Hi all, as a couple of weeks ago I started to titrate off the 2.5mg bisoprolol I've been on last few years. I've dropped to 1.25mg and so far mixed bag of events . Week one, no issues or problems until 7-8 days in, then anxious, sort of uncomfortable feeling here and there not pleasant at all . Start of week 2 had a very stressful day, felt odd around teatime and got a nice rush of adrenalin when sitting down to relax, heart started off on a gallop making me feel so uncomfortable I had to walk around ten mins until it subsided, early night and OK next morning . Now into week three as of yesterday, face feels flushed and just odd feelings and a little anxious the odd time. Been reading a lot about bisoprolol and accounts of it being a rotten drug to come off, similar experiences of bouts of rapid beats, and feeling anxiety. Laughed at my gp when he said "oh it's a low dose you could just stop" I told him no, and thank god as its hard enough reducing it.
Has anyone had any similar problems and any advice.
Ian.
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Ianp66
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Hello brother how are you mate? I was on bisraprol for only 6 months and had to switch to metraprole was having horrible side effects how long you been on bisraprol? I dread the day I come of beta blockers as my anxiety is horrible so hats off to you pal
Hi pal, it's a couple of years now mate since they put me on bisoprolol, was on 5mg originally in 2018 when I got hospitalised with afib n fast tachy. I dropped to 2.5mg mid 18 after it just left me drained all the time and gp agreed it was that . My EP wants me of it since the last check in Jan this year, Im keen to get off it as well mate to be honest.
Been a bit up and down few weeks just hoping it settles then drop to 0.62, from what I've read that and the next step off altogether is the hardest bit, so just gotta ride it out. Got to say I don't feel as lethargic just a bit hyper some days, well more than usual😂.
Ahhhhhh mate this AF business really frustrates me and pisses me off, I just can’t understand it and when I have good days I try to do the same like eat the same foods etc etc than I have a bad day and i scratch my head and say what did I do wrong, just tiring mate
Sounds like your stressing mate. I got like that at one point, checking my BP every 20mins, listening for irregular or missed beats, and loads of other crazy stuff, I became obsessive and it didn't help me at all. I think the psychological element is the hard part to deal with when you suffer AF or have ever suffered from it even post ablation .
I do a lot of breathing exercises after some advice of members here, and relaxation techniques and it definitely helps. Have you spoke to your EP since the ablation? What do they say about it.
Keep me posted mate, hopefully it's just anxiety driven, had been in my case at times, at times it seems never ending, now my afibs fixed its bloody beta blocker blues, don't let it get ya down though mate, see what the halter shows, since I got reassuring results about the ablation I've been great, until I started coming off this stuff, don't let it beat ya pal
I have been on bisop for the last 18 months 2.5. I have the cold hands and feet the tight chest Brady and fatigue. EP has agreed to change to calcium channel blockers . So stopped the bisop on Friday. All was well until last pm then the anxiety got me as my heart and bp were just getting to normal levels!! Bottled out and took a 1.25. Stupid!! I should have got my head together
Anyway going to start the calcium this AM and hope no more betas
From what I've read it's not stupid doing what you have , it's sensible to reduce gradually rather than just stop as it's a very powerful drug with some unpleasant reactions when ceased .
If you Google reducing bisoprolol it shows some very torrid accounts of people trying to cold turkey, and good advice on reducing it gradually over a month or two to lessen the side effects of anxiety and heart interaction.
I am having an ablation tomorrow so had to stop taking it for 5 days . However u ran out 10 days ago so instead of getting 5 data worth I stopped. I never reduced the amountjust went cold turkey. I've not had a single thing happen. I might be one of the lucky ones.
I was fine the first week Chris, hit me after the second week and read a lot of accounts where people have had a lot of issues just stopping, and did see one or two who had came off OK like yourself, definitely lucky if that's the case.
I was on 12.5mg Bisoprolol so far dropped 2.5mg. I'll see EP end of March when I hope to start the process of eliminating it altogether. No I'll effects so far.
The accounts I've read of coming off bisoprolol I've read say that reducing is a lot easier from higher doses, I was fine going from 5mg down to 2.5mg didn't notice anything. Seemingly its when you try to go from 2. 5mg to lower then again for 0. 62 Mg to 0 it hits harder as it doesn't work on amount you take, but the way it builds up in your system.
