Which Beta Blocker should I ask for?

[FancyPants54]

Cardiologist phone appointment on Tuesday.

I've tried reducing Bisoprolol with a view to coming off it. I believe I have side effects from it that are not something I can live with longer term. The reduction has been stressful and has resulted in my resting heart rate going up to 100-107 more regularly just by halving the dose from 2.5mg. I'm back in persistent Afib I think, although I didn't know that until I had an ecg last week Trying to reduce the Bisop. has certainly made me more aware of the Afib. So it looks like I need to keep taking something to bring the rate down a bit. But which one?

Bisop. makes my BP rather too low I think, didn't bring my heart rate down that much and gave me side effects. The worst being neuropathy in my feet and burning, stinging feet and ankles + lethargy and no stamina.

I was thinking of asking for Nebivolol. But what do you all think?

[Hidden]

I don’t have any personal experience but it seems to attract good reports from many members of the forum........

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

To quote my GP "nebivolol is very cardiac specific" In other words it shouldn't affect breathing or exercise so badly.

[FancyPants54 in reply to BobD]

That's what I thought. My GP said Bisoprolol is the same. I've seen a lot of people here have trouble with Bisoprolol.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to FancyPants54]

Bisoprolol. Also know as the Devil's Sperm . lol 😁

[4583 in reply to BobD]

agree!!!

[FancyPants54 in reply to BobD]

Ha ha!

[sotolol in reply to BobD]

I take 10 mg daily I’ve noticed I’m getting a tail and growing horns. 👿!!!!

[Hidden]

I was changed to Nebivolol several years ago, but I still suffer the same as you with my feet and ankles.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear. Not good to hear. How about energy?

[Hidden in reply to FancyPants54]

Fine, do my brisk 30 minutes walk a day

[Ppiman]

Having had similar issues last year, and after initially becoming convinced it was a side effect of bisoprolol, I've now become convinced it wasn't. I should rather thank bisoprolol, really, since it controlled a particularly severe post-ablation afib attack when I came off it too early.

The hot hands and feet is peripheral neuropathy which I didn't think was a side effect of beta-blocker more a side effect of getting older! Mine has worsened since I began having arrhythmias but I suspect this is just a coincidence.

I did ask my GP about switching to the more expensive drug nebivolol but he convinced me otherwise, and I now think he was right. He assured me it was nothing to do with cost. I gather bisoprolol is equally selective and is very cardiac specific. What I did discover in general about beta-blockers is, to my surprise, that the science behind them isn't yet fully understood.

Looking back at last year, I have now begun to feel that it was anxiety that created many of the "side effects" I, at the time, put down to being related to the drugs I was taking.

Steve

[FancyPants54 in reply to Ppiman]

You may well be right. But I never had any of these feet issues before I was put on it. And I don't think I'm that old. I've just turned 57 now. This started last year.

[Ppiman in reply to FancyPants54]

I was about your age when I started with hot feet. Over the years this slowly worsened until I went to my doctors and was told it was age-related peripheral neuropathy.

I can't imagine such a side effect would be specific to one particular beta-blocker but it might be worth switching to see what happens.

Steve

[sotolol in reply to Ppiman]

Agree

[irene75359]

When I work out how to put the monthly graph of my heart rate on here, I am going to give an account of coming off Bisoprolol. I was on 1.25mg a day and my GP said it was an absolutely tiny dose and I shouldn't be affected. In my case, she is probably right as I have stopped completely and I am as tired as ever. But I still get the side effects of coming off, racing heart and multiple ectopics. If I had to go back on something else I would ask for Nebivolol, other members have found it much preferable. Best of luck.

[Auriculaire in reply to irene75359]

Have you got your vit D test results back yet? I definitely felt better on switching to Nebivolol but I have decided to wean off that as my afib episodes are infrequent . It is very slow but I am down to .65 mg. Today was the first day since dropping to the .65mg ( about a fortnight ago ) that I have not had any significant spells of light-headedness.

[irene75359 in reply to Auriculaire]

No! After Hilly said check your junk email, I have been every day. Nothing yet. I will let you know as soon as I get them, and will be most grateful for your advice!

[irene75359 in reply to Auriculaire]

I should say that my episodes are so infrequent that like you, I would rather not take anything. I first had flecainide daily, now I only use as a PiP (last time October 2019).

