NationalInstitutesofHealth/ U.S.

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HomeDrugs,HerbsandSupplementsBisoprolol

URLofthispage:https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a693024.html

Bisoprolol
pronouncedas(bisoh'proelol)

Whyisthismedicationprescribed?
Bisoprololisusedaloneorincombinationwithothermedicationstotreathighbloodpressure.Bisoprololisina
classofmedicationscalledbetablockers.Itworksbyrelaxingbloodvesselsandslowingheartratetoimprove
anddecreasebloodpressure.
Highbloodpressureisacommonconditionandwhennottreated,cancausedamagetothebrain,heart,blood
vessels,kidneysandotherpartsofthebody.Damagetotheseorgansmaycauseheartdisease,aheart
attack,heartfailure,stroke,kidneyfailure,lossofvision,andotherproblems.Inadditiontotakingmedication,
makinglifestylechangeswillalsohelptocontrolyourbloodpressure.Thesechangesincludeeatingadietthat
islowinfatandsalt,maintainingahealthyweight,exercisingatleast30minutesmostdays,notsmoking,and
usingalcoholinmoderation.

Howshouldthismedicinebeused?
Bisoprololcomesasatablettotakebymouth.Itisusuallytakenonceaday.Tohelpyouremembertotake
bisoprolol,takeitaroundthesametimeeveryday.Followthedirectionsonyourprescriptionlabelcarefully,
andaskyourdoctororpharmacisttoexplainanypartyoudonotunderstand.Takebisoprololexactlyas
directed.Donottakemoreorlessofitortakeitmoreoftenthanprescribedbyyourdoctor.
Yourdoctorwillprobablystartyouonalowdoseofbisoprololandgraduallyincreaseyourdose.
Bisoprololcontrolshighbloodpressurebutdoesnotcureit.Itmaytakeafewweeksbeforeyoufeelthefull
benefitofbisoprolol.Continuetotakebisoprololevenifyoufeelwell.Donotstoptakingbisoprololwithout
talkingtoyourdoctor.Suddenlystoppingbisoprololmaycauseangina(chestpain),heartattack,orirregular
heartbeat.Yourdoctorwillprobablydecreaseyourdosegradually.

Otherusesforthismedicine
Bisoprololalsoisusedsometimestotreatheartfailure.Talktoyourdoctoraboutthepossiblerisksofusing
thismedicationforyourcondition.

Thismedicationmaybeprescribedforotherusesaskyourdoctororpharmacistformoreinformation.

WhatspecialprecautionsshouldIfollow?
Beforetakingbisoprolol,
tellyourdoctorandpharmacistifyouareallergictobisoprolol,anyothermedications,oranyingredientsin
bisoprololtablets.Askyourpharmacistforalistoftheingredients.
tellyourdoctorandpharmacistwhatprescriptionandnonprescriptionmedications,vitamins,nutritional
supplements,andherbalproductsyouaretaking.Besuretomentionanyofthefollowing:calciumchannel
blockerssuchasdiltiazem(Cardizem,CartiaXT,DilacorXR,Tiazac,others)andverapamil(Calan,
CoveraHS,Verelan,inTarka)clonidine(Catapres,Kapvay,inClorpres)medicationsforirregular
heartbeatsuchasdisopyramide(Norpace)otherbetablockersreserpineandrifampin(Rifadin,
Rimactane,inRifamate,inRifater).Yourdoctormayneedtochangethedosesofyourmedicationsor
monitoryoucarefullyforsideeffects.
tellyourdoctorifyouhaveorhaveeverhadasthmaorotherlungdiseasesaslowheartrateheartfailure
heart,liver,orkidneydiseasediabetessevereallergiescirculationproblemsorhyperthyroidism(an
overactivethyroidgland).
tellyourdoctorifyouarepregnant,plantobecomepregnant,orarebreastfeeding.Ifyoubecomepregnant
whiletakingbisoprolol,callyourdoctor.
ifyouarehavingsurgery,includingdentalsurgery,tellthedoctorordentistthatyouaretakingbisoprolol.
youshouldknowthatbisoprololmaymakeyoudrowsy.Donotdriveacaroroperatemachineryuntilyou
knowhowthismedicationaffectsyou.
rememberthatalcoholcanaddtothedrowsinesscausedbythismedication.
youshouldknowthatifyouhaveallergicreactionstodifferentsubstances,yourreactionsmaybeworse
whileyouareusingbisoprolol,andyourallergicreactionsmaynotrespondtotheusualdosesofinjectable
epinephrine.

