When first diagnosed with AF I was prescribed 2.5 mg and after 3days had to go to my gp.
I told her that I couldn’t function properly and my boss was low. She told me to stop taking it until I see the cardiologist because I’m no longer in af.
Big improvement straight away. At my appointment with cardiologist I was told to start taking it again but cut the dose down to 1.25 mg and see how it goes..
My question is why do we need to take it when not in af.
Many thanks in advance for your reply’s.
That should say BP not boss..
If you have been in AF then it is likely to happen again. Bisoprolol has an antiarrhthmic effect very useful for paroxysmal AF and is widely used.
Hopefully you will be able to tolerate 1.25mg
It is my understanding that Bisoprolol only controls the heart rate not the rhythm. So when you are not in AF your heart can slow down to the point where you feel really tired.
This is exactly why a lot of people, including me, just couldn’t take it.
You are correct , though beta blockers may stop the arrhythmia occurring but more often are useful for slowing down the heart rate during an AF episode without actually terminating it. So they do actually also have an anti arrhythmic effect as well.
I'm also one of those who cannot tolerate Bisop as a daily med and in fact have it as a Pill in pocket..not that it does much good.
The thing with AF is you don't always know when you are having episodes, you may be asleep and going in and out without your knowledge. Unfortunately you are likely to experince being back in AF again. It's a long journey finding a drug that suits you. I suggest you give the lower dose of Bisoprolol a try for a few weeks and if you still feel unable to function (as many people do on Bisoprolol) or your quality of life is not bearable, then you should go back to the Cardiologist and have the drug changed. I was on Bisoprolol, then Sotalol (Sotalol is not advised to be given for AF within the NICE guidelines in England) as I am in Scotland, I was prescribed Sotalol but I read it can cause other arrythmias so I asked to be given another drug. Next I was put on Flecainide and Atenolol then I had an ablation and was able to come off Flecainide. I have a reasonable quality of life on Atenolol but am aiming to have another ablation so I can come off Atenolol too. Also, are you on an anticoagulant? Please read as much information as you can about AF on this site and online. Sorry for the length of reply but I could talk about AF all day. Good luck.
I take my daily 2.5 bisoprolol in the evening to minimize side effects.
Me to
At first I didn't get on with a higher dose of Bisoprolol and like you my GP said to stop it but my cardiologist insisted I take it again but at a lower dose. So now I take it before bed and with no side affects. I'm thinking the Cardio chap knows what he's talking about and I'm less and less in AF these days.
Some people do adjust but it does take 2 or so weeks and then find Biso helpful but many don’t and even small amounts such as 1.5mg affect them but the only way to know if it’s helpful to you is to experiment. The difficulty is that predicting who reacts well and who not seems beyond our capabilities.
If I were you I think I would give it 2 weeks on the lower dose of 1.5mg and if you still feel rubbish just say no, not helping and why would I be taking a drug which is supposed to improve my QOL and it’s making it worse. I have to say I had a few rows with a few cardiologists by refusing to take it but in hindsight, I’m sorry that I persisted with it for so long.
I took it for quite a while gradually increasing the dose from 1.5 - 10mg but always found it so disabling so ended by saying - no more! I felt immediately better as soon as I stopped taking it. The only positive thing I could say about it is that it did stabilise my BP which used to be abnormally low and cause syncope, especially when in AF. It is not only lowers BP, it helps stabilise it which is the only reason my GP convinced me to take it in the first place.
I’m the same CDreamer. Couldn’t tolerate the way it made me feel. I felt like a different person to how I was. I had no get up and go and could have just sat in a chair all day. It upsets me to think about it! The only good thing was it seemed to have fixed my migraines. On Atenolol now and loads better in myself. Still breathless on hills though. Also still no migraines 👍
I tried taking it for a couple of weeks and felt so awful i asked to come off it....I'm on Atenalol now and feeling good!
Hi I was the same put on the lower dose and take at night no problems now I had months persuading them to lower it bp and heart to low on the high dose now heart rate hovers 60ish and bp much better I’m sure you will be fine if you take it at night I’d rather take it than risk af x
Hi TommoHFC, The scientists put me on 5mg 4 years ago after heart op. Could not tolerate
that and my GP told me I should be on 10mg. I said NO please put me on lowest 1.25mg. So on that for some considerable time. When I eventually returned to cycling I was experiencing dizzy spells and they're no good when riding your bike. A year ago decided to bin all the meds and man what a difference that has made. Back to being normal again and
cycling 200 miles weekly. So Tommo be careful with your iffy Bisoprolol. It may suit some
but the side effects can be very debilitating.
I would have asked the cardiologist or your GP why you are being asked to take it. My cardiologist seemed to want me off it as soon as could be. The smaller dose is still a very potent dose as the effect is not "linear".
If your heart rate and blood pressure are normal, I would question the need for drug treatment.
Steve
I changed from Bisiprolol to Nebivolol and find there are less side effects. I could not tolerate even 1.25mg Bisoproplol but take the 1.25of Nebivolol without problems.
I’m on 10 mg of bisoprolol and I do feel tired sometimes. I’m going to try taking it at night after reading this. I may tho ask for a change after these comments too.
I actually call it my sleeping pill & take it around 9pm!
Hi Tommo, I've had AF now for over 20 years . I functioned fine for 15 or so years with sotalol controlling my hereditoru condition. I sailed with my partner from Florida to Trinidad via Bahamas and West Indies. My AF was kept in check with medication and I led a more or less normal life (occasional alcohol -I have never smoked ) But in 2009 I had a massive stroke which had left me disabled left side. My cardio recommended 7.5mg Bisoprolol when my Aª returned last year. plus Apixoban blood thinners.
To answer your question, the Bisoprolol is a preventative, my body has adjusted to it and I am doing okay. I trust my cardiologist, I believe they arte more knowledgeable than the generral physician and believe me a major stroke should be avoided at all costs. The whole of my left side was paralysed and I lost the sight of my left eye. I had to learn to walk again and life has been a struggle these past 10 years. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
I do hope your cardiologist manages to sort out medication that suits you better.
All the best
Annlynne
Hi Tommo
I was identical to you with occasional afib episodes and a “start” dose of 2.5mg per day later reduced to 1.25 Mg a day . I noticed the side effects of being quite low in energy ,waking ( still tired) at 8.30 am rather than wide awake at 6.45 and low 45-48 bpm when just sat resting . An obvious point was I didn’t “ notice” that my afib episodes were reduced ... maybe they were maybe they weren't 😀 so it is hard to know what good it does but easy to see the bad .
I hated being so torpid so with my doctors agreement went to a half tablet then stopped felt great .... but had another afib event shortly after
Now I still do not take bisoprolol but do take 2x50 Mg flecainide per day no tiredness and touch wood.......
My suggestions are don’t do anything unilaterally or because it seems to work for others, but do ask your doc to approve changes in disease and medicine and hunt about a bit for what best suits you S
Hi, I was in persistent AFib and was put on bisoprolol - higher and lower doses and various others and couldn't tolerate any of them. Thankfully, had a successful cardioversion which last just under a year and another in July which is still working and am waiting for an ablation. The one tablet I could function on was the low dose digoxin. I seem to get on well with apixaban which is good.
Bisoprolol problems
how long to trial Bisoprolol? 
Metoprolol 
Flecanaide 
