Has anyone experienced memory problems whike taking Bisoprolol? My husband has been taking this for 3 years now, and also recently a drug to help with Prostate issues. In my online research both are listed as causing memory problems. I interested to know if any of you can comment.
Also would you go for an Ablation at 68.
He's definately not doing great on these pills. Dizzy spells, breathless going upstairs but gets annoyed if I mention any of these things.
Thanks in advance
I was on Bisoprolol for many years but no longer take it because my heart has conductivity problems.
My memory has got worse and I am 72 but I think it is so difficult to definitely associate memory issues with any particular drug even if it is a known side effect.
Regarding having an ablation at the age of 68, I have had 7 ablations in all 4 of which have had since I was 68. My heart is now very stable so it has all been worth it.
If your husband’s EP recommends an ablation then I would suggest he has it done.
Pete
Agree with Pete, if you can arrange for hubby to see an EP (Electrophysiologist who is a Cardiologist who specialises in arrhythmias) then he will assess whether or not an ablation is the best route forward for your husband. Appointments on the NHS can take time so if possible, a private consultation (£200/£300) would be much quicker but tests such as ECG’s and Echocardiogram can be quite expensive. Also if appropriate, make it clear that any ongoing treatment would be done on the NHS.
Bisoprolol made me very breathless and weak and I was switched to Nebivolol which suits me much better. Going upstairs or uphill when I took Bisoprolol was difficult - now less so.
Memory does change as we age - short term memory suffers and long term memory seems to improve. (I have perfect recall of events of childhood but cannot remember what I went into the kitchen to get sometimes - I’m 75). My husband takes prostate medication but has no worse memory problems that we deem normal for a 76 yo.
Has your husband been prescribed an anticoagulant?
Regarding ablation, I opted not to but if my EP recommended it, I would go for it, even at my age. Dealing with AF is all about quality of life and getting the best treatment plan you can. Best wishes to you and your husband.
Such helpful and lovely replies, thanks to you all. We do have private health care and he has seen an EP who in the beginning said to have an ablation. But meds seem to help a lot so he opted not to. But lately he's not half as good. His son age 42 just had an ablation and is feeling great after just 3 weeks.
I need to get him to re visit the EP you are confirming my thoughts.
Yes I'm on bisoprolol. Now having bad memory. My son's had to phone my mobile company because I did not remember making calls to insurance company x
My father had cognitive problems and dizziness that seemed to be related to a prostate size reducing medication. Not sure what it was called.
I have read that there is a relationship between a lack of exercise and higher memory loss in men as they age attributed to lower blood flow to the brain. Bis could indirectly contribute. A daily 1/2 hour walk or increasing the current exercise time certainly couldn't hurt.
My husband "loses words" a lot causing much frustration( not just names which we both struggle with! He also has mild problems with cognition. I have to say things clearly or he has difficulty "joining up the dots". He does well in the standard tests for memory issues. He is on various meds which I like to think could be the cause but has PAD and had two MIs and stents. In addition his father had vascular dementia so I fear it may be just ageing and familial traits. His cholesterol is low so did get GP to reduce statins( another possible culprit.
Your OH sounds like mine as if I remark or show concern re his mild breathlessness he gets grumpy. He has permanent AF btw and is 74.
Certainly try and persuade your husband a review with EP woulld be a good idea and could lead to improvement.
Ditto - my husband - very frustrating for us as well. I have to say that my husband’s moods are much improved since being on Amiodarone as his EF jumped from 36% to 55% and the cognition also improved but still loses words and finds it difficult to join up the dots but then his hearing is also failing - but he is 85 so how much is accelerated ageing due to the AF. The Amiodarone is doing it’s job as he is now down to 3% of AF but how long to continue the Amiodarone is the question?
I don’t think we should just assume it’s ‘ageing’ as that has been proved that these symptoms are a direct result of inflammation, oxidisation and free radicals and if we can reverse those triggers, things can improve. Trouble is that once the brain is damaged there is little to be done to reverse that damage.
I agree re never assume just ageing. Have several friends in their nineties who are all sharp as a tack. I am learning to be more forgiving but I am generally of the " not suffering fools gladly" brigade and have to remind myself that this is not him being difficult. Love the one you're with with is a good fit!
I couldn’t tolerate Bisoprolol at all and come to think of it, also had memory problems so it could be connected but as I had so much else going on at the time it is really hard to say what causes what.
I don’t think 68 is a problem for ablation as I know people in their late 70’s and even 80’s who have had an ablation. My husband is 85 and we have just been discussing it as an option as his AF became persistent but as cardioversion didn’t work for him it is unlikely that ablation would help and I think that is a more relevant question to ask.