WhatspecialdietaryinstructionsshouldIfollow?
Ifyourdoctorprescribesalowsaltorlowsodiumdiet,followthesedirectionscarefully.

WhatshouldIdoifIforgetadose?
Takethemisseddoseassoonasyourememberit.However,ifitisalmosttimeforthenextdose,skipthe
misseddoseandcontinueyourregulardosingschedule.Donottakeadoubledosetomakeupforamissed
one.

Whatsideeffectscanthismedicationcause?
Bisoprololmaycausesideeffects.Tellyourdoctorifanyofthesesymptomsare
severeordonotgoaway:
excessivetiredness

vomiting
diarrhea
muscleaches
runnynose

Somesideeffectscanbeserious.Thefollowingsymptomsareuncommon,butifyou
experienceanyofthem,callyourdoctorimmediately:
shortnessofbreath
swellingofthehands,feet,ankles,orlowerlegs
unusualweightgain
fainting
Bisoprololmaycauseothersideeffects.Callyourdoctorifyouhaveanyunusualproblemswhiletakingthis
medication.
Ifyouexperienceaserioussideeffect,youoryourdoctormaysendareporttotheFoodandDrug
Administration's(FDA)MedWatchAdverseEventReportingprogramonline
(http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch[http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch])orbyphone(18003321088).

WhatshouldIknowaboutstorageanddisposalofthismedication?
Keepthismedicationinthecontaineritcamein,tightlyclosed,andoutofreachofchildren.Storeitatroom
temperatureandawayfromexcessheatandmoisture(notinthebathroom).Throwawayanymedicationthat
isoutdatedornolongerneeded.Talktoyourpharmacistabouttheproperdisposalofyourmedication.

Incaseofemergency/overdose
Incaseofoverdose,callyourlocalpoisoncontrolcenterat18002221222.Ifthevictimhascollapsedoris
notbreathing,calllocalemergencyservicesat911.

Symptomsofoverdosemayinclude:
swellingofthehands,feet,ankles,orlowerlegs
unusualweightgain
difficultybreathingorswallowing
dizziness
fainting
shakiness
sweating

confusion
blurredvision
headache
numbnessortinglingofthemouth
weakness
extremetiredness
suddenhunger
palecolor

WhatotherinformationshouldIknow?
Keepallappointmentswithyourdoctor.Yourbloodpressureshouldbecheckedregularlytodetermineyour
responsetobisoprolol.Yourdoctormayaskyoutocheckyourpulse(heartrate).Askyourpharmacistor
doctortoteachyouhowtotakeyourpulse.Ifyourpulseisfasterorslowerthanitshouldbe,callyourdoctor.
Donotletanyoneelsetakeyourmedication.Askyourpharmacistanyquestionsyouhaveaboutrefillingyour
prescription.
Itisimportantforyoutokeepawrittenlistofalloftheprescriptionandnonprescription(overthecounter)
medicinesyouaretaking,aswellasanyproductssuchasvitamins,minerals,orotherdietarysupplements.
Youshouldbringthislistwithyoueachtimeyouvisitadoctororifyouareadmittedtoahospital.Itisalso
importantinformationtocarrywithyouincaseofemergencies.

Brandnames
Zebeta

Brandnamesofcombinationproducts
Ziac (containingBisoprolol,
Hydrochlorothiazide)
LastRevised04/17/2015

AmericanSocietyofHealthSystemPharmacists,Inc.Disclaimer
AHFSPatientMedicationInformation.Copyright,2016.TheAmericanSocietyofHealthSystem
Pharmacists,Inc.,7272WisconsinAvenue,Bethesda,Maryland.AllRightsReserved.Duplicationfor
commercialusemustbeauthorizedbyASHP.

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NationalInstitutesofHealth
Pagelastupdated:21September2016