Which cardiac effect is associated with beta blocker overdose?

Which cardiac effect is associated with beta blocker overdose?

• A. Normal heart rate
• B. Hypertension
• C. Bradycardia with hypotension
• D. Increased contractility

Answer: (C)

Beta-blocker overdose suppresses the heart’s response to sympathetic stimulation by blocking beta-1 receptors. This reduces automaticity in the SA node (slower heart rate), slows conduction through the AV node, and decreases myocardial contractility. The combined effect is a slower heart rate with reduced cardiac output, causing hypotension. So bradycardia with hypotension best fits the cardiac effects seen in overdose. The other options don’t align: normal heart rate would imply normal sympathetic influence, hypertension would not typically result from beta blockade, and increased contractility is opposite to what beta-blocker overdose produces.

Beta-blocker overdose suppresses the heart’s response to sympathetic stimulation by blocking beta-1 receptors. This reduces automaticity in the SA node (slower heart rate), slows conduction through the AV node, and decreases myocardial contractility. The combined effect is a slower heart rate with reduced cardiac output, causing hypotension. So bradycardia with hypotension best fits the cardiac effects seen in overdose. The other options don’t align: normal heart rate would imply normal sympathetic influence, hypertension would not typically result from beta blockade, and increased contractility is opposite to what beta-blocker overdose produces.