Brevibloc

Brevibloc - General Information

Brevibloc (trade name Brevibloc) is a cardioselective beta1 receptor blocker with rapid onset, a very short duration of action, and no significant intrinsic sympathomimetic or membrane stabilising activity at therapeutic dosages.
Brevibloc decreases the force and rate of heart contractions by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors of the sympathetic nervous system, which are found in the heart and other organs of the body. Brevibloc prevents the action of two naturally occurring substances: epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Pharmacology of Brevibloc

Not Available

Brevibloc for patients

Brevibloc Interactions

Catecholamine-depleting drugs, e.g., reserpine, may have an additive effect when given with beta blocking agents. Patients treated concurrently with BREVIBLOC (esmolol HCl) and a catecholamine depletor should therefore be closely observed for evidence of hypotension or marked bradycardia, which may result in vertigo, syncope, or postural hypotension.

A study of interaction between BREVIBLOC and warfarin showed that concomitant administration of BREVIBLOC and warfarin does not alter warfarin plasma levels. BREVIBLOC concentrations were equivocally higher when given with warfarin, but this is not likely to be clinically important.

When digoxin and BREVIBLOC were concomitantly administered intravenously to normal volunteers, there was a 10-20% increase in digoxin blood levels at some time points. Digoxin did not affect BREVIBLOC pharmacokinetics. When intravenous morphine and BREVIBLOC were concomitantly administered in normal subjects, no effect on morphine blood levels was seen, but BREVIBLOC steady-state blood levels were increased by 46% in the presence of morphine. No other pharmacokinetic parameters were changed.

The effect of BREVIBLOC on the duration of succinylcholine-induced neuromuscular blockade was studied in patients undergoing surgery. The onset of neuromuscular blockade by succinylcholine was unaffected by BREVIBLOC, but the duration of neuromuscular blockade was prolonged from 5 minutes to 8 minutes.

Although the interactions observed in these studies do not appear to be of major clinical importance, BREVIBLOC should be titrated with caution in patients being treated concurrently with digoxin, morphine, succinylcholine or warfarin.

While taking beta blockers, patients with a history of severe anaphylactic reaction to a variety of allergens may be more reactive to repeated challenge, either accidental, diagnostic, or therapeutic. Such patients may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat allergic reaction.

Caution should be exercised when considering the use of BREVIBLOC and verapamil in patients with depressed myocardial function. Fatal cardiac arrests have occurred in patients receiving both drugs. Additionally, BREVIBLOC should not be used to control supraventricular tachycardia in the presence of agents which are vasoconstrictive and inotropic such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine because of the danger of blocking cardiac contractility when systemic vascular resistance is high.

Brevibloc Contraindications

BREVIBLOC (esmolol HCl) is contraindicated in patients with sinus bradycardia, heart block greater than first degree, cardiogenic shock or overt heart failure.

Additional information about Brevibloc

Brevibloc Indication: For the rapid control of ventricular rate in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in perioperative, postoperative, or other emergent circumstances where short term control of ventricular rate with a short-acting agent is desirable. Also used in noncompensatory sinus tachycardia where the rapid heart rate requires specific intervention.
Mechanism Of Action: Similar to other beta-blockers, esmolol blocks the agonistic effect of the sympathetic neurotransmitters by competing for receptor binding sites. Because it predominantly blocks the beta-1 receptors in cardiac tissue, it is said to be cardioselective. In general, so-called cardioselective beta-blockers are relatively cardioselective; at lower doses they block beta-1 receptors only but begin to block beta-2 receptors as the dose increases. At therapeutic dosages, esmolol does not have intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) or membrane-stabilizing (quinidine-like) activity. Antiarrhythmic activity is due to blockade of adrenergic stimulation of cardiac pacemaker potentials. In the Vaughan Williams classification of antiarrhythmics, beta-blockers are considered to be class II agents.
Drug Interactions: Acetohexamide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Chlorpropamide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Clonidine Increased hypertension when clonidine stopped
Dihydroergotamine Ischemia with risk of gangrene
Dihydroergotoxine Ischemia with risk of gangrene
Disopyramide The beta-blocker increases toxicity of disopyramide
Ergotamine Ischemia with risk of gangrene
Epinephrine Hypertension, then bradycardia
Fenoterol Antagonism
Formoterol Antagonism
Gliclazide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Glipizide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Glisoxepide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Glycodiazine The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Ibuprofen Risk of inhibition of renal prostaglandins
Indomethacin Risk of inhibition of renal prostaglandins
Insulin The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Insulin-aspart The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Insulin-detemir The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Insulin-glargine The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Insulin-glulisine The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Insulin-lispro The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Isoproterenol Antagonism
Lidocaine The beta-blocker increases the effect and toxicity of lidocaine
Methysergide Ischemia with risk of gangrene
Orciprenaline Antagonism
Pirbuterol Antagonism
Piroxicam Risk of inhibition of renal prostaglandins
Prazosin Risk of hypotension at the beginning of therapy
Procaterol Antagonism
Repaglinide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Salbutamol Antagonism
Salmeterol Antagonism
Terbutaline Antagonism
Tolazamide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Tolbutamide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Verapamil Increased effect of both drugs
Ergonovine Ischemia with risk of gangrene
Glibenclamide The beta-blocker decreases the symptoms of hypoglycemia
Food Interactions: Not Available
Generic Name: Esmolol
Synonyms: Not Available
Drug Category: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved

Other Brand Names containing Esmolol: Brevibloc; Esmolol HCL; Esmolol Hydrochloride;
Absorption: Rapidly absorbed, steady-state blood levels for dosages from 50-300 µg/kg/min (0.05-0.3 mg/kg/mm) are obtained within five minutes.
Toxicity (Overdose): Symptoms of overdose include cardiac arrest, bradycardia, hypotension, electromechanical dissociation and loss of consciousness.
Protein Binding: 55% bound to human plasma protein, while the acid metabolite is 10% bound.
Biotransformation: Rapidly metabolized by hydrolysis of the ester linkage, chiefly by the esterases in the cytosol of red blood cells and not by plasma cholinesterases or red cell membrane acetylcholinesterase. Mainly in red blood cells to a free acid metabolite (with 1/1500 the activity of esmolol) and methanol.
Half Life: Rapid distribution half-life of about 2 minutes and an elimination half-life of about 9 minutes. The acid metabolite has an elimination half-life of about 3.7 hours.
Dosage Forms of Brevibloc: Liquid Intravenous
Chemical IUPAC Name: methyl 3-[4-[2-hydroxy-3-(propan-2-ylamino)propoxy]phenyl]propanoate
Chemical Formula: C16H25NO4
Esmolol on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esmolol
Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals