Getting of bisoprolol

[Colin1314]

Hi . I was given 5mg 2 years ago makeing me so breathless cant even walk 20 yards without gettiig out of breath. Even though i have emphasyma it was worse. Went to doctors 11 weeks ago hr was 40 . She reduced dosage to 3 75 then after month 2.5 then 1.25. Cut that in half 3 weeks ago but still cant shake withdrawel symptoms of . Has anyone done this and when do or will they stop. Glad of any help. Got no life in me at monent.

[Finvola]

Bisoprolol is infamous for its effects on some people with breathlessness and fatigue. As you have emphysema as well, it must be really difficult and a heartrate of 40 must be very debilitating.

Have you talked to your doc about an alternative to Bisoprolol? I used to take it but couldn’t cope with the side effects. Ten months ago I was changed to nebivolol which doesn’t interfere with lung tissue so my severe breathlessness is gone. Don’t put up with poor quality of life - perhaps a different drug will be the answer. Other posters may be able to give more advice.

[Hidden]

What sort of symptoms are troubling you now? Are you convinced they are due to withdrawal from Bisoprolol?

[Colin1314 in reply to Hidden]

Feeling bit of anxious and breathless,more than normal.actually last 2 days seem to be less breathless. Just wondered how long it took other people to get of it. Yes bisorolol hasnt really agreed with me since put on it due to very high pulse rate due to in fection and was kept on it . Doubg reduced dosage with doctors advice. Just seems to taking for ever for withdrawel symptoms to stop . But to be fair i have seen a light at the end of the tunnel today. Just hope its getting there . Thank you .

[Hidden in reply to Colin1314]

I have experienced the anxiety that can come with reducing the dose of a beta blocker like Bisoprolol. They can be prescribed in low dose for anxiety. I was switched over to Nebivolol so I can’t say how long before withdrawal symptoms settle. In people with a tendency towards anxiety, there might be a need for an alternative once the betablocker is out of the system.

[Finnart]

I had awful side effects coming off Bisoprolol and I was on a low dose. It took about six weeks before I felt as if it was out of my system. Hang in there and it will get better. Best wishes.

[Colin1314 in reply to Finnart]

Thank you for that. Was that after u had stopped taking bisoprolol. I am on half 1.25 every other day. Just thought it was me ,just would like to be back to normal . I feel nearly there but just feel a bit lathargic and bit breathless . Just hope to improve. Thank you for taking time to answer .

[Finnart in reply to Colin1314]

Yes, it was after coming off Bisoprolol. I felt awful when I was on it and almost as if I was grinding to a halt with a very slow heart rate. Then when I. came off, I still felt really breathless and lethargic. When I say it took about six weeks before I felt it had left my system entirely, during that period I would feel better some days and then have another few bad days. I thought it was going on forever, but it will leave your system and you’ll feel much better. Take care.

[Colin1314 in reply to Finnart]

Thank you . That makes me better. Think i am going the right way .

[ACC107 in reply to Finnart]

Thanks for this info, i was only on 5mg of Bisoprolol for 3 weeks but couldn't cope, had nearly all the side affects so doc dropped it down to 1.25mg, this felt terrible so he said stop all together, been off them for just over a week but still fell rubbish, reading your post means i may get better day by day, cheers.

[Finnart in reply to ACC107]

Yes, just hang in there. It will definitely improve. It took me about six weeks with a mixture of good days and bad days before it left my system altogether and I was back to feeling like myself again. Best wishes for a quick recovery.

[ACC107 in reply to Finnart]

Hi Finnart, up to now your spot on about having good days and bad ones, some days you feel right as rain and can do anything but some your back to square one not wanting to move off the couch, 3 weeks now so hopefully getting there soon, if i hadn't read your post plus others on here i would have been wondering what what was going on.

[Finnart in reply to ACC107]

Yes that’s exactly how I felt. Believe me, I sympathise with you as it’s really awful and difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. As

time goes on, you will definitely have more good days than bad and will eventually be back to normal. I’ll be thinking about you and wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Auriculaire in reply to Colin1314]

Are you sure you are weaning off slowly enough? I am weaning off Bisoprolol at the moment and going very slowly. I stay on each new reduced dose at least a month. At the moment on .625mg but will next go down to one sixth of a 2.5 mg tablet. A month on that then a month on alternate days then stop. I am having no problems with anxiety . I have read that even after stopping completely it can be 6 weeks before the body starts to go back to normal. Don't know if that is true!

[Colin1314 in reply to Auriculaire]

Thanks for the help. Probley rushed it was on 2.5 for 1 week then a locom doctor put me on 1.25 prob rushed it. After others i have done 3 weeks . Now on 1/4 of 1.25 . I will stick with with it for a month. Thank you for your advice.

[Mugster]

I was on 10 mg, which I progressively cut to 5 to 2.5 to 1.25. My symptoms used to be tiredness in the legs rather than breathlessness. I don't have any noticeable symptoms now, and just keep on it to keep my HR under 80...

[NooNoo14]

Go back to your doctor and ask to have the Bisopropol changed to something you can tolerate. I had exactly the same side effects - most miserable time of my life.

Netty

[Hidden]

It took a good few weeks for me to feel normal again, I went from 12.5 mg a day!! and reduced gradually under the supervision of my EP.

The last bit was the hardest, going from .65 to zero. Palpitations, anxiety, SVT, headaches.

But it eventually passed, probably took a month.

Feeling so much better off the bisoprolol now

[Colin1314 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for that . It has helped.

[ACC107 in reply to Hidden]

Mikee69

Could you please give me some advice about your experience coming off Bisoprolol.

I'am nearly 4 weeks not having any hbp meds but having anxiety symptoms that are worse than ever, did you find this or was you ok, sticking it out at the moment but struggling, thinking of going back to gp but don't want to go on any antidepressants. Thanks Paul.

[Colin1314 in reply to ACC107]

Hi very anxiuos for few weeks ,had to go back to gp was put on to 1.25 as pulse rate went up to 98. 5 weeks ago still lethargic but not got the anxiety and panic attacks. Pulse rate is steady 60 to 70. Going back to gp next week to see if she can up with any answers why still lethargic. Not as much breathlessness and i feel better before when i was on 5mg. Wanted to get of bisoprolol but hope gp can find sonething else. Sorry i cant give u the answer u r looking for . Horrible medication bisprolol.

[ACC107 in reply to Colin1314]

Cheers Colin, feeling very down at the mo, so pleased i found this site, people to talk to. Thanks.

[Colin1314 in reply to ACC107]

Know exactley how u feel. I got as far as cutting 1.25 mg in 1/4 and had all the panic anxiety and still breathless. As i said had to give in and go back. All i have now is feeling lathargic . Might be your gp will find the correct dose u need to be on. Rather than antidepressants. Let me know how u get on.

[Hidden in reply to Colin1314]

Hi Colin, so to hear that you are struggling.

TBH I still have anxiety and depression, I think it's all part of having AF

I think that my anxiety at the time was because of the extra ectopics and higher HR

there is no shame in having a bit of help from an antidepressant if it gets you through a rough patch

All the best

[ACC107 in reply to Colin1314]

Hi Colin,

Six weeks now since last bp tablet, doctor says he don't want me on any meds for hbp at all, the 24hr monitor results came back ok.

Still not feeling great though but better than a few weeks ago, still getting pressure/tingling in both temples with slight headache, doc says it's anxiety, might need a little longer to clear, hopefully you are ok now.

Cheers Paul.

[Annekw]

My Gp told me cutting tablets in half isn’t accurate enough, so I’ve got 1-25mgs ,no problem!