Wild Flower.

[Rosamoyesii]

Hello. I’m new here. I was diagnosed with A.fib one year ago after a single A.fib event and was put on bisoprolol fumarate 1.25mg twice daily, morning and evening. I do not have high BP and wonder whether this could be the cause of my having difficulty in walking and also staying awake! The problem is cumulative and seems worse daily. I’ve never felt so consistently rough ever. Also take apixaban 2.5mg twice daily. Sometimes I feel as if I’m from another planet. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Vonnieruth]

It's probably the Bisoprolol It does seem to have that effect did me when I first went in it Made me muzzy headed to

[Rosamoyesii in reply to Vonnieruth]

Hello Vonnieruth. It is so supportive when people like yourself reply to my voice in the wilderness. At least, that’s how I felt until I saw the replies to my post. I think it dawned on me in the past few weeks that the bisoprolol had to be the culprit. When one has a disorder, it makes sense to find out as much as possible about. I can identify with your muzzy head. As I said to the others, am seeing the doc on Wednesday and I shall let you know how I get on. Thank you for your reply.

[Vonnieruth in reply to Rosamoyesii]

Your welcome You will find we are all supportive here In fact we are a friendly bunch

[Alpaca555]

Hi Rosa... I so sympathise with you! The meds are so challenging... I’m on Flecainide 50mg twice a day and also Apixaban 5mg twice a day and when I have an afib attack I have to double the flecainide and add Bisoprolol 2.5mg... my brain struggles and my joints ache and I have no energy to do very much ... it’s all about quality of life and there are many learned folk on here to provide you with good advice. Good luck! 🌻

[Rosamoyesii in reply to Alpaca555]

Hello Alpaca555. Thank you so much for replying - and you are so right: it’s all about quality of life. Just over a year ago, I could walk 4-6 miles daily with no problem. Now I can barely do 100 yards without spying out some place to have a quick seat to recoup. I’m seeing the doc on Wednesday and will go armed with all this new and supportive information. Will let you know. Again many thanks.

[Finvola]

Hello Rosamoyesii and welcome to the forum.

Bisoprolol is a beta blocker which, amongst other things, is given to slow your heart rate. It is notorious for making some people feel like zombies - fatigued, short of breath, dizzy etc. Others tolerate it well or get used to it.

If you have been taking it for a year and are still feeling rotten, perhaps it’s time to talk to your doctor about a change - either of dose or of drug. Tell your doc how the tiredness is affecting your life and ask if Bisoprolol is the cause.

There are alternative beta blockers and other drugs which may not have the same side effects - it’s a matter of trial and error (according to my GP).

Best wishes and let us know how you get on.

[Rosamoyesii in reply to Finvola]

Hello Finvola. Thank you so much for the information. Zombie is a good description of how bisoprolol makes one feel. I still can’t get to grips with the fact that I do not have high BP and yet this beta blocker is for people with high BP. Somewhere in my mind that is not logical.

There must be an alternative. My leg muscles are weak and aches travel all up hips and back, so much so that they make me bend over during the day like someone with a bent spine. In the morning I can stand up straight, but about an hour after taking the medicine, I can see this effect happening, legs cannot stride out and I only take half steps. Am visiting the doc on Wednesday and will let you know how things go. Thank you again.

[CaroleF]

What you describe is typical of the side effects that many people on Bisoprolol suffer from. I used to take it and felt like a zombie; walking was like wading through treacle. (there were other undesirable side effects too especially absolutely freezing cold hands). Eventually the cardiologist changed the medication and that's made the world of difference - in my case. In your situation I would ask about changing from bisoproloI to something else. I think bisoprolol is the medication that they try first, in part because I think it's the cheapest but also because it's supposed to be the most effective, but it's all about your quality of life and if that is being made worse, then I think you are justified in asking for a change.

I also take apixaban and I doubt whether it is that which is making you feel so rough.

[Rosamoyesii in reply to CaroleF]

Hello CarolF. How wonderful to have so much good information which confirms that it’s not just me! Your explanation fills in quite a few blanks and leads to a greater understanding of the situation generally. I don’t have the cold hands and feet, but the wading through treacle is spot on. We can’t all be wrong with our description of the side effects. What did your cardiologist change you to? I shall keep you informed after I see the doc on Wednesday.

[CaroleF in reply to Rosamoyesii]

I now take Diltiazem (a calcium channel blocker) that Hidden has mentioned below. This is a slow release medication and on the advice of the pharmacist I take it at night. I am streets better on this compared with bisoprolol. The zombified/wading through treacle feeling is no more. Yeah! I can't say that I am back to where I was before AF was diagnosed, but my QOL is much improved. Diltiazem does affect some people adversely (constipation and swollen ankles being the side effects mentioned to me by the cardiologist) but happily not me.

