Reducing Bisoprolol dosage.

[Tricia2747]

Hi my husband has been on Bisoprolol 10mg daily for 15years along with several BP tabs for high bp, At his last medication review his pulse rate was down to 37,(he did a lot of swimming in his teens) and has always had a low pulse rate 44-48,the cause of this drop to 37 was put down to beta blocker dose (so they thought) , they reduced bisoprolol to 7.5mg for 1 week,then 5mg for 2 weeks,then 3.75mg , this is his 4th week, his pulse rate gradually increasing to 50,

This morning he woke up with AF and pulse rate 66, and bp very good,I think he has reduced dose to quickly,I am trying to calm him down as he thinks a stroke or heart attack on the way, I'm quite medically aware of things,and like to know what's happening to my own body, whereas he is quite OH!! I'll be ok,but at this moment he's worrying, ive been reading your comments,about reducing Bisoprolol, and you've all been very reassuring ,but can you increase your tablet say back to 5mg without consulting doctor,(my husband is 72 today ) so his birthday started in a bit of a panic,as he woke with AF. any advice would be appreciated.he's still working P\T in an office job ,so reasonably active.

Tricia

[Hidden]

Hello Tricia, I’m 73 today so a kindred spirit! As you probably know, we are not medically trained, but the so called normal range for heat rate is 60 to 100 bpm although it’s better to be under 90 bpm. In my opinion, I don’t think you should make any changes without consulting your Doctor first. Maybe the reductions could have been over a longer period, but bouncing up, then down without medical advice is probably not a good idea.....

[Tricia2747 in reply to Hidden]

My husband has had l

[pottypete1]

Bisoprolol is a rate control medication. Your husband’s relatively slow heart rate Is the reason the doctors reduced the dose. This is what happened to me and I was taken off Bisoprolol completely for this reason.

As your husband has AF he should consult his EP (hopefully he has one) as for rhythm problems a different medication is required.

Your husband should almost certainly be taking anticoagulants and if so the risk of stroke is significantly reduced.

He should not adjust his medication doses without medical advice.

Pete

[BobD Volunteer]

I think most people would be very happy with a heart rate of 66! Normal range is 60 to 100 so having had bradycardia for so many years has obviously spoiled him . Nothing bad will happen so long as he is taking his anticoagulant so please don't let him do anything rash without discusssing with the doctor.

[Tricia2747]

My husband has had low pulse rate for as long as he can remember,this all kicked off when medication nurse said ooh!!you rate is 37,he was immediately put on an ECG mach,which showed AF.he was sent to

A &E and monitored for 3 hrs,they let him go when the pulse went up to 45,told to report to GP with a letter saying reduce bisoprolol. he had been taking 10mg for 8 years,with no side effects so why now ??anyway started decreasing dose,a week on 7.5 then a week on5mg,no problem pulse slowly going up,now taking 3.5mg,pulse still going down slowly 48-50,till last night,3 weeks on 3.5 and AF kicked in this morning pulse 60,,waiting for GP to ring us and say if it was normal or not,anyone else experienced this ?? Also this happened 20 years ago in a stressful job,saw a cardiologist,he said then he was over beta blocked,also to stop smoking,which he did.he had an an angiogram. Which showed a blockage but in bits along the artery. Said leave alone packing up smoking should clear it.

so why now after all this time are the problem s cropping up.one worried wife.