Practolol is a beta-adrenergic antagonist that has been used in the emergency treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Practolol is a cardio-selective beta-blocking agent with an intrinsic sympathomimetic action, but devoid of local anaesthetic effect. It has been found effective in post infarction arrhythmias. In early infarction it reduces the area of necrosis as measured by surface ST segment mapping. Practolol has also been shown to be an effective drug in treating angina. Long-term treatment revealed advantageous effects of practolol on the incidence of anginal attacks and the number of nitroglycerin tablets consumed in daily life. There was also a noticeable improvement in the ECG. The results obtained in a double-blind trial, with placebo, proved the effectiveness of the drug. The treatment enabled the patients to lead appreciably more active lives. A marked increase in work performance, depending on the dose applied, was confirmed in exercise tolerance tests. No side-effects which would call for discontinuance of the treatment were seen during long-term administration with doses up to 800 mg daily. Like other beta-adrenergic antagonists, practolol competes with adrenergic neurotransmitters such as catecholamines for binding at sympathetic receptor sites. Practolol binds at beta(1)-adrenergic receptors in the heart and vascular smooth muscle, inhibiting the effects of the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine and decreasing heart rate, cardiac output, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Practolol, discovered in 1966, was removed from the market due to severe side effects including conjunctival scarring, fibrosis, and metaplasia.

Bopindolol (4-[benzoyloxy-3-tertbutylaminopropoxy]-2-methylindole hydrogen malonate) is an indole beta-adrenoceptor antagonist bearing a benzoyl ester residue on the beta-carbon atom of the propanolamine side chain. Bopindolol is metabolized by esterase to benzoic acid and an active metabolite, 18-502 [4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-2-methyl indole], which is further metabolized to 20-785 [4-(3-t-butylaminopropoxy)-2-carboxyl indole]. Bopindolol produces sustained blockade of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors, has intrinsic sympathomimetic as well as membrane stabilizing actions, inhibits renin secretion, and interacts with 5-HT receptors. Bopindolol is used in the treatment of hypertension. In limited trials bopindolol has also successfully reduced symptoms in patients with angina pectoris, anxiety and essential tremor.

Bupranolol is a non-selective beta blocker without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA), but with strong membrane stabilizing activity. Bupranolol competes with sympathomimetic neurotransmitters such as catecholamines for binding at beta(1)-adrenergic receptors in the heart, inhibiting sympathetic stimulation. This results in a reduction in resting heart rate, cardiac output, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and reflex orthostatic hypotension. Ophthalmic Bupranolol is used for the management of glaucoma and oral Bupranolol is used for the management of cardiovascular disorders. S-Bupranolol has also being shown to have superior preclinical safety profile and great antinociceptive efficacy and should be considered as a unique b-AR compound to advance future clinical pain studies.

Fenoterol is a beta2-adrenoreceptor agonist, used as a bronchodilator for the treatment and prevention of bronchospasms, associated with asthma and chronic obstructive airway disease, including bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema. Fenoterol is also used for tocolysis during premature labor. Marketing of fenoterol for treatment of asthma was suspended in Australia and New Zealand because of an increased risk of deaths, most likely due to excessive self-administration of the drug.

(-)-Propranolol is a small molecule β-adrenergic receptor antagonist and the active isomer of (±)-Propranolol preparations. (-)-Propranolol blocks the binding of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and other endogenous catecholamines to the β-adrenergic receptor, impeding increases in cardiac flow velocity and general stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system signaled by the association of these molecules to the β-adrenergic receptor. In addition to blockade of agonist binding, antagonism of the β-adrenergic receptor by (-)-Propranolol produces negative chronotropic and inotropic action, effectively dampening the force and rate of cardiac contraction. These negative chronotropic and inotropic effects correlate to a demonstrated suppression of adrenaline-induced cardiac arrhythmia by (-)-Propranolol. Suppression of β-adrenergic receptor activation by (-)-Propranolol has been widely exploited in counteracting situations sensitive to heightened cardiac activity including hypertension, angina pectoris, and cardiac ischemia.

Carazolol is a beta1/beta2 adrenoreceptor blocking agent. Activity and safety of the drug were evaluated in clinical trials that were conducted in healthy subjects and in patients suffering from either chronic bronchitis or asthma. The drug, however, was not developed for human use. Instead, carazolol is used in to reduce stress in animals during transportation. In veterinary medicine, carazolol is given by intramuscular injection to pigs is indicated in stress-inducing situations. In cattle, carazolol is intended to be used for the prevention of shipment stress caused by transportation and formation of new herds.

Esatenolol is the (S) enantiomer of atenolol, a beta1-adrenergic receptor antagonist. Only (S)-atenolol, but not (R)-atenolol, contributes to the beta-blocking effect of currently used racemic atenolol since the same effect can be elicited with the (S)-enantiomer alone. Pure (S)-atenolol has been launched in India for the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris.

Bucumolol is a beta-adrenergic antagonist. It can be used in the treatment of myocardial ischemia and hypertension.

Oxilofrine is a sympathomimetic used to treat hypotensive states, with cardiac stimulatory effects similar to those of ephedrine. It has never been approved for use in the USA as a prescription drug or as a dietary supplement. Oxilofrine has been found (1) to act predominantly as a beta1 agonist increasing the speed and force of heart muscle contraction (inotropic effects), specifically, increasing left ventricular ejection fraction and stroke volume; (2) to increase blood pressure; (3) to have variable effects on heart rate; and (4) to potentially increase oxygen uptake by the lungs.