Bisoprolol – a tablet for high blood pressure

Bisoprolol – a tablet for high blood pressure

Bisoprolol is a tablet primarily for high blood pressure. But it has other uses as well.

What is bisoprolol?

• Bisoprolol is a beta-blocker – specifically a cardioselective beta-1 adrenergic blocker (or B1-blocker), meaning it primarily targets the heart.

How it works

• It slows the heart rate and reduces how hard the heart pumps. This lowers blood pressure and reduces strain on the heart.

Uses

Bisoprolol is used to treat people with:

• High blood pressure
• Angina (chest pain)
• Heart failure
• Atrial fibrillation (AF) – slows the heart rate

Note. Also useful in anxiety

Dosage

• Taken once daily
• Often started at a low dose (e.g. 1.25–2.5 mg) and increased gradually
• Typical dose is 5–10 mg once daily, depending on the condition

Side-effects

Common side-effects

• Slow pulse
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Cold hands or feet

Less common (and more serious) side-effects

• Respiratory: Severe bronchospasm, especially in patients with asthma or COPD
• Cardiovascular: Heart block
• Psychiatric/Neurological: Hallucinations, vivid nightmares, or memory loss
• Liver problems: Hepatitis
• Endocrine: Masking symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people with diabetes

Note. Do not stop bisoprolol suddenly without medical advice.

Monitoring

Your doctor should monitor:

• Blood pressure
• Heart rate 
• Symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, or worsening breathlessness

Other resource

10 Common BP Tablets