Do Beta Blockers Really Make Things 'A Breeze' Like Robert Downey Jr. Said?

This past weekend, Robert Downey Jr. did two things: He won Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture at the Golden Globes for his role in ” Oppenheimer,” and he gave a cheeky public shoutout to a medication: beta blockers.

While the blood pressure medication has been around forever, the actor’s mention of the drug prompted many to realize that beta blockers might also be used for other medical necessities ― particularly anxiety, which Downey Jr. alluded to in his speech. It was reported that Google searches for “what’s a beta blocker” and “beta blockers for anxiety” increased after the Golden Globes aired.

Dr. Mirela Loftus , the medical director at Newport Healthcare in Connecticut, explained that beta blockers are a class of medication that basically impede the effects of adrenaline on a body’s receptors.

“By inhibiting the action of adrenaline, beta blockers help reduce the heart rate, lower blood pressure and decrease the workload on the heart,” she said. “This makes them useful in managing conditions such as hypertension, chest pains and certain cardiovascular disorders.

Even more specifically, there are two types of beta blockers: cardioselective and non-selective. The former targets receptors in the heart while the latter affects both heart sensors and others found across distinct tissues, including the lungs. Each category of drug can be prescribed by a health care professional.

Can beta blockers be used for stress or anxiety?

Beta blockers are sometimes used to manage anxiety. According to Loftus, that’s actually because of their relationship with adrenaline.

“Anxiety often involves an overactive sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the common ‘fight of flight’ response,” she said.