Tired after AF

[jaqshell]

Hi am jaq, had my first f in January, I till have no energy and need sleep through the day, betablockers have been reduced to 1.25 and am still tired is this normal?

[Hidden]

hi jaqshell and welcome to the forum. Bisoprolol does have a bit of a reputation for causing tiredness, but so does AF and it is sometimes difficult to determine which is causing what. I assume you have seen your GP and he has prescribed Bisoprolol, has he/she aslo discussed anticoagulation as well, as AF can, in some people, increase the risk of stroke and it is important that you know and understand whether or not you need to be anticoagulated. Has he also discussed referring you to a cardiologist or preferably an electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specialises in arrythmias).

This is a route you should consider because they will be in a position to come up with a treatment plan which may well include an alternative to bisoprolol. In the meantime, you will I'm sure find it helpful to read up on the masses of information available on the AFA webpages using the search box top right of this page. Hope you find this helpful........

[jaqshell in reply to Hidden]

Thanks flapjack yes am still on anticoagulants, but I thought by now I would be back to normality??

[Hidden]

yep, was on 1.25mg and tired, recently doubled to 2.5 and i'm a zombie.

Are you on any other meds? there are others that can cause tiredness.

Are you in permanent AF? that is exhausting too!

[jaqshell]

Yes am still on anticoagulants and statins that's all for now! No I had one episode in Jan when heart rate was 220 it came down 4 days later....havent normal since??

[jaqshell in reply to jaqshell]

Mike I was on 2.5 but doc reduced them because I was very tired all day..

[Hidden]

I think we are assuming you are taking Bisoprolol. There is a rough correlation between the feeling of tiredness with beta blockers and your resting heart rate in sinus rhythm, The slower the rate, the more likely you are to feel tired. Of course your resting rate before starting the drug is a factor. Individual patients will respond differently to the same dose.

Can you tell us your usual resting heart rate before starting Biso and the rate now?

[jaqshell in reply to Hidden]

I don't know what my normal rate was but just presume average, it was 42 on 2.5mg of bisophoral now its up to 44 on 1.25mg's..

[Hidden in reply to jaqshell]

That seems rather low and might explain your tiredness. Suggest you discuss with your GP whether you need a beta blocker at all and if you do, whether an alternative might be better.

If your HR remains at this level without a beta blocker, your GP will probably arrange another ECG.

[Hidden]

I take my Bisoprolol at night as found it made me lethargic if I took in morn

[doodle68]

Hi Jaq some days I feel very tired (I have P-AF and am on beta blockers) but I make myself get on and do things. It is easy to lose stamina by giving in to tiredness and that is not good for your heart or your AF.

You haven't stated your age or if you have other health problems but if possible I would try not to sleep too much through the day and to take short walks if you can.

[jaqshell]

Hi doodles, am 57 and never ever had a day off sick so this is so new to me. Worked for 40years non stop now I have to have a nap in the afternoon and go to bed early, may try taking bisophoral of a night as suggested.

[doodle68 in reply to jaqshell]

Hi Jaq sleep is good and a nap ok I thought from your post you were sleeping most of the day !

I take my BB in the evening, my doctor said that was ok.

[jaqshell in reply to doodle68]

Thanks doodle will try your idea... And let you know.

[CDreamer in reply to jaqshell]

I also used to take Biso as night BUT the only thing to watch is that your HR drops at night anyway and if your Resting Rate is low there is a chance it can drop too low whilst sleeping.

I would question if you need beta blockers anyway. I don’t (cannot) take any heart meds for AF and I have to say that although AF is a pain, generally I feel much better without the meds. If your HR goes higher than 120-130 during AF - first med is usually beta blocker to lower your rate which can make you more comfortable and less symptomatic.

My view is that If the symptoms from the meds are worse than the disease - what is the point unless they are life prolonging.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

I have been told to stop taking the Biso 1.25 daily as it knocks me out (and brought my heart beat down too low) but told to use it as a "pill in a pocket". As my heart beat has only once reached the heights of 100 during an episode and the AF stops of its own accord after a fairly short time, I am no longer going to use it.

I have agreed to take apixaban but at a lower dose as I am just over 60kg and it says to take half the dose if you are under 60kg. I take 3 every 2 days instead of 2 a day. Still get tired often after eating and am wondering if I should continue with them!

Am 74, always been fit and healthy, do Pilates, Tai Chi and resuming meditation.

[SilverLady60 in reply to jaqshell]

Hi Jaq, my GP told me to take my Bisoprolol in the morning along with my anticoagulant, there seems to be conflicting advice as the hospital told me to take them in the evening! I am am also feeling so tired and am still working full time

[jaqshell in reply to SilverLady60]

Gosh I don't think I could do my job ever again! I think your very brave....

[SilverLady60 in reply to jaqshell]

Thank you, its a case of needs must at the moment one day.......

[Hidden]

I have also had issues with rivaoxaban making me feel tired and flu like, so don't rule out other possibilities

[bennie06]

Hi Jaq i am also a newbie. Are you on any other meds. Suggest taking the Bisoporol after tea. Best time that i feel well and drug free is early morning. Could stay in bed all day but i have dogs to walk and fish to fry. Good luck and stay strong.

[jaqshell in reply to bennie06]

Hi Bennie, yes am going to try taking it of an evening, am also still on apixiban and a statin. Thanks for the advice.

[Pam296]

Hi Jaqshell. I was diagnosed with PAF a year ago. I was prescribed beta blockers but didn't really get on with them as they caused extreme fatigue. My cardiologist and more recently, my EP, said that if my episodes were of short duration and I was happy to do without medication, that was fine. I know things will progress but I'm sticking with just anti coagulant until they do.

[jaqshell in reply to Pam296]

Oh really, do you feel OK? Because I think I feel more protected on the betablockers just in case I have another episode...... Surely they are preventing another one?

[Pam296 in reply to jaqshell]

Hi. I feel absolutely fine, especially now I have the support of an EP. To me it was about quality of life. My episodes last a maximum of 4 minutes and happen once or twice a week now. I am working hard to lose weight and improve my health, which I found more difficult with medication. I know it will catch up with me but I'm enjoying being meds free for as long as I can!

[CDreamer in reply to Pam296]

Long may it last for you.

[Pam296 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you!

[SilverLady60 in reply to Pam296]

Hi Pam, I have also been trying to lose weight but apparently the bisoprolol slows your metabolism down which I have found out to my cost!/

[Pam296 in reply to SilverLady60]

It's hard work! I asked my gym instructor if he could help. He suggested eating smaller, more frequent meals to raise metabolism and to drink plenty of water. And to exercise, even if it is just a walk. My neighbour tales Carvedilol and she didn't put on any weight at all.

[CDreamer in reply to jaqshell]

They may - they may not.......AF is so random. They are a rate drug not a rythm drug. If your AF is triggered by tachycardia then yes they can help prevent your heart going into Arrythmia. If it does it anyway I found them to be useless.

[Polski in reply to jaqshell]

The aim of taking Beta Blockers is not so much that you won't get another episode, but that your heart rate won't go so high which is better for your heart in the long run, and it also means that your symptoms shouldn't feel so bad, so it won't be so 'scary'.

[jaqshell in reply to Polski]

Thanks polski, dzekuje Ci.

[Hidden in reply to Pam296]

I had a similar experience to you with the beta blockers and was told to stop taking the 1.25mg daily but have found they have a similar effect when used as a "pill in a pocket" as "they" (but not the manufacturer) say they can be used. I'm just taking apixaban anticoagulant but still getting tired- perhaps as I'm 74 it is just old age! Let's hope between us all we can get suitable individual treatment.

[jaqshell in reply to Hidden]

Yes it is so annoying when you, ve always been so active.

[GrannyE]

I did not have the tired problems post ablation but had plenty of others. I would say it has taken me 3months to start to feel better and 5 months on am miles better and mostly out of AF although I still get it occasionally. Now I am very pleased I had it done. Your heart has had a real shock. It needs time to recover from that. Having said that I would go with the advice below which others have given. Good luck

[KMRobbo]

When I was first diagnosed A Fib I was put on bisoprolol 2.5, was asleep in 40 mins. I could not go to work. Did this for a week then GP changed to Attenonol. Still tired but I could stay awake for 5 to 6 hours. Did 2 weeks then with GP support gave up on beta blockers and then moved to calcium channel blocker verapamil. Got my life back. Maybe not great but Much better than beta blockers for me.

Some people don't tolerate betablockers

[jaqshell in reply to KMRobbo]

Thanks robbo, will discuss this with AF nurse.

[djmnet]

That's what beta blockers do -- slow your heart rate and thus make you tired. While beta blockers seem to be the go to drug for AF, talk to your doctor about true necessity.

[Hidden]

Hello! You are not alone. After only a few days on 1.25mg of Bisoprolol and feeling tired, I consulted the pharmacist (who took a lot more interest in the drugs than the doctors did). He took my pulse and told me to go directly to the doctors and get off the stuff which I did. The doctor took my pulse and told me to stop taking them immediately.

However, even though nowhere in the bumf that comes with the stuff does it mention that it can be used in this way, even the cardiologist I finally got to see insisted that I should use 1.25mg of the Bisoprolol when I had an episode of fibrillation as a "pill in the pocket"! But they still knock me out for ages. I have decided that I will stop taking them as my episodes clear up on their own, usually very quickly (and the betablockers have little if any effect apart from making me feel tired) and when having fibrillations my heart rarely beats very fast.

How I wish that doctors would realise that we are all different and that it might be an idea to see if they can work on preventative treatment for those of us who have paroxysmal AF rather than treating us as if we had it permanently!