Coming off Bisoprolol: Apologies for... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,396 members38,731 posts

Coming off Bisoprolol

18 Replies

Apologies for starting a new post rather than continuing on the old one healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

but I wanted to add a photo and you can't do it as a reply.

A few people asked me to let them know how I got on so here it is. A week off 1.25mg of bisoprolol and energy is returning and dizziness decreasing. A few dodgy days at the start with an episode of AF and some fast palpitations but things have certainly settled. Hopefully it will continue. I have added below two graphs to show my heart rate before and after coming off the drugs. The before is a hectic day teaching and second a day spent doing a few easy odd jobs around the house and taking it easy. You can see how the betablockers hold the heart back - helps to explain the tiredness and dizziness.

Read more about...
18 Replies
Goldfish_ profile image
Goldfish_

Well your heart rate isn't slow, but just has the peaks flattened on bisoprolol. So you wouldn't be able to sprint. As far as the dizziness and tiredness, this doesn't look as though it has anything to do with your heart rate, but is a common side effect of beta blockers.

in reply toGoldfish_

I think the tiredness and dizziness is due to low blood pressure which I guess the bisoprolol causes.

Goldfish_ profile image
Goldfish_ in reply to

But often it causes these symptoms without any measurable physiological changes.

in reply toGoldfish_

cant live with them can't live without them!

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply to

I found Bisoprolol helped control my low BP, contraintuitive I know! I still hated it though and refused to take it as I felt far better without.

cgarmstr profile image
cgarmstr

Just as a matter of interest, what device did you use to record HR over time like that?

in reply tocgarmstr

It's a Fitbit. Works well in sinus and then when in AF it will show a gap where the pulse hasn't registered or will show a very high pulse rate. I've checked it whilst on a heart monitor at hospital and it is accurate. It also gives you a resting heart rate which is good to spot patterns.

Mazdavi profile image
Mazdavi

I'm on 10mg of bisoprolol and I find I'm feeling quite low on them but blood pressure is high had to have amplodine last week aswell I think the bisoprolol is causing me to feel midly depressed

in reply toMazdavi

I can feel down on them too and quite irritable.

VeeT profile image
VeeT

I've reduced bisoprolol from 10 mg daily, on the advice of EP a year ago, very slowly until I was taking 1.25 every other day. Haven't taken any for a week in readiness for seeing EP again on the 11th. Was very nervous about doing without it. Heart rate went up from mid 60s to mid 70s for first few days, settled back to high 60s now and otherwise everything fine. Fingers crossed.

in reply toVeeT

Fingers crossed. It sounds like it does take time to settle wish they told me that when they took me off.

Mazdavi profile image
Mazdavi in reply toVeeT

I'm am going back in December going to ask if they can be reduced make me very tired but I suppose they will go by my HR and bp

in reply toMazdavi

They probably will go by that first but push how tired you are. There are other options / drugs to try. I think sometimes if they are controlling the AF they see it as a success and how you feel is not on their agenda.

Mazdavi profile image
Mazdavi in reply to

I will chat to them I would rather reduce than carry on with this dosage having really bad headaches aswell it's just not fun lately with my medication thanks Richard75

VeeT profile image
VeeT

Maybe I was being over cautious but wanted to make sure I felt ok at each reduction. Hope it goes well for you.

Dadog profile image
Dadog

I think reducing or coming off Bisoprolol is an inexact science! What works for one may not work for another. I was originally on 5mg and have gradually got down to 1.25mg with my GP's watchful eye on me. A week ago, we decided to leave out every other tablet, in order to speed my HR up a bit. I take BP readings each day which averaged 127/50 with 47bpm prior to reducing. The last 6 readings averaged 129/52 with 54bpm. I'm a lot happier with that and I shall see what my GP says in a day or two. Maybe sometime drop Bisop altogether? We'll see....

Emsysy profile image
Emsysy

Hi Richard

Please excuse my ignorance if I should know already. What is your AF condition and how long have you had it?

I'm on 1.5 Bisoprolol and would love to come off it it at all possible. I play badminton regularly but get very puffed and this affects my standard. I feel the meds are just holding me back.

I'd like to know how your situation compares to mine.

Thanks

Hi mycallc, I'm 41 years old reasonably healthy with an active lifestyle when feeling ok. I was diagnosed with Persistent AF in February 2013. I've had two versions and three ablations. Although not fully successful I am no longer in persistent AF I only get the occasional episodes. My last ablation was July this year. My test is to see if the number of episodes increase when not on the drugs. Hopefully not as I feel so much better without them. Squash was my game and I would love to play it again but at the moment just to enjoy been out and about again is the first step.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Coming off Bisoprolol

A question here for anyone who has reduced or withdrawn bisoprolol use. I've had AF since 2009...
RobertELee profile image

Coming off bisoprolol

Has anyone had severe leg cramps coming off bisoprolol. Dr now has me doing every other day to wean...
Jtrani01 profile image

Bisoprolol coming off.

in September I went to my gp who told me to return the next day for a seven day monitor as my bp...
Mjltazz profile image

Coming off Bisoprolol - Worried

I had a cardioversion in February which was largely successful, I'm back in NSR and haven't had any...

Coming off Bisoprolol

My ablation was on the 15 January and I was on 5mg Bisoprolol and 150mg Flecanide daily. I was...
Kiwi2 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator
Emily-Admin profile image
Emily-AdminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.