Betablockers have a number of indications - from arterial hypertension to secondary prevention to myocardial infarction to treatment of heart failure. Beta-blockers represent a heavily heterogeneous group of drugs with significant haemodynamic and antiarrhythmic effects. Betablockers play an irreplaceable role in patients with chronic heart failure and some forms of arrhythmias. This article discusses the status of beta-blockers, especially metoprolol succinate in retarded form in systolic heart failure.