Always follow your doctor's advice, and the instructions that come with your medicine.
Dosage
Your dose of bisoprolol depends on why you need the medicine.
For high blood pressure or angina, you'll usually start on 5mg to 10mg once a day. If this dose is not working well enough to reduce your blood pressure or control your angina, your doctor may increase it to 20mg.
For heart failure, you'll usually start at a low dose of 1.25mg a day and increase gradually up to 10mg a day. The dose is usually increased slowly over a few months.
How to take it
You'll usually take bisoprolol once a day in the morning.
Your doctor may advise you to take your very first dose before bedtime as it can make you feel dizzy. If you do not feel dizzy after having your first dose, take bisoprolol in the morning.
Bisoprolol does not usually upset your stomach, so you can take it with or without food.
Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Some brands have a score line to help you break the tablet to make it easier to swallow. Check the information leaflet for your brand to see if you can do this.
How long to take it for
Usually, treatment with bisoprolol is long term, even for the rest of your life.
Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking it. Stopping can make your blood pressure rise, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Important
Take bisoprolol even if you feel well, as you'll still be getting the benefits of the medicine.
If you forget to take it
If you miss a dose of bisoprolol, take it as soon as you remember that day. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.
If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
An overdose of bisoprolol can slow down your heart rate and make it difficult to breathe. It can also cause dizziness and trembling.
The amount of bisoprolol that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than your prescribed dose of bisoprolol
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you, or call for an ambulance.
Take the bisoprolol packet or leaflet inside it, plus any remaining medicine, with you.
Immediate action required: Go to A&E or call 999 now if:
you take more than your prescribed dose of bisoprolol and you:
- have a slow heart rate
- have breathing problems
- feel dizzy or shaky