Fatigue

[Annekw]

I am taking bisoprolol 2.5mg and this is the 4th week. Cardio version did not work but my heart rate is around 65. But the fatigue is terrible. I struggle through the day and am in bed at 7.30! Has anybody tried a lower dose?

[feejbee]

I found the same (was taking 5mgs) . The fatigue was awful. Saw my GP and asked if I could take 2.5 in the morning and 2.5 in the evening. Much much better .Then went to 1.25 in the morning and 1.25 in the evening. Almost perfect

.I now just take 1.25 that seems to be perfect. Every time my heart races ,it comes back down very quickly ,so that works and does not have any side effects .

Good luck

Fi

[feejbee in reply to feejbee]

That should be I now 1.25 once daily

[Finvola]

I started on 2.5mg daily and felt like I was wading through deep mud - tired with wobbly legs. EP lowered the dose to 1.25mg daily when I started Flecainide and that seems to suit me much better.

[AgeingHIppy]

How timely to read this, thank you I had appointment this morning to follow up AF next treatment step and I said I felt very tired. Agreed with Dr today to reduce to 2.5 once a day from 5mg Bisoprolol. Really hope this will restore some energy levels, really do not like the disinterested in everything feeling and that everything is too much trouble. Didn't know that 1.25 existed or would have tried for that twice a day sounds like a much better plan.

[jedimasterlincoln]

I'm currently back on 2.5mg coupled with 400mg of Dronedrone twice a day. Last year it was put up to 5mg when my first ablation failed...... that was the worst couple of months ever.

Since I started on the bisoprolol in late 2013 I've spent every day with various levels of fatigue ranging from "hungover" feeling to "I need to sleep" feeling.

In another month I reduce them to 1.25 and if all is OK I stop them totally.

[Bernie13 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

I take 1.25mg, some days I feelgreat other days I just don't have the inclination to do anything. Also since taking Bisoprolol I am slow to get going in the mornings .

[Annekw]

Thank you for your helpful comments,I was beginning to think I was going mad,I've been on 2-5mgs for a month,not so bad at beginning as I was on steroids also,came off steroids and the tiredness kicked in! I also have Rhuematoid Arthritis, but this tiredness is something else! I am trying 1-25mgs tomorrow !many thanks again!

[3killeens]

I take 7.5 and I am just able to move, waiting to see cardiologist to see it I can get the amount lowered!!

[barnes12]

I was on ten mgs a day felt dreadful my ep has now got me down to one . Two five mgs feel better I guess much of the medication we are on aims to slow us down so makes us tired karen

[PeterWh]

Anne.

I have been on 5mg of Bisoprolol per day since November and previously on lower doses from September. I was in persistent AF. The only other thing that I am taking is Warfarin.

I got to the point where I was suffering terribly from being lethargic and fatigued. I mentioned this to my GP and I thought from posts here and medicine leaflet that it was the Bisoprolol. However I was also told (and I think that I read it somewhere as well) that the AF itself could be a significant factor as well as the Bisoprolol.

My GP suggested that I buy an Oximeter which I did. I found out that the significant majority of all my readings were in the range 89% to 95%. Sometimes it did reach 97% to 98% (it should be 98 to 99%). I found out that when I was suffering the most (lethargic and fatigue and also pains in the shoulder and headaches) the readings were always lower.

I saw my GP in mid March I told her about the results / deduction. She said that you need to make sure that your fingers are warm when you take it and I said yes I know!!! Anyway she took my reading and it showed 93%. Lined up exactly with mine. Hey presto I was believed!!!

Anyway I had my catheter ablation on Monday last week but reverted back into persistent AF late last Thursday afternoon. However at the moment, at least, my SpO2 level is nearly always in the range of 95% to 98% and so far I have not suffered anyway near to the same extent as prior to the procedure. Therefore in my case my current thinking is that the AF itself was definitely the major factor / contributor rather than the Bisoprolol. However as has been said many times it is different for each person.

Sorry that the response is lengthy.