Esmolol duration of action

Q: Esmolol duration of action can last up to? (select one)

A)  9 minutes

B) 30 minutes

Answer: B

This question aims to highlight the difference between half-life and duration of action. Although Esmolol gets rapidly metabolized by blood esterases with a short half-life of about 8-9 minutes, its effect can last up to 30 minutes. The popular belief of esmolol getting out of the system very quickly may not always be true!

#cardiology

#pharmacology

Reference:

Ehud Grossman, Franz H. Messerli, Chapter 63 - Hypertensive Urgencies and Emergencies, Comprehensive Hypertension, Mosby, 2007, Pages 761-774, ISBN 9780323039611, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-03961-1.50066-0.