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Beta-Blocker Use and Self-Reported Sleep Changes Among Medical Students in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Mohammad Alzoubi1, Wisam Al Safadi2, Selina Sorour2
1Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Beta-blocker use among Jordanian medical students, often non-prescribed for stress, is linked to frequent sleep disturbances like insomnia and fatigue. This highlights the need for medical guidance to prevent adverse effects from unsupervised use.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Pharmacology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep is crucial for medical students' cognitive function and well-being.
- Academic stress and irregular schedules make medical students prone to sleep disturbances.
- Lipophilic beta-blockers, like propranolol, can impact sleep patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize sleep patterns in Jordanian medical students.
- To investigate the association between beta-blocker use and sleep disturbances in this population.
- To identify patterns of beta-blocker use, including non-prescribed usage.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative cross-sectional study surveyed 697 undergraduate medical students in Jordan.
- Anonymous online questionnaires collected data on beta-blocker use and sleep characteristics.
- Chi-square tests and multivariable analysis were employed to assess associations (p < 0.05).
Main Results:
- Beta-blocker use was associated with smoking but not academic level or caffeine intake.
- Male students had lower odds of beta-blocker use compared to females (OR = 0.4).
- Over half of current beta-blocker users (56.5%) reported non-prescribed use, primarily propranolol (78.3%).
- Current users frequently reported nocturnal awakenings (73.9%), nightmares (69.6%), morning fatigue (65.2%), and difficulty waking (52.2%).
- Approximately one-third of users reported a decline in sleep quality.
Conclusions:
- Non-prescribed beta-blocker use for anxiety and exam stress is common among Jordanian medical students.
- Frequent sleep disturbances are reported by beta-blocker users, necessitating medical supervision.
- Findings underscore the need for guidelines and awareness regarding risks of unsupervised beta-blocker use in this demographic.
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