I believe that it does cause brain fog. I think a lot of other drugs do too and who knows how the combination of several drugs taken on one day can affect us.
That is so true. I feel better as I thought I was losing it. Over the weekend meeting a family member I’ve not seen for a year. I was excited and nervous. Heart behaved after and during lots of aware deep breaths, I was waiting out side the wrong place and waited for 40 minutes. Then after a call I felt stupid then couldn’t remember where the place was. Yet... been there lots of times.
My heart beat was thumping and I was stressed. Still it all went well. I just took the mick out of myself. Never ever been like that before ..... so deep breathing helped my heart a brandy would of helped too .... but don’t drink anymore. So yes AF is a pain in the ......head. 🥴
Just my experience - I think beta blockers do you make you feel a little 'foggy' and not quite with it - certainly to start with.
For me personally this effect became less evident after time. It could be your brain gets used to the effect and blots it out as time goes on. It's the same as wearing a new pair of prescription reading glasses if you haven't had your eyes tested for years - the first time you wear them - bang - you really notice. A few months later you forget your wearing them. There's been a number of times when I have asked where my glasses are only to be told I'm wearing them
I found I did adjust and the foggy feeling went after a few months. I'm off blockers now but would expect the same effect if / when I have to go back on them.
I was on Bisoprolol. Initially the only effect I noticed was that I was less able to cope with exertion, even worse than the AF. After a short while, I was noticeably less anxious but much more tired. After a couple of months, I felt like I couldn't think properly; this lasted a good few months after I stopped taking them too.
I have been taking Metropolol since 2007 and I can still count backwards from 100, recall who was the first President of the United States, and the name of my great-great-great grandmother. In all seriousness, I write history and really don't have any problems recalling characters and lineage from 200 years ago, so I may be the odd-man out for your study. No brain fog has ever slowed me down since taking Metropolol.
Cheers for that I think I’m going to ask cardiologist. I’m getting frustrated. But it has stopped my AF episodes since last November. Rock and a hard place. 👍🏻
It Seems to help with my AF I’ve been on it quite a few years now. Although he still likes to play up whenever it feels like it and I’ve been cardioverted seven times now
I’ve only had chemical cardioversions. Many go back into NSR by themselves. Always waiting for the next one. Still keep trucking eh. At least we are alive.
I was on sotalol for 2 years. It really slowed me up physically and mentally. I came off it and went onto diltiazem and felt like a bunny with a new set of batteries!
Beta blockers are designed to reduce the load on your heart by slowing it down, so the amount of blood circulating must also be reduced. This is confirmed as your extremities, hands and feet etc, can get very cold esp in winter.
This must also mean there is less blood circulating to the brain, so there must be the possibility of additional loss of some mental capacity, but whether this has ever been studied I don't know.
I think it is very important to ensure the dosage of these quite powerful drugs is proportionate with the underlying cardio problems.
I think perhaps the medics do tend to overprescibe some drugs just to make sure the heart keeps going as long as possible, with less emphasis on the overall effects on quality of life.
Personally I'd rather take my chances with a dodgy ticker than spend the rest of my life as a zombie.
Consequently I have spent a lot of time trying to minimise the amount of any drug I take, but you have to keep the medics appraised of how they are affecting you otherwise they happily think everything is fine, when of course it isn't.
Makes total sense. I’m going to see cardiologist in May after two cancellations since increased sotalol. I shall ask him also I see a female cardiologist so I’m taking pen and paper with a list of questions. Watch this space. 😉
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.