Beta blockers (also
ß-blockers,
beta-adrenergic blocking agents,
beta antagonists,
beta-adrenergic antagonists,
beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists, or
beta adrenergic receptor antagonists) are a class of
drugs that are particularly used for the management of
cardiac arrhythmias, protecting the heart from a second heart attack (
myocardial infarction) after a first heart attack (secondary prevention). They have been used in
hypertension, but are no longer a treatment of first choice.