Bisoprolol: Side effects, dosage, uses, and more Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Bisoprolol oral tabletMedically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — By University of Illinois — Updated on September 22, 2022 Highlights for bisoprololBisoprolol oral tablet is only available as a generic drug. It doesn’t have a brand-name version.Bisoprolol only comes as a tablet you take by mouth.Bisoprolol oral tablet is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or in combination with other blood pressure medications. Bisoprolol side effectsBisoprolol oral tablet can cause several types of side effects, including drowsiness. Do not drive, use machinery, or perform any activities that require alertness until you know how it affects you. More common side effects The more common side effects of bisoprolol oral tablet include:slower heart ratediarrheaweaknesstirednessdizzinessanxietychanges in sex drive or performancenauseadry or burning eyesheadachecold or flu symptomsswelling in any part of your body If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Serious side effects Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:Allergic reactions. Symptoms may include:skin rashitchinghivesswelling of your face, lips, or tongueChanges to your heart rate. Symptoms may include:irregular or slow heart ratefeeling dizzyfaintingHeart problems. Symptoms may include:breathing problemsswollen legs or ankleschest painCold, tingling, or numbness in your hands or feetConfusionMuscle aches and painsSweatingTremorsVomiting Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history. Important warningsStopping bisoprolol warning: Bisoprolol lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. Suddenly stopping bisoprolol can worsen your heart condition, especially if you have coronary artery disease. It may also cause changes in heart rhythm or blood pressure, worsened chest pain, and heart attack. If you’re stopping this drug, your doctor will slowly lower your dosage over at least 1 week to help prevent these side effects.Heart failure risk: Bisoprolol decreases some heart actions. This can cause or worsen heart failure. If you develop heart failure, your doctor may slowly stop your treatment with bisoprolol. If you have heart failure that’s treated with other medications, you may still be able to take bisoprolol. What is bisoprolol Bisoprolol oral tablet is a prescription drug that’s only available in a generic form. Generic drugs usually cost less than a brand-name version. Bisoprolol only comes as an oral tablet. Why it s used Bisoprolol is used to treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or in combination with other high blood pressure medications. How it works Bisoprolol belongs to a class of drugs called beta-blockers. It works by decreasing how hard your heart works and slowing your heart rate. This helps to treat high blood pressure. Bisoprolol may interact with other medications Bisoprolol oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with bisoprolol are listed below. Heart rhythm drugs These heart rhythm drugs may cause a lower heart rate or more side effects. If you take these drugs with bisoprolol, you’ll be monitored closely. Your doctor might change the dosage of your heart rhythm drugs. Examples of these drugs include:sotalolamiodaronebretyliumquinidinedisopyramideencainideflecainidepropafenoneprocainamidedigoxin Beta-blockers Bisoprolol should not be used with another beta-blocker because your heart rate can be lowered too much. Examples of these drugs include:acebutololatenololcarvedilolmetoprololpropranololDihydropyridine calcium channel blockers: Using these drugs with bisoprolol may cause a drop in your blood pressure when you change position from sitting to standing or from lying down to sitting. This raises your risk of falls. Examples of these drugs include:amlodipinefelodipinenifedipineNon-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers: Using verapamil with bisoprolol can cause severe heart block, low heart rate, changes in how your heart works, heart failure, and low blood pressure. If you have poor function of your heart ventricles, you should not use these drugs together.Bisoprolol and diltiazem have a similar action on the heart. Using one of these drugs with bisoprolol can cause heart failure, a heart rate that’s lower than average, low blood pressure, problems with how the heart works, and heart block.Clonidine: If you’re starting bisoprolol and stopping clonidine, your blood pressure can severely increase. If you’re on both medications and are going to stop taking clonidine, your doctor should stop bisoprolol several days before stopping clonidine.Reserpine: Using this drug with bisoprolol may cause a drop in your blood pressure when you change position from sitting to standing or from lying down to sitting. This can increase your risk of falls. Anti-infective drug Using rifampin with bisoprolol can speed up the rate at which bisoprolol leaves your body. This can prevent bisoprolol from working as well as it should. Alpha-blockers Using these drugs with bisoprolol may cause a drop in your blood pressure when you change position from sitting to standing or from lying down to sitting. This raises your risk of falls. Examples of these drugs include:doxazosinprazosinterazosin Anesthetic Bisoprolol might affect how lidocaine is cleared from your body. This can cause lidocaine toxicity. Your doctor may check your blood levels if you use these drugs together. Malaria drug Using mefloquine with bisoprolol can cause heart rhythm abnormalities, and your heart may stop working. Stimulants Do not use these drugs with bisoprolol. If you take them together, they will cancel out the action of each other and will not work. Examples of these drugs include:norepinephrinephenylephrine Over-the-counter cough cold allergy and pain drugs Do not take these drugs without talking with your doctor or pharmacist. Some over-the-counter drugs contain ingredients that can increase your blood pressure. Other drugs may cancel out the action of bisoprolol. Examples of these drugs include:products containing phenylephrine, such as:Sudafed PEMucinex Sinus-MaxAdvil Congestion ReliefTylenol Cold Multi-Symptomproducts containing pseudoephedrine, such as:Sudafed CongestionSudafed 12 HourSudafed 24 Hours Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs These drugs may decrease the blood pressure-lowering effects of bisoprolol. If you take them with bisoprolol, your doctor will likely monitor your blood pressure and change your bisoprolol dosage if needed. Examples of these drugs include:indomethacinnaproxenpiroxicamsulindacnabumetone Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. Bisoprolol warnings This drug comes with several warnings. Allergy warning This drug can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:rash or hivesitchingblistering or peeling skinfeverproblems breathing or chest tightnessswelling of your mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you develop these symptoms. Do not take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). Alcohol interaction warning Alcohol lowers your blood pressure. Drinking alcohol while taking bisoprolol may lower your blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Warnings for people with certain health conditions For people with heart problems: Do not take this drug if you have problems with pumping blood to your body, active heart failure, second or third-degree heart block, or slow heart rate (bradycardia). If you have one of these conditions, your heart is already having trouble working properly. Taking bisoprolol could make your condition worse by making it harder for your heart to pump blood effectively. If