Betaxolol Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 15, 2024.

Applies to betaxolol: oral tablet.

Serious side effects of betaxolol

Along with its needed effects, betaxolol 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 betaxolol:

More common side effects

• chest pain or discomfort
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• shortness of breath
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• unusual tiredness

Less common side effects

• cold arms, legs, hands, or feet
• difficult or labored breathing
• fast, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
• swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
• tightness in the chest
• wheezing

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

Symptoms of overdose

• anxiety
• blurred vision
• chills
• cold sweats
• coma
• confusion
• convulsions (seizures)
• cool, pale skin
• decreased urine output
• depression
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
• extreme fatigue
• headache
• increased hunger
• irregular breathing
• loss of consciousness
• nervousness
• nightmares
• noisy breathing
• shakiness
• slurred speech
• sweating
• troubled breathing
• weight gain
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Other side effects of betaxolol

Some side effects of betaxolol 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:

More common side effects

• joint pain
• nausea

Less common side effects

• acid or sour stomach
• belching
• body aches or pain
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• congestion
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• diarrhea
• difficulty in moving
• dryness or soreness of throat
• fever
• heartburn
• hoarseness
• inability to have or keep an erection
• indigestion
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• muscle pain or stiffness
• rash
• runny nose
• sleeplessness
• sneezing
• stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
• stuffy nose
• tender, swollen glands in neck
• trouble in swallowing
• trouble sleeping
• unable to sleep
• unusual drowsiness, dullness, or feeling of sluggishness
• unusual or strange dreams
• voice changes

Rare side effects

• discouragement
• feeling sad or empty
• irritability
• lack of appetite
• loss of interest or pleasure
• tiredness
• trouble concentrating

For healthcare professionals

Applies to betaxolol: oral tablet.

General adverse events

The more commonly reported side effects include bradycardia, fatigue, lethargy, and headache.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, bradycardia, edema, palpitations, cold extremities
• Frequency not reported: Angina pectoris, arrhythmia, atrioventricular (AV) block, heart failure, hypertension, hypotension, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, peripheral ischemia, intermittent claudication^[Ref]

Bradycardia occurred as a dose-related effect in clinical trials. In clinical trials, bradycardia occurred in 8.1% of patients given this drug compared to 12% of patients given equivalent doses of atenolol. Symptomatic bradycardia occurred in 0.8% of patients taking this drug versus 1.4% of patients treated with equivalent doses of propranolol.

Angina pectoris, arrhythmia, AV block, heart failure, hypertension, hypotension, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, syncope, cerebrovascular disorder, intermittent claudication, peripheral ischemia, and thrombophlebitis occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, pharyngitis, rhinitis, upper respiratory infection
• Frequency not reported: Bronchitis, bronchospasm, cough, epistaxis, pneumonia, sinusitis^[Ref]

Bronchitis, bronchospasm, cough, epistaxis, pneumonia, and sinusitis occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Joint pain, myalgia, arthralgia
• Frequency not reported: Twitching, arthropathy, neck pain, muscle cramps, tendonitis, leg cramps^[Ref]

Twitching, arthropathy, neck pain, muscle cramps, tendonitis, and leg cramps occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness, paresthesia, lethargy
• Frequency not reported: Ataxia, neuralgia, neuropathy, numbness, speech disorder, stupor, tremor, syncope, amnesia, impaired concentration, taste loss, cerebrovascular disorder, abnormal taste^[Ref]

Ataxia, neuralgia, neuropathy, numbness, speech disorder, stupor, tremor, syncope, amnesia, impaired concentration, taste loss, cerebrovascular disorder, and abnormal taste occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, dyspepsia, diarrhea
• Frequency not reported: Salivation, mouth ulceration, rectal disorders, vomiting, dysphagia, constipation, dry mouth^[Ref]

Salivation, mouth ulceration, dry mouth, rectal disorders, vomiting, dysphagia, and constipation occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Anemia, leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Anemia, leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, and thrombocytopenia occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Impotence
• Frequency not reported: Menstrual disorder, Peyronie's disease, prostatitis, proteinuria, micturition disorder, dysuria^[Ref]

Menstrual disorder, Peyronie's disease, prostatitis, proteinuria, dysuria, and micturition disorder occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash
• Frequency not reported: Flushing, sweating, purpura, skin disorders, hypertrichosis, erythematous rash, eczema, alopecia, pruritus^[Ref]

Flushing, sweating, purpura, pruritus, skin disorders, hypertrichosis, erythematous rash, eczema, and alopecia occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Antinuclear antibody (ANA) development
• Frequency not reported: Flu^[Ref]

In clinical trials, ANA conversion occurred in 5.3%, 6.3%, 4.9%, and 3.2% of patients taking this drug, atenolol, propranolol, and placebo, respectively.

Flu occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nervousness, bizarre dreams, depression, insomnia
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal thinking, confusion, emotional lability, hallucinations, decreased libido^[Ref]

Abnormal thinking, confusion, emotional lability, hallucinations, and decreased libido occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Anorexia, increased appetite, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, hypokalemia, weight gain, weight loss, increased LDH, acidosis, diabetes^[Ref]

Anorexia, increased appetite, acidosis, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, hypokalemia, weight gain, weight loss, increased LDH, diabetes occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Scotoma, ocular hemorrhage, iritis, dry eyes, conjunctivitis, cataract, blepharitis, abnormal lacrimation, abnormal vision^[Ref]

Scotoma, ocular hemorrhage, iritis, dry eyes, conjunctivitis, cataract, blepharitis, abnormal lacrimation, and abnormal vision occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Fever, malaise, pain, rigors, asthenia, fatigue, earache, labyrinth disorders, deafness, thirst, breast pain, tinnitus^[Ref]

Fever, malaise, pain, rigors, earache, labyrinth disorders, deafness, thirst, breast pain, and tinnitus occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Renal pain, oliguria, cystitis, abnormal renal function^[Ref]

Renal pain, oliguria, cystitis, and abnormal renal function occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Increased liver transaminases^[Ref]

Increased liver transaminases occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Frequency not reported: Breast fibroadenosis^[Ref]

Breast fibroadenosis occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Allergy^[Ref]

Allergy occurred in less than 2% of patients treated with this drug in open and controlled long-term clinical studies or in marketing experience.^[Ref]

Further information

Betaxolol side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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