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    Feeling awful on bisoprolol

    So I recently went to the Docs because I noticed my HR was going pretty high when I went running. I was hooked up to a 24 ecg and they saw some abnormalities so I had a treadmill test and 7 day ecg. The Cardiologist thinks I have an extra pathway so offered me tablets or an ablation. I decided to go on bisoprolol as the risks involved with an ablation scared me.. I'm only on 1.25mg but since being on them I feel horrendous. Fatigue and tiredness like I've never experienced before, shortness of breath and strange like constant hunger pains? ! I feel so much worse than before as apart from the high HR when running, which never bothered me, I only noticed it when I started wearing a heart rate monitor to track calories..and the occasional palpitations, I didn't have any symptoms. I spoke to my Dr Who said such a low dose wouldn't cause any symptoms but I feel like I've been hit by a truck and I didn't before I took the tablets so it must be them causing it!

    I wouldn't even have known I had this problem if I hadn't started wearing a heart rate monitor.. I've gone from feeling fit and healthy to exhausted and ill when surely it should be the other way around?!

    Guess I'll have to re - think having the ablation done now..or possibly change tablets. Hard when the Dr doesn't think the tablets are the problem though!

    Has anybody else had such bad side effects on such a low dose?

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    30 Replies
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    Hi crafty,

    How long have you been on the 1.25mg, maybe you need to give it a bit more time?

    I am on 1.25mg and have been for a couple of months, no major problems with the drug, except cold nose, fingers and toes.

    Hope things improve for you.

    Kind Regards

    Barry

    Reply

    Hi Barry: Did the meds stop your heart palpitations or are you on it for high BP/heart rate? Thank you!

    Reply

    Hi CatAnn,

    I was on them for heart rate. Have now been of them for 3 months now. I found them to be a good drug for me.

    I may go back on it, as l seem to getting a lot of ectopic beats (PACs) after my third Ablation in Jan 17.

    Hope all is well with you.

    Regards

    Barry

    Reply

    Your DR is right that IS a very low dose but it seems strange that he would say you would experience no side effects from a drug specifically designed and strong enough to force your heart to beat slower....just saying.

    And any tablets are bound to have side effects - they are in the end toxins that are being introduced to your body so while they do good they also will have side effects.

    The symptoms you mention are all typical of what you would feel if you were on a higher strength beta blocker.

    Ablations have an extremely good track record and you are an ideal candidate. Yes its scary but definitely worth it.

    Good luck.

    2 likes
    Reply

    I think I've posted this in the wrong forum but thanks for the replies! I've only been on them two weeks.. I wasn't sure if the side effects may settle down when I've been on them a while, the Dr didn't really answer me properly as he thinks it's anxiety causing everything.. Perhaps I'll give them a bit longer to see if things improve, thank you!

    Reply

    Sounds like my doctor...I was NOT anxious before all the horrible palpitations...none of the docs are listening to me...

    Reply

    Ablations are a doddle. I had three and all good eventually. Don't worry about it. Go for it and get your life back. Bisoprolol affects different people in different ways but I see so many people who get wiped out by it.

    2 likes
    Reply

    The ablation is an option for me too...can you please tell me our age and experience with the ablations? Why did you have to get more than one if the procedure fixes the problem? Thank you!

    Reply

    Well, over the past couple of weeks my life has turned around for the positive and I cannot believe it!!!! I am so happy, but don't want to get too excited until more time has passed. After literally starting to plan my demise (that's right...having up to 13,000 + PVC's and hundreds of PAC's and not being able to take Beta Blockers...being given Calcium Channel Blockers and Digoxin which I was TERRIFIED to take because the Beta Blockers made me want to off myself even sooner...I did LOTS of research on natural remedies for these ghastly things that had me crying most of the day, depressed, not wanting to leave the house, unable to work....HORRIBLE!!! At first I tried a few things...kept getting the palps...then I tried a few more things...palps started going down...then I removed a few things (things meaning supplements, by the way...) then I change the dosages...all based upon what the research I read and the way I felt. READ THIS: I DID NOT BELIEVE ANY OF THIS WAS GOING TO HELP ME OUT BUT I FELT I HAD NO CHOICE OTHER THAN TO TRY! Okay, so I went from 13,000 PVC's hundreds of PAC's to ZERO yesterday and today!! WTF??? I am still skeptical. This is what I am taking. Now keep in mind, none of the below independently or in any other combination got me down to ZERO. So, I am now paranoid about sticking to this regimen at the exact times of the day/night. I will still see my doc's and cardiologist and get the tests done and still move towards ablation as was suggested that I have done, but that won't be for a year or so until I see that specialist. So in the meantime, I will continue with this supplementation schedule and see what happens over time. I will also give all the supplements a rest of a couple of days every 5 months, as was suggested as well - but I am panicking thinking about stopping even for a day!! LOL! Oh, by the way, I started getting heart issues in my mid 20's and I am 61. Over the past couple of years, I have been in Emergency a number of times and lived my life for the past couple of years with my fingers on my pulse, thinking I was going to die virtually every minute of the day. That's why I didn't want to live any longer. Okay, here is what I do daily:

    1) I journal every thing I eat, drink and take and the times of the day, for reference. I drink lots of water all day long. I also juice vegetables (all organic) every day or 2nd day including: Kale, spinach, turmeric, ginger, apples, carrots, celery, red cabbage.

