Bisoprolol

Bisoprolol is not suitable for everyone. To make sure it's safe before starting bisoprolol, it should be reported if:[1]

• there has ever been an allergic reaction to bisoprolol or any other medicine
• there is hypotension or a slow heart rate
• there is heart failure that's getting worse, heart disease, or a recent heart attack
• there is severe blood circulation problems in the limbs (such as Raynaud's), which may make fingers and toes tingle or turn paler than usual or blue (this may be less obvious on brown or black skin)
• there is metabolic acidosis. This is when there is too much acid in the blood
• there is a lung disease or severe asthma

As conditions or other problems which may affect the medicine or how it works.

There are some medicines that may affect the way bisoprolol works. Report taking:[1]

• blood pressure medicines, for lowering blood pressure or to treat hypertension
• antidepressants, nitrates (for chest pain), baclofen (a muscle relaxant), medicines for an enlarged prostate gland like tamsulosin, or Parkinson's disease medicines, such as co-careldopa and levodopa. These could lower the blood pressure
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen[1], because they can stop bisoprolol working as well as it should
• steroids, like prednisolone
• cough medicines that contain pseudoephedrine or xylometazoline
• medicines for diabetes – bisoprolol may make it more difficult to recognise the warning signs of low blood sugar
• medicines for allergies, such as ephedrine, noradrenaline or adrenaline
• medicines for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• rifampicin, an antibiotic

There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with bisoprolol. It's not possible to say whether they are safe to take together. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines.[1]

These common side effects of bisoprolol happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and shortlived. There are some ways to help cope with side effects. They are:[1]

• Headaches
• Feeling dizzy or weak
• Cold hands or feet
• Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation

It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects when taking bisoprolol. Call a doctor or ambulance now if:[1]

There is shortness of breath with a cough that gets worse with exercise (like walking up stairs). Or if swollen ankles or legs develop, or an irregular heartbeat. These are signs of heart problems.

If the whites of the eyes turn yellow, or skin turns yellow (although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin). These can be signs of liver problems