Bisoprolol as a 'pill in the pocket'

[jeanjeannie50]

A few weeks ago when admitted to hospital with my pulse at a constant 160, they treated it with Metoprolol and it soon went back into normal sinus rhythm. I thought it strange that they had prescribed this drug as a few years ago, when I was again in hospital with constant tachycardia they overdosed me with this drug and I collapsed, with the result that I was told I shouldn't ever take it again.

However since last Thursday evening it has been racing constantly again, it's not so high this time at just around 105ish (makes me feel worn out and I can't do anything that takes too much effort). This time the small dose of Metoprolol (25mg) has done nothing with regards to my pulse, but did take my BP down too low. Yesterday I went to see my GP and he has suggested I try Bisoprolol as a pill in the pocket as he said it doesn't take BP down quite as much.

Has anyone else taken Bisoprolol as a pill in the pocket and what dose did, or do you take?

It's strange, but after 9 years with tachycardic PAF this is the first time I've been prescribed Bisoprolol. I have been prescribed 2.5mg each morning until pulse reverts.

[CDreamer]

I haven't but was advised to by a cardio when in cardiac unit in Jan. I ended up taking it daily, 1.25mg x 2 and have to say it did help, although I hated the breathlessness it gave me. It did stabilize my BP though so that helped my overall health.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to CDreamer]

So good to hear a positive comment and that it helped you. It gives me hope.

[hondajazz in reply to CDreamer]

I am really worried now as after being on Atenolol for many years for unrelated to AF heart condition I have just been prescribed Bisoprolol because my breathing ( asthma) was getting worse and apparently it doesn't have the same effect on your lungs /breathing as other Beta Blockers. I am so confused now. I know we are all different and as such may have different medication but with this AF , especially if it over laps with other medical problems, seems so complicated .I have asked my doctor direct questions as well but I am still not reassured . I feel my breathing and the terrible , stop you dead in your tracks kind of symptoms i got from Atenolol have eased Im now feeling ill in other ways. Where do you turn ?

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to hondajazz]

I know exactly what you mean.

I think throughout our lives we have all thought that there was a cure for everything and I'm now realising that isn't the case. There appears to be a lot we have to put up with! I think we have to decide what we think does or doesn't suit us and go with that. Certainly, after giving them a fair trial, if we're not happy with medicines given we should ask to try something different.

Do you keep an eye on what your blood pressure is?

[hondajazz in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I do have a BP meter at home but I don't do my own regularly as i would drive my self crackers lol. My doctor to be fair does my BP every time i go and i am there pretty regularly for Diabetic checks etc. and blood tests. My BP is low these days as i am on quite a bit of medication for BP. To be honest the longer this goes on the more confused i become. Im not a trained doctor and yet I'm supposed to be au fait with Diabetes and AF !! both complicated medical conditions and then on top of that i have to keep an eye on my warfarin as well. I have always been the kind of person to look after my own health but I am now dizzy with it all and sometimes a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing so I ask questions all the time until i think my GP is fed up of me . I think they forget that as Gps they have trained for years to understand all this.

[hondajazz in reply to hondajazz]

Another thing I have now to contend with taking Bisopralol is that it lowers my blood sugars as well !!! I have to keep my eye on that and adjust my insulin accordingly. I don't like to moan and i suppose without medical science i would have been dead when i was 37 so i have had all these years since but Im 68 now and getting so tired of it all . I just wish I could have a day off lol

[Hidden]

For me personally I call it my life saver. Been admitted to hospital with tachycardia on numerous occasions. I take between 1.25 to 6.25mg. Haven't been diagnosed with AF yet, even though paramedic said at the house that I was in AF!!

I have a loW BP. SO I just adjust the dose depending on BP. WHEN I take it I am less confused, less fatigued, less weird beats, etc.

So for me I call it my little life saver. I know other people have different experiences but I feel less dizzy as well.

I would not want to be without it.

Good luck, hope you have a positive experience like me.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your comment, its good to hear it suits you. Do you take Bisoprolol every day, or only when you have tachycardia?

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jeanjeanie,

I know this sounds strange but the answer is both.

