As many of you will know I asked my EP if I could change from Bisoprolol to Nebivolol because of my lethargy and breathlessness. He advised to try reducing from 3.75mg (which I have been on for 4 months after reducing from 5 mg) to 2.5 mg. I did this gradually for a couple of weeks and yesterday was the first day that I took 2.5 mg on 2 consecutive days. I went into fast heart rate and AF. So I took another 2.5 mg which brought the heart rate down but today I am still in AF so took 3.75 mg. I have been in SR for 3 1/2 years so disappointing.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
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Barb1
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It's so disappointing when that happens. I had a similar occurrence last year and bitterly regretted not leaving well alone with my medication. From there on, despite going back onto the tablets I'd stopped, I had constant AF for 8 months. Being bloody minded I stopped both my Flecainide and beta blocker tablets this June and guess what, since then I've been in sinus rhythm! So now I've had 2 months of a normal life without heart medication, just warfarin. I feel so well.
Are you taking any other tablets for AF other than Bisoprolol?
I had no other conditions than AF. I wouldn't recommend anyone else to do it, as it's a risk. At the same time I stopped all the vitamin tablets I was taking. I think the fillers in tablets can affect us too. I would never, ever, stop my anticoagulant. Having worked at a nursing home I've seen too much of the devastating results of people having had strokes. They can't move, can't speak or eat and are fed through a tube in their stomachs, their eyes look out on a world their brains can't understand. It's like a living death. Honestly, I'd rather die than be extremely disabled by one.
Couldn’t agree more... never miss riveroxiban ... seen to many stoke patients. I’ve got an agreement with my daughter should it ever happen to me ... she fully loads her insulin pen and lets me play with it... 😂😂😂
Hope I haven’t affended anyone with that last comment. Working in care most of my life has given me an even blacker sense of humour
Did your EP give a reason for not prescribing Nebivolol? The AF could be coincidence but logic says probably not.
I too would be livid and would contact the EP’s secretary (if only to rant😡) and ask for a re-appraisal of your beta blocker and dose as you are now back on the dose which you complained of and you have AF again. As I’m a total thicko, I would ask again for Nebivolol too.
Thank you. You have given me the impetus to contact EP again but I think that I will wait until after the weekend, so that I have more evidence so to speak.
OK. You took your EP’s advice and tried a lower dose. It didn’t work. Now go back to your EP and ask for another suggestion and make your own suggestion of an alternative beta blocker. EPs aren’t infallible (although they probably wouldn’t appreciate being reminded of the fact), but be subtle so as not to damage their ego 😉.
Strangely enough my gp just reduced my dosage too and in the 2 weeks since I've had a rubbish time with the AF and mad beating...almost every day, and lasting for hours. I am seeing my gp this morning and will suggest that perhaps reducing isn't going to make me feel better. I can't help wonder though if it's a case of what's worse, the awful side effects or the awful feelings when the heartbeats go walkabout!
It's not easy at all getting it right. I've had PAF for the last 4 years.
Will let you know what the gp decides....watch this space!!
Good morning, I think if the doctor prescribes how much you take then we should do as we are told. When I first started taking bisoprol and my flecanide I had days where I felt awful. I would start walking my dogs and have to stop because I thought I was going to pass out. This happened every few days. Felt lethargic most of the time. But I must say it has all settled down and touch wood feel really well. We have to make some lifestyle changes but have to get used to it. Hope you feel well soon. Xx
Yes, go back to EP. Stand your ground and ask to have a change of meds from Bisoprolol as it causes a lot of problems for a lot of people. There are other drugs to try for AF which can help your quality of life, I was very ill on Bisoprolol and now am on Atenolol, what a difference, night and day.
I'm struggling a bit too,trying to co n e off bisoprolol because of accumulated side effects ,especially horribly aching legs,not going too well.so far so shall be onto arrhythmia nurse today to ask for EP to review again.Want to try Nebivolol. Hope you get sorted out soon.best wishes
I have been on bisoprolol for 10 months I hate it but no one will change it. Cardiologist says increase the dose - No! Cant tolerate! Dr says reduce - No! Heart speeds up and doesn't like it. It is rediculous! Why the constant stance that bisoprolol is the wonder drug and you should stay in it when it is blatantly not working.