[Canada01 in reply to irene75359]

i have been trying to come off Bisop because of headaches and lethargy started 2.5 then 1.25 i halved this for a week and halved again 4 days ago, but heart rate went up and had AF for hours HR still 100 and getting flutterings now so took 1.25 this morning. i am on amiodarone too. How long did your withdrawal last please?

[FancyPants54 in reply to Canada01]

And there was my GP telling me 2.5 was such a low dose I could just stop it.

He said most are on 10 mg!

I’ve given up today. I can’t cope with anxiety, a heart rate over 100 and much more noticeable heart irregularities. I am going to ask for Nebivolol and hopefully give that a go. No one told me this would be difficult to get off when they gave it to me.

[FancyPants54 in reply to FancyPants54]

No one has even thought to mention why my HR was in the 70’s at rest before my long bout of persistent AF but didn’t go down enough after my cardio version to allow me to come off it. I was told to just stop the Digoxin and wasn’t aware of issues. But looking back I was very anxious at that time.

[Canada01 in reply to FancyPants54]

I think that some people have different experiences . But mine not good had the same probs when i came off last year should never have accepted it again.

[irene75359 in reply to Canada01]

Months. I nearly went back on Bisoprolol as I thought it was necessary and controlling my erratic heart. It wasn't until I noticed posts talking about withdrawal symptoms that I realised that was what was happening to me. Then I googled withdrawal from Bisoprolol and so much information came up. It wasn't pleasant at the time but everything has calmed down now. I should point out that I came off with my doctor's approval. I still take warfarin and would never stop that.

[Beaky-Pompino]

I really struggled at first with Bisoprolol and it took about 5 to 6 weeks to get used to it. At first it was hard to differentiate between the symptoms of AFib and the tablets. I lowered my dose from 5mg to 2.5mg, only to find that I actually felt much worse and less able to do things. I wasn't able to do much more on the meds anyway, so i went back up to 5mg.

But I persevered and things did improve greatly but the 5 to 6 weeks seemed like an eternity

[sotolol in reply to Beaky-Pompino]

I’ve just painted my hall stairs and landing took three weeks but paced myself. I think a lot of this feeling tired is age related my husband only takes a small amount of a blood pressure pill was cut down to 5ml and completely stopped another after stopping drinking and walking a dog he lost over a stone he is 77 this year. He gets tired I get tired just part of life. We’ve had a sad 10 years depressing but being busy really helps you go slower but you feel better mentally. The climate is pants in the world we limit our news watching and walk the dog. Happy days. Bless you all.

[sandoval22]

Only beta blocker I can tolerate is Atenolol but it was a real struggle to get hold of it.

[stormcloud]

I changed from Bisoprolol to Nebivolol but it is causing muscle spasms and cramp in my legs. Don't know what to ask for now.

[FancyPants54 in reply to stormcloud]

There are others. Atenolol is a name I've seen mentioned above in this thread I think. Or, there's a switch to calcium channel blockers.

[stormcloud]

Yes ,I know that Atenolol and Metoprolol are cardio selective beta blockers.

It's so frustrating because Nebivolol suits me so much better than the Bisoprolol did if only it didn't cause the muscle spasms and cramps .

I dread changing drugs as I am unable to tolerate most of them.

Nebivolol seems to well tolerated by most people on the forum do might well be suitable for you.

I was only taking lowest dose of Bisoprolol but it was difficult coming off it and took many weeks .

[FancyPants54 in reply to stormcloud]

I've been having very painful early morning foot cramps in bed. Do you take magnesium? I try to remember.

The cardiologist wanted me to switch straight to calcium channel blockers, but I don't think I want too. I found when I tried to stop Bisoprolol that it was horrible. I can't imagine how to cope with work and life if I stop them and replace with a different med that takes a few weeks to settle. I would still rather try the Nebivolol first. He said beta blockers are all the same. They are not. It's obvious from here that they are not. When I finally get the letter from the hospital I will ring up the GP and discuss and not necessarily jump in with both feet first. I do not want to end up in A&E right now!

[stormcloud]

I do take magnesium but not every day.

Have tried calcium channel blockers and had problems with them!

It must be difficult dealing with side effects when you have to work but you are probably not going to work at present due to the Corona virus so hopefully you can get it sorted while you are at home.

[FancyPants54 in reply to stormcloud]

I run my own business and have been working flat out all the way through. It also has some physical elements to it.

I think I've pretty much decided to insist I try a different beta blocker before I switch to CCBs.