It depends on how I feel, how body is behaving for example -

- if BP lowering reduce down

- if BP too low stop it

- if BP OK then stay on regular dose

- dizzyness/confusion/tiredness/rhythm

Unfortunately I think it is trial and error. My best advice from my experience is trial and error. But when you find what is best for you hopefully you will have a positive outcome.

Unfortunately tablets effect everybody in different ways, but it is nice to hear a positive outcome.

All I know for me it is a life saver and it had made so much difference to by daily living.

Hope you get on well with it.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for that information. I will probably end up doing the same if constant tachycardia doesn't go away soon. It's so reassuring to have feedback from someone who has the experience of it that you do. What level do you let your BP go down to before stopping dosage? Mine went down to 90/60 yesterday after eating a large lunch - a large lunch always drops my BP. I keep telling myself to have no carbs lunch time, but guess the old brain is getting groggy! I'll have to learn the hard way.

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi, whenever my BP is between 85/90 over 55/60 then I stop taking it altogether until BP comes back up. My GP agrees with the way I use it as well. Unfortunately my BP isn't affected by anything in particular, just goes low.

Hopefully soon you will find the right way for you and even if it eases you will have some success.

Good luck.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

[silkysoft1]

I have been diagnosed with A Fib for over 1 year after passing out a couple of times and spending 9 days in the Coronary Ward while my cardiologists had every test under the sun done ,and could not find anything the matter with my heart ....my Cardiologist started me on 1.5mg ,6 months later 2.5mg and a month ago after a really bad A Fib up it to 5 mg.

Normal dose is 10 mg daily ...along with my 5mg daily I also have been prescribed 20 mg Rivaroxiban anticoagulatant. These medications are purely as a precaution against having a stroke.

My G P has advise me to take 2.5mg of Bisprolol immediately I feel a full blown attack of A Fib ...I always feel as if I am going to pass out every ten mins or so during an attack which normally last a couple of hours.It is truly frightening .I am convinced that not eating small regular meals bring an attack on, if I eat something small I do feel better.

My cardiologist has offer me an ablation but I am not too convinced that is the way to go at present. I cannot see how taking 2.5mg Bisoprolol will work as my research seems to tell me it takes up to 2 hours to work. But Hey Ho I will try this next time and let you know the outcome.

I don`t mind the palpitations it is the two or so hours of feeling I am going to pass out that I dread.

Do other folks in here feel this also?

Love to everyone with this strange A Fib.

Silkysoft

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to silkysoft1]

If I were you I would put this on the forum as its own post. You will get a lot of replies.

Jean

[blan2tc in reply to silkysoft1]

Did you have cardiac ablation? I had it in Jan in London - AF has not reoccurred and it’s March. Have had some occasional palpitations so I’m going to carry on with Bisoprolol and Rivaroxaban despite cardiologist saying I could stop.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to blan2tc]

To date I have had 3 ablations, the first two made my AF worse, the third really helped.

Then AF started up again and I would be cardioverted back into sinus rhythm, after having this done twice in one year and then going back into AF within weeks it was decided that I wouldn't be offered any more cardioversions. Since then (which was 3 years ago) I've been in constant AF with a rate between 60-90. I can live a fairly normal life at that rate.

I think you are wise to continue with your medication, but watch that Bisoprolol doesn't take your heart rate too low now.

Jean

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to blan2tc]

This post of mine you have answered is 8 years old.

[Meeko]

I get bpm up to 150. Roughly happens once a month. I take 2.5mg bisoprolol then slowly the bpm comes down. I have paroxysmal afib. I have had more tachycardia episodes than afib. I have a suspicion that unchecked tachycardia leads into afib.

[Fibber222]

I take sotalol twice a day 80mg am and pm. I also have Bisoproppol 2.5mg PIP if I have an AF episode. I find it slows my AF symptoms until I take the next Sotolol. I ‘VE had episodes mostly a couple of hours before my evening sotalol so can’t say if if puts me back in SR. It definately slows the heart rate down so I can feel a pulse but I would guess it’s the sotalol dose that puts it back to normal or maybe a combination of both. I plan to speak to my cardio when I have check up in August.