Hi everyone. Have been on bisoprolol for 2 months now and am just getting used to it.
I have just got a repeat prescription and been given a different brand to the ones I have been getting.
I’m feeling lightheaded and dizzy on these. Been taking them for a week and not getting any better.
Anyone else had this problem? Don’t know wether to ring chemist and ask their advice but don’t want to appear stupid!
Ask the pharmacist. They usually say it's the same content etc etc but sometimes the outer coating varies for example and may contain different colourings etc. The pharmacist may even try to get you the original brand if you are firm about it. Whatever don't put up with being ill or uncomfortable it's your health so please be firm. You won't be the first to raise this issue so please don't feel compromised. I have found differences in brands, not your med but other cardiac and stomach scripts. My pharmacy has been accommodating.
Tth
Thank you for all of your kind replies. Will go and have a word with the pharmacist tomorrow.
Best wishes to you all.
Not stupid at all. I found a brand of Flecainide to be less effective than another. It could be that an additive or bulking agent in the new brand doesn’t suit you.
I would certainly ask the chemist - mine has a note on my file regarding the Flecainide.
I have to have Tambacor (Flecainide).
When they swapped it for a generic when generic meds were first introduced I went into AF after 3 days.
Pete
I had a problem with one maker of Biso - it had an colouring additive in it a yellow one - which is banned in some countires, cannot remember it's name now. But that one made me a bit fuzzy headed. I also had a problem with Ramipril recently it was a new brand and made me very thirsty, I told pharmacist and they changed it back to my old one, so I would talk to your pharmacist.
Cassie
Will do. Hopefully the pharmacist will change them back to the other brand. Have never been on repeat medication before so didn't know different brands could be a problem. Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Ruth.
Get on to the Pharmacist, sometimes you get the same drug but a different brand so please check this out to make sure. If the drug is the same thence your doctor regarding the side effects.
I had a similar problem when I first started with Bisoprolol. The first prescription was for Cardicor which is the original brand bisoprolol manufactured by Merck Serono. The next prescription was a generic brand and I had diarrhoea and generally feeling dizzy and unwell. I spoke to my cardiologist and he said that he had other patients with the same problem and wrote to my GP to prescribe Cardicor. That is what it shows as on the prescription. Cardicor is a little more expensive, that’s why it is not as widely prescribed. If a GP puts bisoprolol, then you get the cheapest available at the time. Hence the constant changing.
As others have said, it’s the other rubbish that makes the drug into a tablet that is often the problem.
I dont know what brand you had originally, but if it is a generic drug then you can ask you pharmacist to get you those. Mine had a ‘specials’ box for exactly that.
Hope you get it sorted
Val
I have been on the one from Sandoz for the majority of the time. It did change for a short while to another brand, but I seemed okay on it, and then Sandoz came back again. Maybe they have supply problems sometimes.
The bisoprolol that I regularly have is from Teva UK. I did once have a different brand, but I didn't notice any difference in their effect.
Another thing that occurred to me is to check the strength of the tablets. It's not unknown for a pharmacy to make mistakes, especially if they're a busy shop with lots of staff and customers. I had to challenge the contents of my package once when they had missed out one of the drugs, and another time I had something I totally didn't recognise, that should have gone to someone else!
Let us know how you get on with the pharmacist please.
Hi. The pharmacist said all the tablets are made to UK specifications it is only the fillers that are different.
She is limited to what’s in the warehouse at the time but, if I ask and she has the old brand she will give me them.
Don’t think that’s very satisfactory but unfortunately i can see how limited she is.
Oh well, onwards and upwards.
I suggest that you submit your repeat prescription request early and make sure that your pharmacist knows that you can only tolerate a particular brand and not to provide a substitute. That way you will at least have some time to shop around if they don't have any of the brand you need in their warehouse.
Hi. They are definitely the right strength - just a different brand from the previous 2 months .
Am going to pop over to the pharmacy this afternoon.
Will let you know what they say.
Thank you for replying.
Ruth.
Hi Purpletara.
I have taken medication for high blood pressure for years and was on Teva brand. When I moved to this area each month I was given a different brand and I definitely felt the difference. I spoke to the pharmacist (Tesco) and after a struggle they finally put on my notes that I only want Teva brand, and now that I have AF too, the medication is also the same brand. I definitely think chopping and changing does affect you although they say they are all the same which I disagree with. As suggested, speak with your pharmacist and hopefully they will ensure you have the same brand each month.
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