Hi folks, I have been prescribed Bisoprolol 5mg daily for AF, followed, by a cardioversion 12th October.
Since taking the Bisoprolol I have had a pain in my neck and shoulders. I am feeling really uncomfortable.
Is it possibly linked to the new medication or am I just a pain in the neck?
I would appreciate your opinions.
Phyl.
Bisoprolol was prescribed to me at first too and the longer I was on it the worst I felt. In the end I was taken off it and given another medication. I have a bad reaction to most medications but i tolerated flecenaide quite well for 2. 5 years until it stopped working. I have gone through most medicines and am now at the end of the road waiting for a pacemaker and AVnode ablation where i wont neeed medicines anymore except for anti coagulant.
I experienced all sorts of unwanted side effects when taking bisoprolol - but a pain in the neck and shoulders was never one of them. However we do all react to drugs in different ways so it could be the culprit, though it can be tempting to think that a coincidence is a cause so might the pain be related to something else eg. sleeping in an awkward position?
On the advice of my pharmacist I did buy a pill splitter and then took half the dose I was on (2.5) in the morning and the other half at night. That did help a bit. Oh, and prior to that - again on his advice - I took the 2.5 dose at night which helped minimally. (I no longer take bisoprolol)
Could be worth talking to your pharmacist? I find mine better than the GP with these sorts of questions.
Thank you for your reply to my post. I sometimes feel such a nuisance not being able to tolerate medication. 😔
It's not your 'fault' PhyllisK if you find it difficult to tolerate medication so I don't think you should feel a nuisance. However some people do take a while for their body to adapt to a new medication and I think it's probably worth persevering for a month. If you are only taking this until your cardioversion then maybe try talking to your pharmacist about splitting the dose as I previously suggested? After the cardioversion do tell the people looking after you about your symptoms/side effects and ask what other beta blocker/s you might try instead if they want to continue some sort of medication.
Don't feel a nuisance Phyllis your not alone not being able to tolerate meds as I can't either and also have food intolerances ...Makes life complicated and difficult at times..
Some meds do attack the muscles though making them especially painful and tender..
Hope your pain free soon.
Carol.
Good advice by CarolF. I started on 10mg and guess it took me a month for my body to accept the meds. Reduced to 7.5mg after Conversion and no significant side effects now. Stay strong and good luck.
Hi I came off Bisoprolol about 7 weeks ago after 5 years of it. I’ve had a bad neck and shoulders for the last couple of years. They can’t find anything wrong. I never thought about it being related to Bisoprolol. I’ve felt as though I’m back to my old self since taking Atenolol instead although still breathless going up stairs. I used to feel like I was walking through mud but I’m much better now. My neck pain has eased somewhat but whether that would have happened by now anyway is hard to say. Hope that helps.
Hmm, interesting to read as I'm on Bisoprolol and Perindopril and I too suffer from pain in the neck, at times quite severe. I've been blaming my sleeping positions! Never thought it could be related to meds. Will ask about this when I see my cardiologist next.
Stay well all,
Blue 
I did have short bouts of neck and shoulder pain when on Bisoprolol but put it down to my height as it happened only when I was stood up while preparing food. On each occasion I had to lay down and the pain subdsided.
Like you I have had bad reactions from several prescribed drugs so was surprised to be put on Bisoprolol while in hospital recovering from a fast heart beat which happened during removal of my appendix.
I was on Bisoprolol for 6 weeks before the side effects started, the main one being Urticaria, the one that landed me back in hospital was dry asthma. I am asthmatic but have never had asthma without infection. That bout was totally without infection, my lungs just seized up. I was taken off all beta blockers but still have bouts of Urticaria.
We are all different and our bodies react to drugs differently. Urticaria as a side effect of Bisoprolol happens to between 1 and 9 people out of every 10,000 people who take that drug. It would be me who is one of them.
I am on 5mg bisoprolol a day and I have urticaria. I have always thought it was related to bisoprolol. I have it in patches on shoulder and midriff and scalp. It drives me crazy. Do you now take a substitute for bisoprolol?
No. My GPs said all beta blockers would have the same effect on me. and I read a medical article which confirmed that. I have had AF for over 20 years and now it is permanent but asymptomatic (most of the time). My resting heart rate is about 80 beats per minute. Some people say that Nebivolol is better tolerated but as my heart rate is within an acceptable range I don't think I need to have any beta blocker. (I was only on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol, then on 1.25 before stopping.
I take antihistamines for the urticaria. Yesterday it was really bad. Today nothing so far.
Just joined group been nearly 8 weeks since start Bisoprolol and ever since day one I get spasms in my neck and a pain in jaw like It wants to grind my teeth.
No after six weeks the cramps got worse to point now I’ve to stop tonight. Just posted asking best way to do this as GP said just stop.
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