Table II.

  Pharmacologic Characteristics of β‐Blockers ³ , ⁷ , ⁸ , ⁹

Drug	β1/β2‐Selectivity	ISA	Lipophilicity	MSA	Ancillary Effects
Nonselective β‐adrenergic antagonists
Carteolol	0	+	Low	0	N/A
Nadolol	0	0	Low	0	N/A
Penbutolol	0	+	Moderate	0	N/A
Pindolol	0	++	High	+	N/A
Propranolol	0	0	High	++	N/A
Sotalol	0	0	Low	0	Additional antiarrhythmic effects
Timolol	0	0	High	0	N/A
Selective β‐adrenergic antagonists
Acebutolol	+	+	Moderate	+	N/A
Atenolol	+	0	Low	0	N/A
Betaxolol	++	0	Moderate	0	N/A
Bisoprolol	++	0	Moderate	0	N/A
Esmolol (IV only)	++	0	Low	0	N/A
Metoprolol	++	0	High	0	N/A
α1‐Adrenergic and β‐adrenergic antagonists
Labetalol	+	0	Low	0	α1‐adrenergic–blocking activity; direct β2‐vasodilatory activity
Carvedilol	0	0	Moderate	++	α1‐adrenergic–blocking activity; vasodilation
Selective β‐adrenergic antagonists with ancillary properties
Nebivolol	+++	0	Moderate	0	Endothelium‐dependent, NO‐mediated vasodilation

Abbreviations: ISA, intrinsic sympathomimetic activity; IV, intravenous; MSA, membrane‐stabilizing activity; N/A, not applicable; NO, nitric oxide.