Non-selective β-blocker (with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity)
Pindolol
Brand names: Visken
Adult dose
Dose: Hypertension: 5mg BD-TDS, max 45mg/day
Route: PO
Frequency: BD-TDS
Clinical pearls
- Hypertension where bradycardia from other β-blockers problematic
- Largely superseded
Contraindications
- Asthma
- 2nd/3rd-degree AV block
- Cardiogenic shock
- Severe bradycardia
- Untreated phaeochromocytoma
Side effects
- Bradycardia (less than other β-blockers — ISA)
- Bronchospasm
- Cold extremities
- Sleep disturbance
- Fatigue
Interactions
- Verapamil/diltiazem
- Other antihypertensives
- NSAIDs
Monitoring
- BP
- HR
Reference: BNF; NICE NG136; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/pindolol/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) · Functional Assessment
- MAGGIC Heart Failure Risk Score · Heart Failure
- Long QT Syndrome (Schwartz Score) · Channelopathy / Sudden Cardiac Death
- Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) · Urticaria
- VIDA Score (Vitiligo Disease Activity) · Vitiligo
- Sartorius Score for Hidradenitis Suppurativa · Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Pathways
- Acute Heart Failure · ESC 2021 Heart Failure Guidelines; NICE NG106
- NSTEMI / Unstable Angina · ESC 2020 NSTEMI Guidelines; NICE NG185
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines