Switched to Nebivolol - Higher HR - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Switched to Nebivolol - Higher HR

FancyPants54 profile image
22 Replies

Hi

I finally got my GP to advise on my switch from Bisop to Nebivolol. I wanted to try it because my feet and legs are struggling so much. My toes are numb, yet sting and feel over-sensitive at the same time and burn in bed. My legs hurt when I stand up and I stagger about until I get going - slowly and painfully. I'm just 57. This started after my AF became persistent over a year ago now. It has to be the beta blocker.

GP switched me from 2.5mg Bisop to 2.5mg Nebivolol last Friday. So far there is no improvement in my feet (last night in bed they burned and felt over sensitive more than ever before), perhaps my legs aren't quite as painful. My heart rate is higher, especially after eating and I am anxious. I thought I was over the anxiety of AFib, but this has brought it all back.

Am I expecting too much too soon? Would the switch from one to another take longer than this? It's strange that my heart rate is higher but nothing else has changed.

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FancyPants54
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22 Replies
doodle68 profile image
doodle68

Hell FancyPants 😊 I have been taking Nebivolol for over 3 years with no problems other than cold feet. It tends to keep my HR on the low side, 50s.

If your problem is due to a sensitivity from a drug you have taken for some time it may take a while for the effect to wear off. That said BBs slow everything down so if you already have poor circulation they may contribute to the problem and this is something you should discuss with your doctor.

I had a dreadful problem with my legs being painful and wrongly attributed it to age or medication when a blood test showed it to be a deficiency of Vitamin D which I take all the time now on prescription and my legs are fine again.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to doodle68

It's not vitamin D deficiency, I keep my eye on that for my thyroid. I am hypo and struggling to find the right dose though, so still technically hypo due to NHS lousy treatment of hypo patients who don't do well on levothyroxine.

I had no circulation problems before the beta blocker.

Perhaps I'm hoping for too soon a change. But the Bisop only managed to keep my HR in the 90's or high 80's so to have it resting over 100 is miserable. Thanks for your response.

in reply to FancyPants54

I take Nebivolol and have an under active thyroid. My feet and lower legs are always painful. I find B12 works somewhat. Have mentioned this to four different doctors but none are interested!

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to

That doesn't surprise me Hylda. They don't listen. It's not B12 either. I test that and supplement and have good levels of active B12.

It might be hypo that's doing it. I need to introduce some T3 now I know I have the gene issue that stops me converting T4 into T3 properly. But I'm trying to sort the beta blocker out first.

in reply to FancyPants54

Happy with the Nebivolol not nearly so tired.

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575

I switched from bisop to atenolol on Saturday . Although new drug holding down most of physical effects do far very high anxiety as have in effect cold turkey d off the biso which affects the brain .New one doesn’t. My legs are achy and stiff and feel weak. Think holding a lot of tension in there. Expecting a rough couple of weeks

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to Peony4575

I did think yesterday that the anxiety and low mood could be withdrawal from the Bisop. I didn't wake with that horrible anxiety this morning and feel a bit brighter, so I'm hoping that perhaps the switch is starting to settle a little.

Legs and feet as bad as ever.

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575

My legs burn in bed particularly my calves. It’s not raised temp but I think nerves reacting to cortisol. Makes my legs feel funny all day not surprisingly . Wonder if that is causing your numbness and tingling . When I was withdrawing from biso my back was burning at night . Only at night and at the same time I was woken by fast heartbeat . I am still getting the burning

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to Peony4575

Could be related to the Bisoprolol. I never had burning feet before it that's for sure.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

It sounds like Peripheral neuropathy which can be caused by a number of things. I would go back to your GP and ask him for further advice. There maybe other underlying factors.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to CDreamer

Oh he's not interested in it. Just said he didn't know. My money is now on the fact that I need to add T3 to my thyroid meds. A whole other battle. But I do finally have a private prescription for some so will be starting soon.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

foundationforpn.org/what-is...

Although not on the list mentioned there are some doctors (neurologists mainly) who would include Beta Blockers and both Bisoprolol and Nebivolol are beta blockers.

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply to CDreamer

Fluoroquinolones are notorious for inducing PN and it can be permanent . I did not get it till after my last exposure and it was mild and very occasional. Since being on a beta blocker I have noticed it a lot more. It takes many forms, burning sensations -as if I have sunburn in areas never exposed to the sun - prickling electrical sensations, pins and needles., random stabbing pains and the sensation that someone has poured icy water over my scalp , always the right half. I would like to stop the beta blocker to see if it reduces but so far my weaning has not been very successful and I have only got down to 0 .8mg.

Barb1 profile image
Barb1

I switched from Bisoprolol to Nebivolol and my heart rate is considerably higher. Have increased dosage with no effect. Think that I will have to increase again.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to Barb1

That's disappointing.

Offcut profile image
Offcut

I was on 7.5mg Bisop and I am also on 2.5mg Nebivolol. As I could not sleep on Bisop very well for years. However I have since added Temporal Arteritis which has meant a high dose of steroids which is basically messing my life up in an effort to get rid of the inflammation. I have found any change of tablets usually needs at least 2 months to show any real change. One thing that I have noticed since being on Nebivolol I get random heart rate rise at rest upto 135 bpm and it drops nearly as quick to 60/70 bpm? I have also noticed my fingers from the second joint are lighter in colour where I have Raynauds? When I was on Bisoprolol they looked all the same colour?

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to Offcut

That's interesting about the random rising heart rate. I've been getting a bit of that happening. I'm hoping it will settle.

Offcut profile image
Offcut in reply to FancyPants54

It does not seem to happen when I am doing anything but at rest my smart watch comes up with the warning. It has woke me in the night!

irene75359 profile image
irene75359

It took me months to get over coming off bisoprolol and my heart rate is still far higher than it ever was before, unfortunately.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to irene75359

But you came off it completely? You don't take another beta blocker now? I've swapped from Bisoprolol to Nebivolol.

The trouble with a resting heart rate of 100 is that there's nowhere to go when busy doing things.

Having got off it completely, do you feel better apart from the heart rate issue?

irene75359 profile image
irene75359

I’m not sure! I was following the holy grail of no medication (apart from anticoagulants) using flecainide and bisoprolol as a PiP for infrequent episodes, but recently I have been getting unpleasant runs of tachycardia and ectopics so I’m not sure where to go from here. Could be normal progression of AF.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to irene75359

Good luck with finding a way. It's hard, but we can find what we need to do for our own QOL. I think I will need the rate control, but hopefully not too much else and hopefully I can find one that is better that Bisop and doesn't zap my energy.

I'm in persistent AF now. And apart from the need for rate control that I didn't have with PAF, it's much easier on me - long may it continue.

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