    2) (around 10:30 or 11:00 by the time I get to this) Big glass of water upon rising. 1/2 banana (or breakfast) with 1,000 mg Taurine; 500 mg L-Arginine; 100 mg CoQ-10; 100 mg PROMg12; 1/4 Tsp. D-Ribose; V8 low sodium (small can).

    3) Lunch. 500 mg Vit C; 100 mcg Selenium; 1,000 mg Omega EFA (180 AEP/120 ADH; 100 mg B6; 2,500 mcg B12 Sublingual.

    4) Around 3:00 pm (supplements spread out about 4-5 hours between doses). Same doses as above. 1/2 banana (or small bite of food), V8, L-Arginine, Taurine.

    5) Dinner. Omega EFA, 500 mg Evening Primrose Oil.

    6) Around 7 pm. Small bite of food. V8, L-Arginine, CoQ10, Taurine, PROMg12.

    7) Before bed (around 11 pm or midnight). Small bite of food. V8, L-Arginine, Taurine.

    Now, I still expect to get some of the heart palps, but I was told even with meds, I would still get them. However, even having ONE DAY without them was a miracle after years of having them ALL DAY/NIGHT LONG!!! I am going to get L-Carnitine too (a newer form of Propionyl-L-Carnitine (PLC) targets heart tissue specifically so I will only use this formula) and add this in too.

    Okay, that's it. Either I take Rx the rest of my life or supplements and I prefer all the above UNLESS this somehow fails to work then I will revisit pharma.

    Best,

    Cathrine

    Reply

    Thanks Bob! It was the 1 in 800 stroke risk that scared me.. That does seem quite high?! I do hate the thought of being on these tablets forever though.. I'd also love to be able to really push myself with running and exercise again. I hate the fact that I have to stick to moderate exercise now..it was my main passion! My appointment with the EP all felt very rushed and I came away with more questions than I got answers so perhaps I'll try and go back to see him..thank you

    Reply

    Recent evidence has shown that if you are able to get to hospital within 4 hours of having a stroke 99% of any damage can be reversed. So even if you WERE to be one of the unlucky ones the likelihood of any real damage from a stroke during a hospital procedure is extremely remote.

    Also I meant to ask if you have had a 2nd opinion?

    Reply

    1 in 800 is actually very low, and remember you are in hospital so they will notice it within minutes and so there is usually no long term damage. My heart bypass had a much higher chance of death, but the benefits of both that and the subsequent ablation I needed have given me a MUCH better quality of life.

    Regarding the tablets, I had this same reaction to bisoprolol. I was moved onto Verapamil which worked well for three years. Yes I know some cardiologists don't like this drug but it can work well. However the effectiveness does reduce over time so once I reached that point I went onto nebivolol which seems to be doing ok so far.

    Reply

    That's the possibility of stokes with this med?? OMG....

    Reply

    Thanks Dave, that's reassuring. . It's something I'm definitely going to re - think. Well I've seen a Cardiologist and an EP. The Cardiologist said I'd either have to be on beta blockers for life or have the ablation but the EP said I could just leave it and do nothing if I wanted as I had probably had it all my life anyway! So I was going to leave things but then I read that there is a small chance of sudden death if left untreated so started on the tablets straight away! In the letter I received, they are not 100% sure what is causing the issue.. They said it's probably an accessory pathway but wouldn't know for sure without an EP study..

    Reply

    Hi yes I had the same thing happen to me fit and healthy then tablets 2.5 and couldn't go to work for 3 months it's now 2 1/2 yrs and I have no side effects apart from feeling heavy legged when climbing flights of stairs . I'd have the ablation but not offered 😒 hope you feel better soon

    Reply

    I was put on 1.25mg of bisoprolol by the cardiologist when I was first diagnosed, they completely wiped me out as well. I stayed on them for 5 months, feeling awful, until my next cardio appointment when I was changed to Verapamil and felt back so much better.

    My file now has 'intolerance to bisoprolol' written on it.

    Contrary to what your GP says it is not unusual to feel like this with bisoprolol. Speak to your cardiologist and EP again to see if they will offer an alternative.

    Good luck.

    Reply

    Hi there , I was much the same as you runing feeling fit and healthy till this af came along then bisoprolol and flecanide made me feel 80 yrs old I'm 46 lol , on a positive note after a couple of months on these meds the side effects have got a lot better and I'm now back jogging not running as advised by my ep but anything is better than not getting out at all , I'm booked in for an ablation as the meds arnt keeping the af away for any great lengths of time , good luck in whatever you decide but for me it was a no brainier to get it sorted and hopefully get back a normal life cheers Paul

    Reply

    Hi Did you have the ablation? I'm reading this post 2 years old. Thank you!

