Bisoprolol

Bisoprolol

Cardiovascular Prescription only ATC code: C07AB07

What it is

Bisoprolol is a cardioselective beta blocker. It blunts adrenaline at beta-1 receptors in the heart, so the heart beats more slowly and with less force and needs less oxygen. It is used for hypertension, arrhythmia, heart failure and angina, and is prescription-only.

Typical dose
1.25–10 mg
1× a day
Times
Any time
Morning

Used for

  • Hypertension
  • Arrhythmia
  • Heart failure
  • Angina pectoris

What to know while taking it

Food makes no difference, and it is usually a morning drug. It is never stopped abruptly, because the heart rebounds and chest pain or dangerous rhythms can follow; any change is made by a doctor. It can mask the racing heart that normally signals low blood sugar, which matters alongside insulin glargine and metformin, and glucose and triglycerides are watched because beta blockers nudge both. It opposes salbutamol at the airway receptors, hence the caution in asthma.

When to see a doctor

A pulse that is persistently slow, fainting, marked shortness of breath, swelling ankles or new wheeze all warrant a doctor rather than self-adjustment. Hypoglycaemia that arrives without its usual warning signs is another reason to see one.

Worth knowing

  • Do not stop abruptly
  • Can slow the heart rate
  • Use with caution in asthma

Markers to watch

Nutrients affected

  • coq10 — depleted by

Reference information, not medical advice. Discuss any change with your doctor.