Hi am knew to all this and was wondering if people like me experience extreme fatigue with beta blockers. Was in af before Christmas. Thanks

[a100suds]

I'm currently on nebivolol 2.5 mgs and am back to work and am struggling in work and on days of.

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes beta blockers really knock you out. It is a matter of trying different things till you find the least awful.

Bob

[a100suds]

Thanks Bob. I thought this from the literature but I thought by now I'd feel less tired. I suppose then as you say it's trial and error!

[gerryatriq]

Given that beta blockers do nothing to arrest AF but designed to keep heart rate down to normal levels, given their propensity to make us feel lethargic, tired whacked out, I am wondering what the real life benefits are. After so may years of beta blockers and feeling knackered all of the time I wonder what it would be like to just slowly stop them and see how one feels without them, while of course keeping all others meds going

[Brian101 in reply to gerryatriq]

I'm with you -I've got to get off bisoprolol

[Hidden]

Question is who is prescribing your drugs? My GP and a "junior" EP put me on beta-blockers, and my senior EP said that he wouldn't take them if he were me. He put me on rhythm control drugs and I feel almost 100% (so far!).

My GP issues beta-blockers and said she is not allowed to prescribe rhythm control drugs. I assume this applies to other GP's??? I felt rubbish on them, worn out, couldn't do my job for which I need to be quite active.

Hope you get it sorted

Koll

[gerryatriq in reply to Hidden]

My start with beta blockers happened after a visit to AE when I was on Amiodarone, 10 years ago. At that time my AF was well under control with Amiodarone, but as can happen, there is a breakout and then the AF returns with avengeance, being only 2 years into my AF journey at the time I panicked, at 10pm and went to AE where i was kept in as usual, until the next morning. There the morning registrar came round with his med students, and the decision to stop Amiodarone and place me onto Sotolol happened there and then.

NEVER BEEN OUT OF AF SINCE

After about 6 years on sotolol feeling no better throughout that time, I asked if there was anything else that could be tried, result is Bisoprolol, and as far as I can see there is no difference between the 2 of them.

Unfortunately I cannot take Flecanide due to having had 2 stents fitted, so I am left with beta blockers or nothing, as they will not allow me to try Amiodarone again.

(I had read many years ago, that one of the considerations for not prescribing Amiodarone, is that AE visits are much more common than is the case for betablockers !!!)

[Dadog]

Seems to be common, doesn't it? No energy, mental or physical and tired out. I did think it was improving at one stage but I think that was me adjusting to these effects. Like gerryatriq, I was wondering whether to reduce slowly and see what the effects would be. I shall see what my GP thinks first.

[Hidden in reply to Dadog]

I've been taking Bisoprolol for 3 years now, and it was horrible at first. It has taken some time for me to get used to them, and now I feel quite normal. I have had 3 ablations, and a pacemaker, and feel great. No more AF!

[gerryatriq in reply to Hidden]

maybe that is down to the fact that you are no longer in AF, so why still take bisoprolol?

[Hidden in reply to gerryatriq]

That's a very good question, and I don't know the answer.

Saw my EP at Eastbourne last Monday. He didn't suggest coming off any of my medication. Am also taking Warfarin, Simvastatin, and thyroxine. He is very pleased with my progress, and so am I.

[gerryatriq in reply to Hidden]

also begs the question, if you are now free of AF, why are you also taking warfarin?

[CDreamer]

I found if I take them at night and the very lowest dose possible it lessens the tiredness.

[a100suds]

Thanks everyone at least I'm not alone.