There are drugs other than Bisoprolol to control HR so he really needs to go see the doctor and push strongly for alternatives as when the medicine makes QOL worse than the disease - I really cannot see the point of continuing. I think you have posted about this before? Treatment options are very individual and we all react very differently.
The only thing I really blame Bisoprolol for is my weight gain and I only really started to be able to lose any weight after I stopped taking it.
Thank you CDreamer. I haven't posted about the memory issue before but its dawning on me it could be associated with these 2 drugs so am investigating. The prostate drug he takes, tamsolosin , also seems to have connection to memory loss so is he having a double whammy? Someone has said brain fog and that's something new I am noticing. Glad of these reviews as I dont know what to do and his attitude is to shout - he cant help it so don't say anything . Very frustrating, especially if something can be done to change all this. I run just about everything for us and work plus Grandkids. He's retired no stress. Maybe it's retirement!
Sorry I mixed you with another person’s post - asking the same questions.
I do sympathise. Can you get him to sign mutual permission release for each other to access test results and discuss treatments on behalf of the other? I found that worked and I now go to most of my husband’s medical appointments, he was resistant at first but now really appreciates it as he has trouble understanding all the doctor says & it always helps to have 2 people listening.
It’s very hard for our men to come to terms with ageing & loss of masculinity, my husband had prostrate cancer, treated early but that was another stressor & they all build up. I was in a meeting a while ago discussing why people didn’t turn up for appointments & more than one person said that they preferred taking head in the sand approach to being proactive & I think that is all about fear if what you may hear + existential anxiety which is very hard for all of us but if you are able to talk about these things in the better moments it really helps.
Luckily my husband likes the idea of being in control & was very open to going to counselling to have a third person on the room to help us contain the anger & talk about the feelings underneath & that really helped. No more shouting. Another strategy was talk about in a public place - obviously not where you can be overheard - I do believe that although you can’t help how you feel - you do choose how to behave so I won’t put up with shouting - amazingingly when in public the shouting stopped - the frustration was still there but I would only engage when he is able to be in control of himself.
Best wishes CD
Your husband's experience mirrors mine. I have permanent AF and take Bisoprolol and Tamsulosin (for prostate). Breathlessness is my worst problem and the only response I get from GP and cardiologist is a shrug of the shoulders and a passing thought that my Bisoprolol dose should be cut by 2.5mg to 5 per day. I do have mild memory problems and have difficulty remembering peoples and place names. I am always weary! Age 72.
Is his sleep OK? The last 5 years with AF & all it's baggage I have been waking up a lot in the night. At last managed to sort that out and my short/medium term memory is much improved - exciting stuff! Just a thought.
I'm not on a beta blocker but on a calcium channel blocker plus flecainide and my memory and mind are so shocking I find it extremely worrying.
Hi,
I too, am on bisoprolol and have what seems to be short term memory issues, as to whether this is the bisoprolol i cannot categorically say.
I had a self elected Ablation in March this year, purely due to the AFib episodes getting too frequent, I only felt dizziness when in AFib (Expected) and could hardly walk upstairs at first, the bisoprolol made this manageable.
The Flecainide and bisoprolol I'm taking control some of the expected arrhythmia's that I have been having post ablation., but apart from that, I'd go for the ablation if I were him.
Online research is great, but the combination of the drugs being taken, may also be a factor, I'd speak to the Consultant/doctor.
Hope this helps
Kind regards
Craig
I was on bisoprolol for 18 months between diagnosis and six weeks post ablation. Breathlessness was an immediate effect, in some ways this was worse than the AF. Unfortunately, without it, my heart would race at the smallest effort, so I definitely needed something to combat this.
After a few weeks I noticed that coomunication was more difficult, I was sometimes struggling for words. I work at a high level in a jargon filled industry, and in meetings, I was feeling somewhat out of my depth. My reactions were slower and I was unable to hold concentration for long periods. My boss was actually quite concerned for my welfare.
Eventually, after my second ablation, the bisoprolol was stopped and everything returned to normal.
Your question has produced an interesting collection of responses. I can only add one thought. I wonder how much anxiety may be playing a part in your husband's problem? AF has made me extremely anxious to the extent that I had therapy for it and learnt to handle it most of the time. My memory improved markedly! Anxiety causes overthinking to the extent you never concentrate on being "in the moment" as problems are always on your mind. Whether your husband would consider it I don't know. Could be tricky!
As for ablation at 68, I have had two ablations since turning 65, and the second helped a lot. I still take bisoprolol and can't honestly say my memory is significantly worse, although it does slow me down in all the ways that have already been described. I hope you manage to persuade your husband to go back to the EP. It seems like a good first step.
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