Why are the beta blockers contraindicated in Variant Angina?

Variant angina, also known as Prinzmetal's Angina, is a coronary artery spasm disorder that can be associated with episodes of chest pain. Beta blockers are contraindicated for this condition because they are known to reduce the effectiveness of calcium channel blockers, which are considered to be the first line of treatment for this condition. Calcium channel blockers work by blocking the influx of calcium into muscle cells in the walls of blood vessels; beta blockers block stress hormones from binding to receptors on heart cells. As a result, while beta-blockers can reduce symptoms caused by stress hormones in other forms of angina and cardiovascular disease, they may have potentially hazardous effects on an individual presenting with variant angina due to their interference with calcium channel blocker medications.

In addition to being ineffective at relieving symptoms associated with variant angina due to their interference with effective medications for this condition, certain beta blocker drugs may actually increase oxygen demand in cardiac muscle tissue further complicating matters. For these reasons it’s important that individuals presenting with variant angina seek diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional and follow advice regarding medication carefully as improper use could aggravate existing complications or lead to more serious issues.