Bisoprolol × Linezolid

Besides its antibacterial action, linezolid is a reversible, non-selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO), so it belongs to the MAO inhibitors (linezolid SmPC). The bisoprolol SmPC warns that MAO inhibitors, except MAO-B inhibitors, increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of beta-blockers but also raise the risk of hypertensive crises (bisoprolol SmPC).

Excessive drop in blood pressure: dizziness, weakness, feeling faint. The opposite reaction is also possible: a hypertensive crisis with a sharp rise in blood pressure and severe headache (bisoprolol SmPC).

The combination is not prohibited, but the bisoprolol SmPC lists monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, except MAO-B inhibitors, among combinations that need assessment: blood pressure may either fall or rise sharply (bisoprolol SmPC). The linezolid SmPC describes linezolid as a non-selective MAO inhibitor (linezolid SmPC). So blood pressure and wellbeing are watched during a linezolid course in a patient on bisoprolol. In uncontrolled hypertension, linezolid is given only where blood pressure can be closely monitored (linezolid SmPC).