The American journal of cardiology 80.9 (1997): 15J-19J.

McDevitt, D. G. "Comparison of pharmacokinetic properties of beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs." European heart journal 8.suppl_M (1987): 9-14.