Reducing Bisoprolol and swollen ankles

[Harfly]

Hi, I have reduced my Bisoprolol from 2.5 mg to 1.25mg whilst taking 2.5 mg I have terrible fatigue and heavy legs. The thing is since I have reduced it my ankles are swollen every evening. I have had 2 ablations, last one 3 months ago. I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and have had pacemaker 25 years for ventricular bradycardia due to thickening of left ventricle. Do you think the reduction is causing the swelling? I feel so much better overall with the reduction. Many thanks

[BobD Volunteer]

I think you need to discuss with your doctor as you may need some other drug to prevent this.

[Harfly in reply to BobD]

Thank you will certainly speak with cardiologist x

[LHDLondon]

The Bisoprolol reduction by itself shouldn’t cause the water retention. It’s a beastly drug and like you i feel much better on 1.25mgs. My rhr is higher (50 bpm rather than 45) and i have more energy (not as much as I’d like but definitely better). My pacemaker is apparently more there as a safety net. Like you, I also have fluid retention and so am permanently on furosemide. This keeps it under control but doesn’t eliminate it. My cardiologist takes the view that if i can tolerate it, a little Bisoprolol is better than none. I go along with his thoughts.

[Hidden in reply to LHDLondon]

Hi

I’m taking g Bisoprolol 3.75 mg

I also suffer with uncomfortable water retention I’m also Im also Furosemide . What dose of furosemide are you in ?

My GP put me in these a year and half of suffering with Water retention

She says the cause Diabetes, Gout. Plus more health conditions

[Harfly in reply to Hidden]

I don’t take any diuretic at the moment perhaps that’s what I need. 😊

[Harfly in reply to LHDLondon]

Thanks for the info I have an appointment on Thursday so will chat with cardiologist 😊

[Hidden in reply to Harfly]

That’s good . I’m not under any cardiologist, I don’t know why ? The GP is prescribing tablets that’s as far as it goes 🙁

X

[Lovetopaint-12 in reply to LHDLondon]

My Bisoprolol was reduced to 1.5mg and I’m on Digoxin 125mg. I have ankles now, whoopee. No water tablets now. Feel much better even though still in AF.

[LHDLondon]

40mg per day

[Hidden in reply to LHDLondon]

Was you told the same as I was regarding Diabetes and Gout ?

[Robbo1975]

I changed my medication from bisoprolol to nebivolol and the difference is night and day, full of energy, not feeling lethargic or out of breath, or just feeling like a zombie, I noticed the difference the next day taking nebivolol and my life has totally changed for the better ask your cardiologist or go for a change! I started bisoprolol on 2.5mg and then upped to 10mg I am now on nebivolol 10mg

[Harfly in reply to Robbo1975]

Many thanks for your suggestion, I have been reading a lot regarding bisoprolol v Nevibolol so I will discuss this with my cardiologist on Thursday and hopefully she agrees to changing the meds. Did you put on weight with nebivolol? 😀

[Robbo1975]

No I’ve lost just shy of 26kgs

[Harfly in reply to Robbo1975]

Fabulous that’s a great achievement 👍

[42boston]

I got rid of bisoprolol completely and did not replace it . My mobility greatly improved, I lost 5 Kg (82Kg to 78Kg) and my blood pressure remained constant. . You do not say why you are taking bisoprolol but for blood pressure there are many alternatives. Try some out.

[cmundo1972 in reply to 42boston]

Can I ask if you weaned yourself of it or just stopped taking. I’m only on 2.5mg but feel lethargic and aches and pains. Consultant has said I can try 1.25mg but doesn’t want me stopping altogether.

[42boston in reply to cmundo1972]

I recommend that you collect data to base your desire to stop taking bisoprolol with facts. Research your situation on the internet to have things to discuss with your consultant.

You need your consultant as an advisor so I would follow his recommendation. However you are ultimately responsible for your health so I would take charge.

A full solution will take time: It took me 18 months. Gather some data eg monthly average blood pressure readings at different levels of bisoprolol. I found out that it made no difference until I stopped taking it for about 6 weeks when my symptoms improved 80-90%. At that point the consultant ( in my case my gp) discontinued the bisiprolol for my AF. I did not replace with another ace-inhibitor but continue to take perindopril ( a beta-blocker) for blood pressure. I am coming to the conclusion having tried it at different dosages over the past year that it is not worth taking and will be discussing that with my GP at the end of the month. If he agrees then I will be left with a low dosage of warfarin for my AF.

My aim is to discontinue the warfarin in about 4 years time when I am 80years old. You have to die from something. In my case they reckon that only 6 people with AF in 1000 are saved (death delayed) by having warfarin treatment.

[cmundo1972 in reply to 42boston]

Good for you. Thanks for your insight.

[Harfly in reply to 42boston]

Is that at 80? Or across all ages? X

[42boston in reply to Harfly]

Thank you for asking as you forced me to look at my sources after a 4 year gap.

My souce was a 2014 NICE document. There may be a newer version of the report.

nice.org.uk/guidance/cg180/...

My Anticoagulant: CHA2DS2-VASc score was 1 as under 75 but is now 2 (Age 76) so I will take a fresh look at the data.

However you can see the concepts in this report and it is suprising how little effect the anticoag treatment for all except high CHA2DS2-VASc scores 4 and 5.

What I have not taken into account is my risk of bleeding HAS_BLED score because my consultant did not mention it.

The final page of the report tells you how to work out your CHA2DS2-VASc and

HAS_BLED scores.

[Harfly in reply to 42boston]

Thank you I will take some time to read the article. 👍

[Harfly]

It’s not for BP it’s to help with the contractions of my heart, cardiologist said due to the cardiomyopathy my heart doesn’t pump as well as it should. 😀

[Leener71 in reply to Harfly]

I too take it for the same reason Harfly but would also like to stop if possible. I tke 2'5 mg a day and feel so tired sometimes. Let me know how you go on ... Eileen

[Harfly in reply to Leener71]

Will do 😀

[Leener71 in reply to Harfly]

🤗

[Harfly in reply to Leener71]

Cardiologist prescribed Nebivolol so once the I start them I will let you know. 👍