Bisoprolol Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 8, 2024.

Applies to bisoprolol: oral tablet.

Serious side effects of Bisoprolol

Along with its needed effects, bisoprolol may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking bisoprolol:

Less common

Body aches or pain
chest pain
chills
cough
difficult or labored breathing
ear congestion
fever
headache
loss of voice
nasal congestion
pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones
shortness of breath or troubled breathing
sneezing
sore throat
stuffy or runny nose
tightness in chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
wheezing

Rare

Chest discomfort
lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
slow or irregular heartbeat

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking bisoprolol:

Symptoms of overdose

Anxiety
blurred vision
cold sweats
coma
confusion
cool, pale skin
decreased urine output
depression
dilated neck veins
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
extreme fatigue
fast heartbeat
increased hunger
irregular breathing
nausea
nervousness
nightmares
noisy breathing
seizures
shakiness
slurred speech
sweating
swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
weight gain

Other side effects of Bisoprolol

Some side effects of bisoprolol may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Abnormal or decreased touch sensation
diarrhea
difficulty in moving
lack or loss of strength
muscle pain or stiffness
pain in joints
sleeplessness
trouble sleeping
unable to sleep
vomiting

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to bisoprolol: oral tablet.

General

The more commonly reported side effects observed with this drug are bradycardia, dizziness, and hypotension.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Very common (10% or more): Bradycardia (up to 15.2%)

Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, heart failure aggravation, hypotension, cold extremities, peripheral edema, ischemia, conduction disorder, left cardiac failure, palpitation, vein disorder

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Atrioventricular (AV) disturbances, orthostatic hypotension

Frequency not reported: Other rhythm disturbances, claudication^[Ref]

Bradycardia occurred as a dose-related event.

Cardiac failure occurred in 18.4% of patients (n=1328) compared with 22.8% of placebo-treated patients (n=1321).^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 13.3%)

Common (1% to 10%): Headache, extremity numbness, cerebrovascular disorder, syncope, hypoesthesia

Frequency not reported: Vertigo, paresthesia, hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, somnolence, decreased concentration/memory, tremor, taste abnormalities

Postmarketing reports: Unsteadiness^[Ref]

Respiratory

Very common (10% or more): Dyspnea (up to 13.8%)

Common (1% to 10%): Pneumonia, bronchitis, coughing, exertional dyspnea, upper respiratory tract infection, respiratory distress, stridor, respiratory tract edema, respiratory tract hemorrhage, sinusitis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bronchospasm

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Allergic rhinitis^[Ref]

Sinusitis occurred as a dose-related event.^[Ref]

Immunologic

Very common: Antinuclear antibody (ANA) conversions (up to 15%)

Common (1% to 10%): Viral infection^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sweating

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Itching, flushing, rash

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Alopecia, psoriasis-like rash, psoriasis exacerbation

Frequency not reported: Acne, eczema, skin irritation, cutaneous vasculitis

Postmarketing reports: Dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia, epigastric pain (not food related), abdominal pain, gastritis, dry mouth

Frequency not reported: Gastric pain, peptic ulcer^[Ref]

Diarrhea occurred as a dose-related event.^[Ref]

Metabolic

Common (1% to 10%): Purine metabolism disorder, carbohydrate metabolism disturbed, weight changes, cholesterol changes, potassium levels altered, blood lipid changes

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Increased triglycerides

Frequency not reported: Gout

Postmarketing reports: Increased uric acid and glucose^[Ref]

Uric acid, serum potassium, glucose, and phosphorus increases associated with use of this drug were not of clinical importance and rarely resulted in discontinuation.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Limb pain, myalgia, arthropathy, arthralgia

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Muscular weakness, cramps

Frequency not reported: Back pain, neck pain, twitching^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, fatigue, body pain, fever, malaise

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hearing disorders

Frequency not reported: Earache, tinnitus^[Ref]

Fatigue and asthenia occurred as dose-related events.^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia, anxiety

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sleep disorders, depression

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Nightmares, hallucinations

Frequency not reported: Restlessness^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Potency disorders

Frequency not reported: Decreased libido, Peyronie's disease, polyuria^[Ref]

Hepatic

Common (1% to 10%): Hepatomegaly

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Increased liver enzymes (ALT, AST), hepatitis^[Ref]

Transaminase elevations of 1 to 2 times the upper limit of normal were reported in 6.2% of patients, with a multiple occurrence rate of 1.9%. Generally, this increase was the result of underlying disorders or resolved with continued use of this drug.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypersensitivity

Postmarketing reports: Angioedema^[Ref]

Of the 15% of patients who developed positive ANA status, one-third of patients converted back to a negative titer with continued use.^[Ref]

Ocular

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Reduced tear flow

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Conjunctivitis

Frequency not reported: Visual disturbances, ocular pain, ocular pressure^[Ref]

Renal

Frequency not reported: Cystitis, renal colic

Postmarketing reports: Increased creatinine and BUN^[Ref]

Creatinine and BUN were associated with slightly increased levels, but these effects were generally not of clinical importance and rarely resulted in discontinuation.^[Ref]