adrenaline

We hear alot about beta-blockade as a front line treatment of raised blood pressure.  For those individuals who have a labile hypertension caused by stressful situations what is this the best choice?  People with adrenaline secreting tumours like phaeochromacytoma are treated first with alpha blockers and then beta blockade.  What is the benefit of doing this? Do drugs/treatments exist which reduce the production of adrenaline which might be of benefit?  Am I right in thinking that beta blockers reduce the effects of adrenaline on the heart (and other systems) but don't actually reduce the amount of circulating catelcholamines?

G

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

Beta blockers are often used as first line treatment of high blood pressure, especially in people with coronary artery disease. THey work by blocking some of the effects of adrenaline on the heart. Thus, they are well-suited to treating labile blood pressure. Combining therapy with an alpha blocker (or any of a number of other blood pressure medications) can be useful if treatment with beta blockers alone is not sufficient.