Are beta blockers used for treating angina as in the BNF there is only reference to organic nitrates and calcium channel blockers. If so, which specific b blockers would be useful?
Have had a look on the NICE website but can't see any published guidelines however if you read under B-blockers in the BNF (Section 2.4) they are recommended for angina. As for which particular B-blocker is used the BNF says
"As with hypertension there is no good evidence of the superiority of any one drug, although occasionally a patient will respond better to one beta-blocker than to another."
In practice however, this may be different depending on cost effectiveness and local formularies and guidance. Also, see under Section 2.6 for anti-anginal therapy.
The cochrane review in 2007 Beta-blockers for hypertension has made everyone worryied about using beta-blockers. But you have to say the study was about their use in treating HBP. Will the same apply to treating angina? who knows..
For that reason, a lot of guidelines on managing Hypertension have shifted away from them as first step treatment in favour of CCBs, ACEI and Thiazides. This shift is maybe advocated by NICE for IHD as well (using CCB off course).
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