I was on 1.25mgs for only a few months and was told to just stop it cos of side effects....walking in mud etc. I queried whether I should just stop it or wean off. Told it was a very small dose so just stop. I had all the symptoms you mention .......horrible experience. Made worse cos I had to have a colonoscopy about a week after I’d stopped Bisoprolol! Doctors don’t know as much as the people on this really helpful site!
Good luck weaning off this dreadful (to many people) drug.
Totally agree, gp said same it was such a small dose etc, yet EP said he had heard form other patients that it was difficult to just stop cold turkey, and I could titrate off my way based on how it affected me individually.
Read so many saying the same it can't be coincidence, just taking it slow and hopefully stop it by Easter, if not summer, if I'd been aware of the pitfalls of the affect on my adrenal system I wouldnt have agreed to take it knowing what I do.
Beta blockers are also adrenaline blockers so if you want to come off them altogether your body may go into rebound for a while so if exercise works off the adrenaline it will help.
Calming the ANS will also help regulate adrenaline production so breathing exercises, Mindfulness & Meditation will also help. Good luck.
I felt so much better after I stopped beta blockers but it took a while to be able to regulate the adrenaline.
I have found CD the days I walk or get out on the bike it seems to help and I have a better day, its definitely adrenalin like you say, I feel hyper one minute then ok the next. Can't wait to get this out of my system, nobody tells you what a powerful drug this is.
It was the drug from hell as far as I was concerned. I now have a red alert on my medical file to avoid anyone giving it to me. Good luck coming off it - I have had no adrenaline rushes since being clear.
I am really interested (and sorry) you are experiencing all these effects. I have been on 1.25mg per day for the past few years and even on that dose (which my GP said was miniscule) always felt tired. So this year I decided to stop completely. I took half a tablet for two weeks, and then stopped completely about three weeks ago. I monitor myself as a matter of course, and my heart rate (for me) has gone through the roof - I wear an Apple watch so have a record and even during the night it is in the high 80s, and I go over 100 several times a day even when I am not doing anything strenuous. When I was first diagnosed with AFib just over four years ago and wore a monitor my heart was generally in the 60s and during the night dropped to the 40s. So I am baffled and not sure whether to go back on the low dose (as I am still tired!) or wait for a few more weeks.
From what I've read on other forums about bisoprolol, it can take up to two months or so or longer for adrenalin to level out, I'm determined to ride it out, it's hard though like you say, temptation to just go back to normal dose is the easy way, I'd stick it out a bit longer if you can from what I've read it does ease just take a little time.
It spikes seemingly Pad,but maybe someone more qualified can give some info, but what I've read you produce more as its damped by bisoprolol, so you come off and it's not a pleasant experience, I read some of these posts and got a little bit insight and can identify with a lot fo the comments.
Yes Pad, In January at the 9month check EP said all looking good after the usual checks, took me off bisop and Apixaban which I was surprised at, did say I could do it at my own pace, as last year after he said cold turkey was fine, ended up with flutter and cardioversion, just hoping this goes OK coming off steady.
Ian ... I was initially on 10mg of bisoprolol, so a much higher dose than you. After being on this drug for 7 months I was finding it very much “weighed” me down. Made me anxious and moody amongst other things. Over a period of 2 weeks, after seeing the EP, I was slowly weened of this drug and switched to verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. I wouldn’t say the transition was seamless, however I didn’t really suffer any ill effects. I’m now on 240mg of verapamil once a day, I have to keep an eye on my blood pressure, having a normal blood pressure, verapamil is a blood pressure reducing drug, now averages around 100/70.
I’m classified as having persistent AF, diagnosed 8 months ago at the age of 65 with an average heart rate of 80-90.
Yea I agree, it makes you feel very old taking bisoprolol in my experience, it definitely dampens your reactions and emotions I found. Now the afib is sorted after the ablation, I'm looking forward to being without the feelings this drug gives me , though it kept my tachy episodes under control, its a hard trade off.
Ive come off bisoprolol, had three goes at it cutting tablets in half etc ,had a constant feeling around heart area ,also dare i say it total loss of libido when on it.
I was on Bisopropol for about 3 years. 1.25mg dose. Even at this low dosage I experienced a few side effects. Not pleasant. On stopping it , I did not have any odd side effects. Glad I'm off it to be honest.
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