Which medication class is primarily used to manage heart rates in patients experiencing tachycardia?

Beta-blockers are primarily used to manage heart rates in patients experiencing tachycardia due to their mechanism of action, which involves blocking the effects of adrenaline on the beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart. This leads to a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and myocardial oxygen demand, making them effective in controlling tachycardia, whether it is due to anxiety, hyperthyroidism, or other cardiac conditions. By reducing the heart's workload and lowering the heart rate, beta-blockers help stabilize patients experiencing rapid heart rates.

Other classes of medications, such as diuretics, are primarily used to manage fluid overload and hypertension, and do not directly influence heart rate in the same way. ACE inhibitors are mainly focused on lowering blood pressure and protecting renal function, especially in patients with heart failure, rather than directly addressing tachycardia. Similarly, calcium channel blockers can help manage heart rate as well, but they are often used in specific conditions like atrial fibrillation or angina rather than as a first line for general tachycardia. Hence, beta-blockers are the most definitive choice for managing heart rates in tachycardia scenarios.