Several beta-adrenergic blocking agents are on the market in Western Germany. They differ not only in their beta-blocking potency and selectivity but also in their unspecific effects, as intrinsic activity and membrane stabilizing properties. Also the pharmacokinetic behaviour varies widely. From the clinical point of view the selectivity is important for avoiding an aggravation of an underlying obstructive lung disease of effects in the peripheral vascular bed. The intrinsic activity on the one hand might be responsible for some side effects like nightmare or headache; the slowing of resting heart rate on the other hand might be less pronounced. The discrepancies of bio-availability might be overcome by increasing the oral dose.