indication

For the treatment of essential hypertension.

pharmacology

Nebivolol is a competitive and highly selective beta-1 receptor antagonist with mild vasodilating properties, possibly due to an interaction with the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway. In preclinical studies, nebivolol has been shown to induce endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation in a dose dependent manner, by stimulation of the release of endothelial nitric oxide. Nitric oxide acts to relax vascular smooth muscle cells and inhibits platelet aggregation and adhesion.

mechanism of action

Nebivolol is a selective β1-receptor antagonist. Activation of β1-receptors by epinephrine increases the heart rate and the blood pressure, and the heart consumes more oxygen. Nebivolol blocks these receptors which reverses the effects of epinephrine, lowering the heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, beta blockers prevent the release of renin, which is a hormone produced by the kidneys which leads to constriction of blood vessels. At high enough concentrations, this drug may also bind beta 2 receptors.

toxicity

The most common signs and symptoms associated with nebivolol overdosage are bradycardia and hypotension. Other important adverse events reported with nebivolol overdose include cardiac failure, dizziness, hypoglycemia, fatigue and vomiting. Other adverse events associated with β-blocker overdose include bronchospasm and heart block. The largest known ingestion of nebivolol worldwide involved a patient who ingested up to 500 mg of nebivolol along with several 100 mg tablets of acetylsalicylic acid in a suicide attempt. The patient experienced hyperhydrosis, pallor, depressed level of consciousness, hypokinesia, hypotension, sinus bradycardia, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, respiratory failure and vomiting. The patient recovered.

biotransformation

Hepatic (CYP2D6-mediated)

absorption

The absorption of nebivolol is rapid and not affected by food.

half life

10 hours

drug interactions

Terazosin: Increased risk of hypotension. Initiate concomitant therapy cautiously.

Treprostinil: Additive hypotensive effect. Monitor antihypertensive therapy during concomitant use.