Which two side effects are commonly associated with topical beta blocker medications?

Topical beta blockers, commonly used in the management of glaucoma, can lead to systemic side effects despite being administered locally. The correct association of side effects with topical beta blockers includes bradycardia, which is a slowed heart rate, and bronchoconstriction, which is the narrowing of the airways.

Beta blocker medications primarily work by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart, leading to a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia) as part of their pharmacological effect. Moreover, beta-2 adrenergic receptors in the lungs, when blocked, can cause bronchoconstriction, resulting in difficulty breathing for patients with respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD.

While some options suggest tachycardia and bronchodilation, these are not standard side effects of topical beta blockers. Rather, systemic absorption can exacerbate allergies or respiratory conditions due to the action of the medication on both heart and lung receptors. Thus, understanding the pharmacodynamics of beta blockers leads to recognizing bradycardia and bronchoconstriction as important side effects to monitor when prescribing these medications.