Low dose of bisoprolol has decreased my heart rate to 55 when in N.S.R. but now back in A.F. and heart rate high as ever.

[dedeottie]

In fact it has probably been my worst episode to date. Blood pressure and heart rate all over the place. Felt dreadful.Anyone know why this is I would have thought heart rate would have slightly lower if not a lot lower. Start flecanide next week and am worried about effects of this as well. Worry worry worry !!!

[rosyG]

Do you know what type of AF you have?

If it is just the vagal type and happens at night and connected with change in sleep and posture then beta blockers are contra-indicated and can make you feel worse. You can have a mixture of AF of course!

[Hidden in reply to rosyG]

so the AF that starts at night is vagal AF? I didn't realise. Most of mine has been at night, though I had one start up during the day after I'd had a bad stomach for a couple of days - the doc said that low potassium levels can trigger AF so I guess that explains that... Interesting...

[jennydog]

Iam on Bisoprolol too. I have classic AF. In September the cardiologist suggested 5mg per day. It didn't control the AF so it was put up to 7.5 and then 10. His instruction to the GP was to try it and if it didn't work to try flecanide. I have been on atenolol, then Amiodorone and then Soltolol in the past.

I was desperately tired when I first started on Bisoprolol but am much better now. I think that it masks the AF so it's manageable. My resting heart rate is about 53 with bp of approx 115/70. I think it's important to give it time, if possible.

[dedeottie]

Thanks for your replies. I don't have the vagal sort in fact it is at its best when in bed asleep thank goodness.I have only been given a dose of 1.25 mg yet so I suppose it will need increasing. My consultant wants me to go on flecanide as well and if that doesn't work an ablation . I am more than happy to have any drug that works but am always a bit scared to start with. I feel better just chatting on here about it so thanks both of you. X

[Bagrat]

I am the flecainide fan!! I started with bisoprolol but couldn't get past 5mg as pulse rate dropped ( and had another bout of AF). Been on flecainide for two years and only one episode since starting it 100mg twice a day. Can't say I've noticed side effects but may be run out of energy a bit faster, but then I'm nearly 70 .

[Hidden]

I think we all get different reactions to different drugs. I can't take Bisoprolol or Flecainide. Biso makes me feel like a zombie first thing in the morning, and Flec gives me palpitations!!! Just been changed from Flec (which I only took for a few days) and to Propafenone, which works on me, but from past experience, will eventually make my memory poor. Roll on ablation.

Koll

[dedeottie]

We are all so different arent we! Hope I will be like you Bag rat as my memory isn't the best without the help of drugs! Thanks for your replies.x