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Andy Stein
June 2, 2026

Bisoprolol – a tablet for high blood pressure

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Measuring blood pressure at doctor's office
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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

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