Final answer:
Beta-blockers, a class of sympatholytic drugs including metoprolol and propranolol, offer symptomatic relief in CHF but do not increase survival. They help improve heart function and control arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drug class that provides symptomatic relief in CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) but does not have a survival benefit are known as β-blockers or beta-blockers. Beta-blockers are sympatholytic drugs that work by blocking the action of certain chemical messengers on the heart, which improves heart function and reduces symptoms in patients with heart conditions. These drugs are especially used to relieve symptoms when patients do not respond adequately to ACE inhibitors and diuretics.
Beta-blockers also slow certain types of irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. Medications like metoprolol and propranolol are common examples of β-blockers; metoprolol is specific for the B1-receptor whereas propranolol nonspecifically blocks β-receptors. Despite their benefits in symptom management and improving quality of life, beta-blockers have not been shown to enhance long-term survival in CHF patients.