A drug that reduces the heart rate and cardiac output, which lowers blood pressure and makes the heart beat slowly with less force. Beta-blockers are also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents. Commonly prescribed include Acebutolol (Sectral), Atenolol (Tenormin), Betaxolol (Kerlone), Bisoprolol/ hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac), Bisoprolol (Zebeta), Carteolol (Cartrol), Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), Nadolol (Corgard), Propranolol (Inderal), Sotalol (Betapace) and Timolol (Blocadren)