bisoprolol

Don't stop taking bisoprolol suddenly without talking to your provider first, especially if you have heart disease. Doing so can cause chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, high blood pressure, and even a heart attack. If you need to stop taking bisoprolol, work with your provider to lower your dose gradually over time, typically over 1 week.

People with heart failure shouldn't take bisoprolol if their heart failure symptoms aren’t well-managed. That’s because this medication can make your condition worse. But you might be able to take bisoprolol if your healthcare provider thinks your symptoms are under controlled. Keep in mind that, though rare, sometimes taking a beta-blocker, like bisoprolol over time might lead to heart failure even in people without this condition. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you experience symptoms of heart failure, such as fluid build-up in different areas of the body including the ankles, legs, and lungs, and difficulty breathing.

Beta-blocker medications like bisoprolol are generally not recommended for people with bronchospastic conditions, like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), because it can trigger difficulty breathing. Bisoprolol has a lower chance of causing difficulty breathing because it works specifically on the heart, but should only be used under careful supervision of a healthcare provider if you have any conditions that can cause breathing problems.

Taking bisoprolol can make it difficult for you to identify symptoms of low blood sugar, such as fast heart beat or tremors. If you’re taking medications, like glipizide or insulin, to lower your blood sugar, you might not be able to rely on all the typical symptoms of low blood sugar (e.g., irritability, sight tremors, confusion, and fast heartbeat) to warn you of a dangerous drop in your sugar levels. Sweating might be the only symptom not affected by taking bisoprolol. Speak with your healthcare provider about when and how to monitor your blood sugar if you start bisoprolol.

Bisoprolol can hide signs of hyperthyroidism, especially a fast heart rate. It's important to talk to your provider before stopping bisoprolol suddenly, since doing so can worsen thyroid problems.

Beta blockers like bisoprolol can lessen your response to life-saving treatments for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). They can also cause your allergic reaction to be more severe than usual. Discuss all of your allergies with your provider and a plan on what to do if you experience an allergic reaction while taking bisoprolol.