you have heart failure that’s being treated with medication (compensated heart failure), this drug could worsen your heart failure. For people with peripheral vascular disease: This drug could worsen the symptoms of your condition. For people with lung diseases: In general, you should not take bisoprolol if you have asthma or other breathing problems. However, your doctor may allow you to take it if you cannot tolerate other medications that treat high blood pressure. Your doctor will give you the lowest possible dosage of bisoprolol. You should have a beta-agonist inhaler, such as albuterol, available. For people with diabetes: Bisoprolol can mask the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Bisoprolol may also slow how long it takes for your blood sugar levels to rise to average levels. Bisoprolol should be used with caution if you have diabetes, especially if you’re taking insulin or other diabetes medications that cause low blood sugar. For people with hyperactive thyroid: Bisoprolol can mask the symptoms of a hyperactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). If you suddenly stop taking bisoprolol, your hyperthyroidism symptoms could get worse, or you may get a serious condition called thyroid storm. For people with a cough, cold, allergies, or pain: Talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help you find a medication that you can use safely when you’re taking bisoprolol. Warnings for other groups For pregnant people: Talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Animal research has shown adverse effects on the fetus when the gestational parent takes the drug. There haven’t been enough studies done on humans to determine how the drug might affect the fetus. This drug should only be used if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. For people who are nursing: It is not known whether bisoprolol passes into breast milk. If it does, it may cause serious effects in a child who is nursed. You and your doctor should decide if you’ll take bisoprolol or nurse a child. For children: It has not been established that bisoprolol is safe and effective for use in people under the age of 18 years. For people having surgery: Tell your doctor if you’re going to have surgery. They’ll need to monitor your heart and blood pressure and watch for drug interactions. How to take bisoprolol This dosage information is for bisoprolol oral tablets. All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:your agethe condition being treatedhow severe your condition isother medical conditions you havehow you react to the first dose Forms and strengths Generic: BisoprololForm: oral tabletStrengths: 5 mg and 10 mg Dosage for high blood pressure hypertension Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)Typical starting dosage: 5 mg taken once per day.Dosage increases: If you don’t respond to that dosage, your doctor may increase your dose to 10 mg taken once per day.Maximum dosage: 20 mg per day. Child dosage (ages 0–17 years) A safe and effective dosage has not been established for this age group. Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older) As you age, your organs (such as kidneys or liver) may not work as well as they once did. This causes more of the drug to stay in your body. Your doctor may start you at a lower dosage. Special dosage considerationsFor people with asthma or respiratory disease: Your doctor will likely start you on 2.5 mg of bisoprolol per day and increase your dosage slowly. If your dosage is too high, bisoprolol can act on your lungs in addition to your heart.For people with kidney problems: Your doctor may start you on 2.5 mg of bisoprolol per day. Your doctor will take care when increasing your dosage.For people with liver problems: Your doctor may start you on 2.5 mg of bisoprolol per day. Your doctor will take care when increasing your dosage. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Take as directed Bisoprolol oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you do not take it as prescribed. If you miss a dose: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it’s close to the time of your next dose, only take the coming dose. Do not double the dose to try to make up for missed doses. If you take too much: The most common signs of overdose include:heart rate that’s slower than averageblood pressure that’s lower than standardheart failureblood sugar levels that are lower than expectedbronchospasm (tightening of the airways in your lungs that makes it harder to breathe) If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or seek guidance from the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or through its online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. How to tell the drug is working: You may be able to tell this drug is working if your blood pressure and heart rate are lower. Important considerations for taking bisoprolol Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes bisoprolol oral tablet for you. GeneralYou don’t need to take bisoprolol with food.You can cut or crush the bisoprolol tablet. StorageStore at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C).Do not store this medication in moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms. Refills A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. Travel When traveling with your medication:Always carry your medication with you. When flying, never put it into a checked bag. Keep it in your carry-on bag.Do not worry about airport X-ray machines. They cannot damage your medication.You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Always carry the original prescription-labeled container with you.Do not put this medication in your car’s glove compartment or leave it in the car. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold. Clinical monitoring While you’re taking bisoprolol, your doctor will check the following regularly to see how well the medication is working:your blood pressureyour heart rate Your doctor may periodically check your:kidney functionliver functionblood sugar levels Are there any alternatives There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk with your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Last medically reviewed on September 22, 2022HypertensionDrugsMedically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. — By University of Illinois — Updated on September 22, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageEverything you need to know about hypertension (high blood pressure)Medically reviewed by Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major global health concern. Read on to learn what causes hypertension, its symptoms, types, and how to…READ MORECan essential oils help lower hypertension?Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT Many people look for natural treatments, such as essential oils, for high blood pressure. Learn which of these oils may help and how to use them…READ MOREWhat to know about elevated blood pressure after eatingMedically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI Here, learn how eating can affect a person’s blood pressure. Also, find out which foods to eat and avoid when trying to control high blood pressure.READ MOREBlood pressure medications: Options and side effectsMedically reviewed by Jennie Olopaade, PharmD, RPH Blood pressure medications help prevent serious complications, such as stroke and heart disease. Learn about the types and possible side effects.READ MORECan yoga reduce blood pressure?Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, RN Small studies have suggested that yoga provides a range of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure. Here, learn how yoga may help with…READ MORE