Sleep is as essential as eating, drinking, and breathing. Without enough of it, people can develop sleep deprivation, which affects health and well-being.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in three adults in the United States reports not getting enough sleep daily. Interestingly, some medications, including beta-blockers, may influence sleep patterns and even cause unusual dreams or insomnia.
Beta-blockers are commonly prescribed for heart-related conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure, chest pain, and irregular heartbeats.
These medications work by slowing the heart rate and reducing the heart’s workload, which helps to lower blood pressure.
However, they have also been suspected of causing psychological side effects, including depression, anxiety, drowsiness, hallucinations, and sleep disturbances.
In a large study conducted by the Berlin Institute of Health, researchers examined the potential mental health effects of beta-blockers.
They analyzed data from more than 50,000 individuals in 258 studies, including many clinical trials focused on treating high blood pressure. Among these studies, 31 specifically assessed whether beta-blockers were linked to depression.
The findings were reassuring for most people taking beta-blockers. While depression was the most frequently reported mental health side effect, it did not occur more often in those taking beta-blockers compared to those taking a placebo.
Furthermore, the rate of stopping medication due to depression was similar between people taking beta-blockers and those on other treatments.
Although beta-blockers appear mostly safe for mental health, sleep-related issues like unusual dreams, insomnia, and other sleep disorders did arise in some cases. Fatigue and tiredness were also common reasons why people stopped taking beta-blockers.
These results suggest that while beta-blockers are generally safe and should not be avoided due to concerns about depression, some people may experience sleep disturbances while on these medications.
Doctors and patients should be aware of these potential side effects and discuss any sleep-related symptoms that arise during treatment.
For those concerned about maintaining healthy blood pressure without medication, diet and lifestyle changes can also help. Research suggests that cherry concentrate, green tea, and omega-3 fatty acids may support healthy blood pressure levels.
However, if beta-blockers are prescribed, the study, led by Reinhold Kreutz and published in Hypertension, shows they are a reliable and safe option for most people, with minimal risk to mental health.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and people with severe high blood pressure should reduce coffee intake.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
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