If I were you I would seriously think of changing my EP rather than trial and error on the tablets. I'm certainly going to ask about Nebivolol.
I would also see your GP and if the efficacy and use of both Bisoprolol and Nebivolol are equal you have a case, as a patient, to be changed to Nebivolol unless you have any contra-indications.
Do any of the others on this site know if you can get Nebivolol on a private prescription if GPs are resistant to prescribe it?
I really feel for you. I've had intractable AF for ten years since I was 50 and have had various combinations of medication plus 3 ablations including one during cardiac surgery.
Unless you have experienced it there is little understanding of what a debilitating illness PAF is! For me the fatigue and exhaustion is the hardest to tolerate.
Crucially, there is no magic cure and as a general rule cardiologists are highly skilled healthcare professionals. Failure to control PAF does not reflect incompetence but shows the complexity of the illness.
I certainly don't accept what Dr' s tell me as gospel but I have some major concerns that some of the advice given in this forum is ill informed and in some cases downright dangerous. Dr Google didn't go to medical school!!
I sincerely hope that you get sorted and try not to let it get you down
I hated bisoprolol told my GP, saw EP and was put on Verapramil with Flecanide as pill in pocket. Much better, not cured but not so lethargic and less attacks.
I suggest you ask again and again till they take some notice of your needs.
To radagast58- I don't think people's comments are generally ill informed or dangerous per sa. I think many people on here share their stories and trials etc for what works / does not work for them? We all look for that elusive answer! I am positive we all know are own bodies the best to a certain degree and know what is working etc. We are aware that what works for some might not for others. I love this forum and get reassurance listening to others problems like mine. However I would never just act on someone else's experience. They are just points I can discuss with the dr / cardiologist. Just my opinion.
I totally agree with your comments and I find reading about other people's experiences incredible useful. I certainly don't regard medics as gods and I have the confidence to discuss and question my treatment with them!
Maybe I have been very lucky with my cardiologist and latterly my cardiac surgeon but I do find some contributors on the forum are over critical of specialists when in fact treatment failure tends to reflect the complexity of PAF rather than clinical incompetence??
I accept this is a tiny minority of contributors but this can lead to them assuming they have more expertise than cardiac specialists.
Advising other members to alter or stop critical medications or to take magnesium, calcium or potassium supplements when there is no medical biochemical evidence that these are necessary could be life threatening and potentially fatal.
I understand better than most the frustration of treatment failure and 99% of the advice on here is very sound but I would still advise members to be cautious of blindly accepting all advice on here
Indeed. There has to be a two-way dialogue, mutual understanding and respect between doctor and patient. Perhaps I, too, am fortunate in being in the care of a leading EP who is happy to admit that he doesn't know everything and sometimes relies on instinct.
Hi Radagast. I totally get what you are saying and agree. I think people get desperate and try things when the dr/ specialist advice does not work. The heart is a scary thing to many people. Issues can rule your life. My experience is quite poor at times with cardiologists and I have had to fight hard to get my issues looked at properly. They have dismissed many cause and effect items and it can be incredibly frustrating. Like you, I am so glad this forum is around, otherwise I would have felt alone in my suffering.
Why don’t you try sotalol? Lowest Rx? That is what l take and it seems to be fab. No side effects to speak of. In the beginning it was making me feel a little weird. But now, l would be fearful to stop taking it. It is old and established medicine in US. They may not be prescribing it in the UK?? I have been taking it for the two years l have had afib. Not one attack since starting it.
Interesting seeing this when I have spent 24 hours worrying because yesterday my cardiologist changed my prescription of Bisoprolol that were making me feel so tired and breathless to Sotalol because the side effects looked horrendous when I googled them but now I am thinking okay let's try this and see if it works. Thank you Janith 😉 fingers crossed.
I persevered with Bisoprolol and its worrying side effects of total exhaustion but came to a desperate period where I was almost a zombie. My GP agreed to reduce the dosage but it really made no difference. I have ended up stopping it altogether and my doctor wouldn't offer me an alternative so I press on. I haven't noticed an increase in my A/F.
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