Feeling very down taking bisoprolol - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

31,039 members36,638 posts

Feeling very down taking bisoprolol

Steve112 profile image
15 Replies

I have a very similar problem with bisoprolol it is making me feel very depressed and very negative feelings and struggling to carry on normal life,my specialist took me off of warfarin and suggested keep taking the bisoprolol as I have only had the one episode of AF to my knowledge whilst under anesthtic have any others had similar effects with bisoprolol and are there better tablets, I am feeling very down and feel I do not want to continue feeling this way..

Written by
Steve112 profile image
Steve112
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
15 Replies
rosyG profile image
rosyG

Sorry to hear you are feeling low- I know some people on the forum have switched to alternatives so hope they will tell you what their options have been,

Do go and explain your feelings to your doctor and they should try other drugs

best wishes

shirljo profile image
shirljo

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling down. I too had problems at first with Bisoprolol and was feeling lethargic and very low but explained this to my GP who halved the dose (now on 1.5) and suggested I took it before bed rather than in the morning as prescribed. And this worked for me. I think it helps by chatting to your doctor/consultant about the anxieties surrounding this condition as it took me a while to come to terms with it and of course this forum certainly helps as it makes you realise that you are not alone.

Have a good day and keep talking :)

in reply to shirljo

Just swapped mine to night to see if it helps with tiredness

Biso worked on me like that even at a tiny dose, I felt old and down. Works for many though but we're all different. I've been tried on numerous drugs, mainly rhythm control in my case. One common one gave me palpitations, one made me quite badly depressed so stopped taking it quickly before it got out of control, tried it again, same things. Then eventually got the one that worked on me :-) .

I'd ask to try another drug if you haven't already. I know that can be difficult if you're feeling down but needs to be done I think.

Koll

Harryboy profile image
Harryboy in reply to

Did you feel as tho you were walking about in a dream I'm so depressed on this bisoprolol I have only been on it 8 days and I started to get really low I stopped this drug how long will this feeling last for

Should I go back to my doctor and tell him how I feel and I've stopped taking it .i don't seem to have picked up in the last 2 days of not taking it still very low

in reply to Harryboy

Hi Harryboy

I can't remember how long it took to get back to normal after stopping, but I thought it was pretty quick, just a day or two in my case. Sorry, not sure!

Yes, I'd definitely go back to the doctor asap to discuss any drug change.

Are you seeing a specialist in arhythmias or a GP? If not and you have AF that needs treatment, I'd recommend asking for a referall to an EP. I discovered that my doctor couldn't prescribe what I needed because they ar enot allowed to, which is why they gave me Bisoprolol. But the speciaist could and did.I felt like you did when I did this and asked for a private referral to avoid delays.

Koll

porridgequeen profile image
porridgequeen

Hi Steve

I too had a problem with Bisoprolol it made me very tired and 'distant'. After 5 months I was changed to Verapamil and ' intolerance to Bisoprolol' was recorded on my notes. Thinking back I do wonder if the shock of diagnosis played a part as well.

It is a good idea to talk it over with your doctor. There are alternatives.

Best of luck

Perrylees profile image
Perrylees

I'm no expert but if it were me I'd be talking to my Dr about whether it is necessary for you to be taking this at all ( excuse the terrible grammar)?

If you are in NSR why do you need it?

My experience is that immediately after my cardio version I stopped taking bisoprolol - thank goodness- it was horrible - and I was fine. Perhaps I was lucky but I so think there can be a tendency to over medicate with AF & after all if your heart rate gies doolally you can always start again with something else...

Ruth

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Perrylees

Agree with you totally Ruth,I was going to suggest the same thing to Steve.

Jean

Steve, I agree with all that has been said. I too felt very low and ancient on Bisoprolol. Since stopping I feel 10 years younger. It didn't do much for me anyhow. If you need to take anything I would ask for an alternative. Let us know what transpires. Sandra

Finvola profile image
Finvola

I sympathise with you feeling down on Bisoprolol - I was on only 2.5mg per day and that made me feel like I was wading through deep mud. There are alternatives available so you consultant should be able to help.

Best wishes

Mattpga profile image
Mattpga

Interesting to read all these comments. have been feeling tired and a bit low. Been on bisoprolol since may on 5mg reduced to 2.5. Having my first ablation on 5th feb so i'll be asking about alternatives after that. If i still need to take something that is.

soupersue profile image
soupersue

I actually hated Bisoprolol, strong words but true. I started on 2.5 mg but GP lowered it to 1.25 mg, still felt like 'Finvola' struggling through mud. Saw an EP who has put me on Verapramil and now I am a human being again, I can walk to the top of the multi storey car park and I feel so very much better.

Moral, ask for something different, have to say it does seem extreme if you only had one episode BUT I am NOT a medic or anything like that. I believe Bisop. is a rate control drug and Verap. a rhythm control drug, I don't know what that means but it may be useful to know.

fallingtopieces profile image
fallingtopieces

Steve, I agree with the above and can't see why you're on them.

I only ever took a few before coming off them. I was having nightmares as well as feeling lethargic and this was only on 2.5mg. My cardiologist at the time said both were side effects and took me off them. Luckily as I'm in NSR with only short runs of arrythmia, I'm managing without anything at the moment.

Pat

123Abc123 profile image
123Abc123

Ask your GP for a different medication. The side effects of Bisoprolol can be horrid for some people - I put up with it for three awful years. I'm now on Atenolol and don't seem to have any side effects.

You may also like...

blue and white feeling very down

I have had persistent a/f for 6 months, I,m waiting for a cardioversion, life is pretty unpleasant,...

Bisoprolol 2.5mg down to 1.25mgs

I I would like to reduce 2.5mgs of Bisoprolol to 1.25mgs any advice welcome. Last time I tried to...

Feeling very down after hospital visit

cannot drive, any movement makes it worse so I have to have one eye covered if I walk and even then...

I’m terrified to take Bisoprolol

that came back; one episode of SVT (203bpm) and 4 episodes of V Tach. I started having palpitations...

When to take Bisoprolol?

For some years I have been taking my 5mg Bisoprolol every morning. My wife read somewhere (probably