    Reply

    I am on bisoprolol and Ramipril for atrial fib. I have a pacemaker and I am feeling generally unwell all the time. I am having lots of symptoms at the moment and have now been advised not to exercise at the moment until I have been investigated further. My gp agrees that bisoprolol has some poor side effects so I am considering ablation

    Reply

    Thanks everyone for sharing all your experiences. I think I might make an appointment with my Cardiologist to see if I can try another tablet whilst I decide whether to have an ablation.

    Runcrans I can't run either as that is what seems to make my HR soar! It got up to 198 when I did the treadmill test at the hospital! I'm sticking to moderate exercise at home but hate not challenging myself! I know it's obviously the sensible thing to do though.. its frustrating as I also have hereditary high cholesterol so before all this came to light I was always told to exercise as much as I can to help lower the cholesterol and now I'm being told to do the opposite. .so frustrating!

    Reply

    Yes I have found very similar symptoms. As a matter of fact, if you took all the references on this forum related to bisop, you would see a definite pattern. Breathlessness, fatigue, etc. My cardio doesn't believe me either! What a world we live in!....

    Bisop, if it works, can be adjusted. I have taken up to 10mgs...splitting it 5mg at night and 5mg in the morning....that certainly helped....but reduced breathlessness continued. I reduced to 5mg at night/nothing during the day and felt MUCH better during the day.

    I took myself down to 2.5, then 1.25 and then off altogether (just to experiment and I do not advise this!!)...and felt MUCH MUCH better, however, my heart rate began to increase from 130 to 140...so, Bisop was/is helping somewhere along the line.

    I went back to 10mg after a cardio consult (just to see how it worked) and am now down to 5mg at night....heart rate still 120-130.

    Wishing you all the best!

    Reply

    Hi Crafty30, I had similar issues with Bisoprolol and my EP switched me onto Tildiem Retard (a brand name for dialtizem) - I feel human again!

    Exercise-wise, I've been talking to a number of trainers and consultants to find out what I can realistically do. Advice from my EP was not to do high intensity training, but jogging / running is fine. I run at about 10km/hr and use interval training by alternating walking on a gradient with running. He also advised against exercises such as press-ups where you are lifting your whole body weight. On a similar note I've been advised not to lift weights above my head (basically, elbows must remain below shoulder-height) but I've discovered that using the straps on a Powerplate for arm exercises are fine - don't know if you have one available? Leg exercises, constant level CV for longer periods of time and yoga / pilates are fine.

    One more point if you are on beta blockers such as bisoprolol - you'll need to spend longer on your warm-up so your heart rate increases gradually otherwise your tablets are likely to take over and try and keep the rate down.

    Definitely ask about switching your tablets - there are a number of options available.

    Caroline

    Reply

    I should say that when interval training, I walk on a gradient, but run on a flat surface on the treadmill!

    Reply

    I can assure you it is!!! I took same amount and it floored me, I persevered for a month then told my cardiologist I could not take them anymore, he said ok I will give you what is called a pill in the pocket, in otherwords take as and when needed (meteorolol) luckily only needed it once, please persist in asking to try something else

    Keep well

    Reply

    Thanks so much for all the replies, at least I know I'm not going mad and the tablets can cause these awful feelings! I'm surprised my Dr fobbed me off so readily. .A bit annoying really! I think I'll go back to see my Cardiologist then..I've got a 7 month baby and I'm finding it exhausting looking after her, plus I'm back to work soon and have no idea how I'll cope with both feeling like this!

    CTG - Thank you so much for the exercise info, when I asked if there is anything I should avoid doing I was told to just avoid very strenuous exercise. . I love doing weights and thought I was safe with them! Will modify now...thank you!

    Reply

    I know exactly how you feel. Twice I have tried bisoprolol 2.5 and 1.25 and I was dreadful just like you said and it made my heart rate even more chaotic. I was also like you, from no real symptoms to being on Flecanaide, quite a strong medication, but this is much better than bisoprolol and at 53 terrified of a stroke so I have no choice. I hope the research is right that if you get to hospital quickly it might be ok.

    Reply

    It might be that the Bisoprolol is a contributor and is the straw that breaks the camel's back so to speak and not the cause. Worthwhile checking your SpO2 level regularly.

    Reply

    I started the same dose a couple of days ago and I am starting to feel awful too...and a bit anxious as well. I have had irregular beats and palpitations since I was 25 - I am now 61 next month - and they got so bad I ended up going to emerg a few times. Got this med from a doc last October (I was too scared to take it from all the negative reviews) and so was told to take 2.5 mgs. Didn't take it. Ended up in emerg another 2 times until recently this ER doc told me to take half of that instead. I'm feeling tired, anxious, palpitations are still happening especially upon waking and around 4 or 5 pm until late...I don't feel like myself and I will not take this med tomorrow and see how I feel. I really don't want to live with the palpitations because they drain my life force and terrify me...don't know if I can live with this med either now....

    1 like
    Reply

    Yup. Me too. HATED the way I felt. So I stopped taking them.

    Reply

    I take Bisoprolol and take it at night and feel marginally better than taking in the morning

    Reply

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