I have been put on bisoprosol 2.5 mg for perm AF. Looked on couple of sites and some people moan about side effects. Is anyone on it and if

[gateman]

so are side effect common or not. Any tips about time of taking etc.

Thanks. Gerry

[Finvola]

Hello Gerry

I've been taking 2.5mg daily for about 2 months and have symptoms which have lessened slightly during that time. They are: tight chest/throat, heavy legs and difficulty walking uphill. By managing how I do things (ie at reduced speed) and generally slowing down, I feel I'm coping quite well. A cardiologist explained that a beta blocker causes the normal heart rate to increase more slowly than would be the case without beta blocking - for example when going uphill or exercising - and to go s-l-o-w-l-y and wait for the heart rate to catch up.

At the moment, I take my tab in the mornings, having tried evenings without much difference in how I feel. Some people find that evening is better for them - I suppose trial and error is the best guide with timing.

Good luck

[Langara]

Hello Gerry - I have been taking 2.5mg Bisoprolol for 12 months and so far so good. No side effects whatsoever.

Did a lot of walking on a recent holiday, pacing myself according to how I felt. Play golf 3 times a week. I do use lifts and escalators more now, but I think that`s laziness in old age rather than anything to do with the Bisoprolol.

Best wishes.

[Marion62]

Hi,

Bisoprolol 2.5mg made me out of breath when walking uphill - along with pain across my back. A reduction in dose to 1.25 mg didn't help, neither did taking it at different times.

After 6 months I changed to diltiazem - a calcium channel blocker - I've been on this for over a year now and fortunately feel much better - I walk for an hour and a half most weekday mornings and can tackle most inclines.

Marion

[Buffafly in reply to Marion62]

Hi Marion,

I have recently been prescribed Diltiazem (added to Propafenone) as my consultant said he can't prescribe a beta blocker, did not say why (man of few words not to say curt) but I find that I have sometimes been having trouble climbing stairs and walking slopes. The effect usually comes on as I get to the top so I am learning to slow down. I also get days when I feel rubbish and have swollen ankles and at some point I have to give up and go to bed. It is helpful that you say you don't have these problems as I have been wondering if something else is going on, and should I see my doctor? I think now I will.

[Marion62 in reply to Buffafly]

Hi Buffafly,

Sorry to read you are having problems - I am on 120mg slow release diltiazem once a day - and also digoxin 62.5mcg.

Medication can affect us all in so many different ways but maybe your GP can suggest an alternative, alter the dose or refer you back to the cardiologist. I always go to my GP with a list of my symptoms so I don't forget anything.

Hope you will soon be feeling better.

Best wishes

Marion

[Buffafly in reply to Marion62]

Thank you Marion, I am on 240 mg slow release, seems maybe too much! My doctor was happy my pulse rate was 60 when I saw her but that is the max. I'll start on the list

[gateman]

Thanks for your responses

Gerry

[Barb1]

I am on 7.5mg. I take 5mg at breakfast and 2.5mg with lunch. I have all the shortness of breath and difficulty walking up hills that people have mentioned but don't know how much of that is the Bisoprolol and how much my persistent AF.

[Hidden]

G'day Gerry,

I've been on it for 4 and half years - 5 mg a day. When I was first put on it I was told to take it in the morning. Not a good idea as I experienced a range of side effects the worst was unpredictable nose bleeds. Bit hard to take as I drove buses for a living at the time and often would have a bleed on shift. Went to my GP, did some table thumping and she got out her book of Magic Potions and Brews and said take it at night. I did her bidding and haven't had a nose bleed or other side effects since, thats about 4 years now.

Aussie John

[Lizziefin]

I was prescribed bisoprolol for ectopics, not AF, 2 months ago. 1.25mg and they have worked a treat. As I work out every morning, I take it 12.30 each day. The only side affect I have is cold feet on occasion, just put thicker socks on! I am just so pleased that they have calmed the herd of horses that lived in my chest for 3 months!

[Dadog]

Agree with all of that. Bisoprolol has an effect and side effects generally but there are other factors which complicate the problem. Existing infirmities can be one - age is another. I often wonder whether it's age or my back problem, as I stagger up a slight slope; and not the Bisop. I did reduce from 5mg to 2.5mg (my decision) and began to feel much more energetic physically and mentally. Cardio put me back on 5mg again and I began to slip back into the same old pattern. I will be speaking to my GP next week and will ask to go back to 2.5mg. It's my body after all!

[bebe7637]

I am on Bisopropol and am doing fine. Of course they slow you down a bit which is frustrating , but I can cope with that if it helps me.

[cbsrbpm]

I having been taking 5mg Bisoprolol for 4 weeks now and for the first couple of days felt dreadful, weak and wobbly, breathless and no energy at all. Since then I seem to have settled down and my heart rate has also settled down although I am still out of rhythm and have been constantly for 4 weeks. I had the pharmacist ring me today to see how I am getting on with the new medication and I told him I am a little breathless on exertion, tired most of the time and have started getting muscle cramps which I didn't suffer from before. He tells me that cramp is one of the side effects.

Brenda