If the Dr you are seeing on Wed is your GP they may be reluctant to change your med. without consulting your cardiologist first, but my advice would be to emphasise the way in which your quality of life is being affected. There are definitely other beta blockers that can be tried as well as Diltiazem already mentioned. Stick to your guns calmly but firmly and let us know how you get on

[Hidden]

Some good responses Rosa. Calcium Channel Blockers perform a similar function to beta blockers and can be a very successful alternative for some. As you are on the lowest dose for Bisoprolol, the chances are you would also be prescribed a low dose of something like Diltiazem and it’s possible that the side effects (if any) will be easier to cope with. You will need to discuss alternatives with your specialist or GP and you may have to fight your corner.....best wishes.

[Rosamoyesii in reply to Hidden]

Hello Flapjack. Thank you for replying and for the description of the various alternatives available. It’s all a steep but positive learning curve and I’m so glad I found you all. I shall take the advice with me tomorrow when I visit the doc. Already I feel so much better prepared. Will let you all know.

[Rosamoyesii in reply to Hidden]

Hello Flapjack. I did an update this morning on my doctor’s visit last week, but got interrupted in the middle of it and when I returned to the reply it had disappeared. Can you please confirm that you received nothing, in which case it’s disappeared into the ether and I shall do it again. Many thanks. 🙂

[doodle68]

Hello

Rosamoyesii welcome to the group.

I would certainly go and have a discussion with your doctor about trying a different medication. It is bad enough having AF in the first place without having to cope with unpleasant side effects from medication when there could be an alternative.

[Hidden]

Side effects include:

•dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

•diarrhoea, constipation, increased urination;

•runny or stuffy nose, ringing in your ears;

•feeling tired or weak;

•sleep problems (insomnia);

drowsiness, dizziness, spinning sensation;

•depression, anxiety, restless feeling;

So, yes it’s possible. Difficulty walking sounds like it should be investigated.

[Ianc2]

" I was diagnosed with A.fib one year ago after a single A.fib event". There are plenty of comments on this site that identify lifestyle changes that can be very beneficial to your general health and may make the impact of afib less damaging.

If this particular drug is causing problems discuss it with your GP but you may find that he/she will be unwilling to change things without the agreement of your cardiologist. If you could walk 4-5 miles before taking this drug and you can't now you will be affecting your general fitness quite badly, which will cause lack of muscle tone, which will affect your heart.

Take someone with you, along with a notebook. It helps to concentrate minds.

[Dodie117]

Have you only ever had one event. If yes, I would question whether you need to be on any drug except apixaban. Have you seen an EP (electrophysiologist). If not ask for a referral. I too was in this for 6 months but had a successful ablation in 2013.

[Rosamoyesii in reply to Dodie117]

Hello Lallym. Yes. I’ve only ever had one event. Heart rate 150BPM. Went to A and E. Was monitored on the heart machine for nearly two hours during which time I was given a single dose of medication - sorry didn’t get the name. After two hours heart beat was restored to normal and went home. Thereafter put on the bisoprolol and anticoagulant. Never been referred to any consultant. Good advice re the EP. I’m so glad I found this site. Am stacking up the questions for the doc tomorrow. Thank you for writing. It has opened up another interesting line of thought, as has all the advice give me.

[Aprilbday in reply to Rosamoyesii]

Hi Rosa

I have a similar story and keenly interested in why I was placed on a channel blocker -diatelzam- (spelling). I do have highblood pressure and that may be why. I had 2 episodes about 11 years apart. My trigger was from a restrictive lemonade diet and 2nd trigger was steroids for asthma. 2nd one was worse. I did experience flutters and odd sensations in my chest before being diagnosed .

[Dodie117]

Also, if you do need to be on any rate control drug, which is what bisoprolol is, ask about using it as PIP (pill in the pocket, to be taken only if and when you have another event). I would be very reluctant to take this every day after only one event.

[Rosamoyesii in reply to Dodie117]

Hello Lallym. Your comment is very thought provoking and does seem to make good sense, as do all the others here. I have recently moved house two months ago and well away from my previous district and have registered with a large practice locally. I have a appt with the doc tomorrow and I shall list all the good advice from this net. Interesting to see what a fresh opinion will suggest. Thanks to you and everyone for all your support.

[Dodie117]

Good luck 🍀🤞

[AIW58]

good luck with your appt. Definitely get a review if it was only one event and bisoprolol is making you feel lousy.

[MydogBrandy]

Hi do you think the house move brought on the attack. Stress can cause attacks. I have had svt for 15 years and been on flecanide and bisoprolol and had a nasty attack when moving house, just a thought.

[Rosamoyesii in reply to MydogBrandy]

Hello. I tried to reply when you first contacted me but I must have pressed the wrong button and reply dissppeared!

I do agree that house moves are OTT stressful, but I had my event a year ago and at the time I felt it could have been triggered by a frightening reaction I had to flucocacillin treatment. Two weeks after that reaction I had first Afib event. Only guesswork but at the time it felt like too much of a coincidence. Hope you’re keeping well. Best regards and sorry for late reply.

[MydogBrandy]

That’s fine don’t worry, I am about to decide whether to have a pacemaker , been told by my cardiologist that. Need one, he says it will keep my heart at a correct level of beats and then they can give me s high dose of medicines, flecanide and bisoprolol to stop my svt’s . Worried silly about it.