Bystolic fulfills pharmacists’ desire for a new beta-blocker

NEW YORK Forest Laboratories and Mylan’s new, once-daily hypertension drug Bystolic now is available in pharmacies nationwide.

A recent survey showed that out of 20,000 retail pharmacists, 78 percent felt there was a need for a beta-blocker with an improved tolerability profile.

More than 2,000 people received Bystolic (nebivolol) during clinical trials. The drug’s efficacy was similar to that of other approved beta-blockers, the FDA said. The most common reported side effects were headache, fatigue, dizziness and diarrhea.

Hypertension affects about 72 million adults in America.