pindolol
Brand names: Visken
Pindolol is a medicine that lowers high blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs called beta-blockers.
Drug Shortage Alert
pindolol is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.79/unit
Generic Available
Yes (4 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Pindolol treats high blood pressure.
Common side effects
Bizarre or many dreams, Dizziness, Fatigue
Key warnings
You should not take pindolol if you have asthma, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, second or third-degree heart block, or a very slow heart rate.
How It Works
Pindolol blocks the effects of certain natural chemicals in your body, like adrenaline. This helps to slow down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. It also has some stimulating activity of its own.
How to Take It
Take pindolol tablets as your doctor tells you. The usual starting dose is 5 mg twice a day. You can take it with or without food. Your doctor may increase your dose every 3 to 4 weeks, up to 60 mg per day, if needed.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if pindolol will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking pindolol while breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store pindolol tablets at room temperature (68° to 77°F) away from light, in a tightly closed container, and out of reach of children.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 389 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 774 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
774
Death-Related Reports
63
Hospitalization Reports
261
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 51 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 43 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 43 |
| 4 | URINARY TRACT INFECTION | 42 |
| 5 | DIZZINESS | 41 |
| 6 | DRUG INTERACTION | 40 |
| 7 | DYSPNOEA | 40 |
| 8 | FALL | 31 |
| 9 | DIARRHOEA | 30 |
| 10 | RHABDOMYOLYSIS | 28 |
| 11 | PAIN | 26 |
| 12 | HEADACHE | 25 |
| 13 | MUSCULAR WEAKNESS | 24 |
| 14 | MYALGIA | 24 |
| 15 | SEPSIS | 24 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
You should not take pindolol if you have asthma, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, second or third-degree heart block, or a very slow heart rate.
Known Drug Interactions
Pindolol has been used with a variety of antihypertensive agents, including hydrochlorothiazide, hydralazine, and guanethidine without unexpected adverse interactions.
Mechanism: These drugs are often used together to lower blood pressure without causing any unexpected problems. They work in different ways to help your heart and blood vessels.
What to do: This combination is considered safe to use. Continue taking both medications as directed by your healthcare provider.
Pindolol has been used with a variety of antihypertensive agents, including hydrochlorothiazide, hydralazine, and guanethidine without unexpected adverse interactions.
Mechanism: These two blood pressure medicines can be used together safely. They do not have any harmful interactions when taken at the same time.
What to do: You can take these medications together as prescribed. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure to ensure the treatment is working.
Such patients may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat allergic reactions.
Mechanism: Pindolol can block the action of epinephrine, which is used to treat severe allergic reactions. This means the usual dose of epinephrine might not work as well as it should.
What to do: Tell your doctor you are taking pindolol if you have a history of severe allergies. You may need a higher dose of epinephrine during an emergency.
Drug Interactions Reduced cytochrome P450 2D6 isozyme activity, drugs which inhibit this isozyme (e.g., fluoxetine and paroxetine), and certain other drugs (e.g., fluvoxamine, propranolol, and pindolol) appear to appreciably inhibit the metabolism of thioridazine. Pindolol Concurrent administration of pindolol and thioridazine have resulted in moderate, dose related increases in the serum levels of thioridazine and two of its metabolites, as well as higher than expected serum pindolol levels. Pindolol and thioridazine should not be coadministered.
Mechanism: These two drugs block each other from being cleared out of your system. This leads to higher levels of both drugs in your blood than your doctor intended.
What to do: You should not take these two medications at the same time. Ask your doctor for a safer combination of medicines.
Common Questions
How quickly will pindolol lower my blood pressure?
Can I stop taking pindolol suddenly?
Will pindolol affect my ability to exercise?
Can I drink alcohol while taking pindolol?
Does pindolol interact with other medications?
What should I do if I feel dizzy while taking pindolol?
Can pindolol cause weight gain?
Will pindolol cure my high blood pressure?
Can pindolol cause depression?
What if my allergies get worse while taking Pindolol?
What are the common side effects of pindolol?
Does pindolol interact with other medications?
What drug class is pindolol?
Is pindolol safe during pregnancy?
Is pindolol currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Beta-Blocker with ISA
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amiloride
Midamor
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amlodipine
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amlodipine/benazepril
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Medication Guides
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What the FDA Data Shows for pindolol
The FDA label for pindolol (sold under brand names such as Visken) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Beta-Blocker with ISA class. Pindolol treats high blood pressure. Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Bizarre or many dreams, Dizziness, Fatigue.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 389 voluntary reports. The database also lists 4 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.79.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 9, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages