Other less common side effects include: Difficulty breathing. Beta-blockers can cause lung muscle spasms that make it difficult to breathe. This is more common in people who have lung conditions.

Do beta blockers decrease respiratory rate?

In some observational studies of patients with COPD, beta blocker (including beta-1 selective and nonselective) use was associated with a reduction in mortality and exacerbations of respiratory symptoms [1,2].

Why do beta blockers make you short of breath?

Beta blocker eyedrops can also cause shortness of breath by inhibiting cardiac output (decreasing the amount of blood the heart pumps out) reducing pulse, or slowing down the heart rate response during exercise.