First time on the site. I'm on 7.5mg of Bisoporal and just tired and no energy all the time. wondering if there is an alternative?

[MegScotland]

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Megscotland and welcome

Bisoprolol is one of the rate control drugs often prescribed after an A Fib diagnosis, but it's certainly not the only one.

I would say go back and talk to your doctor, but how long have you been on it? any idea what your heart rate is with it and without it? and I say that because all the drugs take time for our bodies to get used to them, and the tiredness and no energy is quite often seen with a new drug and then it settles down. We are all different, and as you will hear a lot of people say we all have different A Fib diagnosises and symptoms, and the mix of drugs to make us feel better is sometimes a "suck it and see" exercise until they get it right.

There are about 3 different beta blockers you could be on, and 2 or 3 calcium channel blockers, they all do the same thing slightly differently, so it is about finding the drug or combination that suits you, but you need to give them a chance to work if you are newly diagnosed.

Oh and if of course the heart rate is being pushed down, then that is itself will make you feel tired, as the body is not getting the oxygenation that the heart usually provides.

See what I mean about a sort of balancing act? Can't give you a straight answer to be honest.

Be well

Ian

[Marion62]

Hello Meg,

Sorry to hear you're feeling tired and have no energy.

I was initially on bisoprolol (only 2.5 mg and reduced to 1.25mg) ) but changed to diltiazem which is a calcium channel inhibitor. Suits me much better. I was always out of breath when walking when on bisoprolol.

Why not have a chat with your GP and see what they suggest - maybe they could reduce your dose or put you on a different type of medication.

Marion

[MegScotland]

thanks Marion and Ian, that's really helpful. I've been on Bisoporal now for about 3 years, and had mentioned in the first year tiredness and putting on weight, but after a few "episodes" of AF, the hospitals/doctors increased it to 7.5mg. And I've been on this higher dose now for about 5 - 6 months, but tiredness is just getting worse and to be honest a bit debilitating - so absolutely, I'll make an apt to see and discuss with my GP - thanks so much. Meg

[MammaCass]

I was initially prescribed 5mg Bisoporal but found I was exhausted, breathless and in a continual fog, the doctor reduced the dose to 2.5mg but I found the fish in my chest started flapping around lot more in the evenings, so he suggested I took my 2.5mg as normal in the morning but added 1.25mg to be taken in the evening. Within a week I felt so much better, the breathlessness has all but disappeared, the evening flapping has calmed down considerably and my energies have increased and... the brain fog has lifted, I can think rationally about this condition and make decisions that two weeks ago I couldn't get my head around, I've returned to lawn bowls and walking along the beach, I've even signed up for Tai chi. I still can't drive but I'm not so uptight about it now.

Two months ago I thought at 62 my life was over, now I realize it was the drugs and I can now get on with living life, yes I'm sure IT will knock me back from time to time but I'm hoping the EP will help me get a handle on that. Talk to your doctor Meg, see if he can adjust the dose or even try a different medication. There is a life to be lived along side AF.