My husband was diagnosed with AF in 2018. He had Cardio Version and was a lot better. He had sepsis and 5 cardiac arrests last year. He has diabetes and has also gone back into AF. He has started Bisoprolol. What do people feel about their experience of the efficacy of this drug?
Many thanks
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Dreamyhollow
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Bisoprolol is a drug that gets very mixed reviews. Is your husband having any problems with specific effects of the Drug? Cardio versions can work well for some people but a lot of people on this site find that they can only last for a short period of time and need to progress to an ablation, which usually fixes things for most of us.
With regard to Diabetes 2, has your Dr recommended a diet/exercise program to get his sugar levels down? This condition can be pushed into total remission and kept at bay, enabling your weight to normalise. If you look at diabetes.org there is a lot more information there on the nasty effects of diabetes and how to get the disease to go away and stay away.
I probably don't need to tell you that Cardiac arrests are dangerous. Lifestyle changes , exercise and diet can make a major difference. I have seen people radically change their lives and gain a new lease of life.
Bisoprolol is an effective well tolerated drug for the vast majority with relatively few side effects compared to many other drugs in this category, its is also not tolerated by a few. Doctors believe it to be one of the safest drugs, it has been around for many years and subject to many medical reviews. My experience is that it will give a sense of fatigue, but this effects wares of after a time (can be days or months), the key to its use is getting the dose right and this can be trial and error. Its not a miracle drug for heart problems but will be effective for many - only the Doc knows your husbands condition sufficiently to know if it likely going to be effective. Docs can also prescribe Bisoprolol to reduce the risk from more "risky" drugs.
I have been on this for over a year now (was on Metoprolol before). Find it much better than Meto. Yes I get tired and have to pace myself, but seems to suit me fine, as when out of lockdown, I do 2 sessions a week in our Hospice donation centre, which involves a fair bit of lifting boxes and being on my feet for a few hours at a time.....!!
From other posts I have read, many don't seem to get on with it though!
I’ve been on bisoprolol for the nearly five years that I’ve been in AF. I’ve had two cardioversions and two ablations and waiting for my third. I started on 1.25 mg and over the years it’s went up to 2.5 and then 5mg for along while. Then last year I went back into persistent AF and was put on 10mg. Each time my dose was increased I felt so fatigued I felt like giving up on it but after a month I was back to normal. I don’t suffer with any other side effects at all.
Bisopropol affects everyone in different ways. As an example I was on 1.25 mg per day and side effects were very slow HR ,extreme tiredness and dizziness. My wife takes 3.75 mg as a supplement to lowering BP
and has no side effects. Speak to your medical team if you are concerned.
For me Bisoprolol works when taking Amiodarone as well. I was admitted into hospital a year ago with a bad chest infection which lead to some heart failure. I was kept in for 6 days to get my heart rate down and given medication to remove the fluid from my body from the heart failure I lost a stone in weight in the 6 days. I was on atenolol before going into hospital but it was not keeping my heart rate down. It was around 140bpm when first admitted. They tried digoxin and other medication and settled on 5mg Bisoprolol twice per day and 200mg Amiodarone once per day. I have now halved both medications and A/F and heart rate has stabilised at between 50 & 60 bpm. But still struggling sleeping well and feeling groggy most days. Think this will be the case until I can go back to Cardiology at Stoke when I think a second Ablation will be advised. I had my first Catheter Ablation three years ago. But do no see Cardiology again for about 5 months ?
I am 72 and have been on bisoprolol and pradaxa for 7 years. I am fine with it except the bottom of my feet feel numb and it hurts at times to walk; I'm sort of just dealing with it. I golf 9 holes and walk and carry my clubs. I have a leaky heart valve and full time AF. barrie b. (P.S., I was wondering if others have that 'foot nerve issues'?
I've brought it up with my cardiologist; no response. It started in one foot; and was like my sock was 'crimping' so I'd take off my shoe and pull up my sock. Eventually both feet. This is one side of effect to Bisoprolol. A friend in Australia (both his parents are surgeons) and he works with doctors letting them know the latest research on different drugs etc. He is the one who told me it was Bisoprolol. I've seen other comments and some say it can also go into your fingers. I'm on 5 once a day. It is NOT in your head; that answer you were given is what they say when they don't have an answer; I sense it as being a wee bit arrogant. Note that feet issue can also be caused by diabetes.
Yeah. I’m definitely not diabetic and have had this since I went from 2.5 a day to 5 a day. I also got tested for B12 deficiency but I was fine, so I guess it’s the Bisoprolol. I’ve also seen it as a side effect for Xarelto which I’m also on. But going to go back to 2.5 a day and see how I feel...
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