Newly diagnosed

Been taking Bisoprolol 2.5mg and Eliquis 5mg daily for several days but still feel really poorly. Breathing tight, abdominal pain r/h side, no appetite, total fatigue - is this how it is? I’m also hypothyroid and my recent private test ok. When full bloods have been taken by my (not very empathetic) GP from time to time at my request I noticed they showed high iron readings despite not eating red or organ meat and eating a balanced healthy diet. However no action taken. Should I be concerned? Thanks for ‘listening’

[Desanthony]

Bisoprolol had this effect on me - in fact all the beta blockers and calcium channel blockers affected me in this way so, after trying all different ones and combinations and finding just before my 1st successful cardioversion that low dose digoxin was the only one that didn't make me feel this way I have only been on Eliquis since despite going back into AF twice. You could ask to try a different beta blocker and see if this is better for you. I personally know a lot of people who have these effects from Bisoprolol some of whom find other medications work for them others like me do without and use only anticoagulants. I found I was OK for about 3 weeks and then these effects kick in. I saw a private cardiologist first as there wasn't a cardiologist at our local hospital and he tried all the different ones with me first and then moved house and saw a NHS cardio who put me back on Bisoprolol by the end of a few weeks my wife had to call her one morning when I couldn't even walk downstairs without getting out of breath and she took me off Bisoprolol straight away and I saw her that week and was put on higher dose digoxin and then when visiting a friend she was worried about my medication and said she could get some digoxin for me and was I on the low dose like her Dad - she is a pharmacist. I told her my dosage and was then told that is not the low dose so asked my GP to change and things seemed tobe OK with that but within 6 weeks had my successful cardioversion and as I said never been put back on Bisoprolol or anything like it since.

Hope you manage to get better.

All the best.

[Hidden in reply to Desanthony]

Goodness ! I’m pleased that you are stable now and many thanks for the background info - don’t know what’s happened to GP services as it seem more and more of us have to look out for ourselves ...thank goodness for these websites which put people together to share advice. 👍

[Dee5165 in reply to Hidden]

It was interesting reading about Bisoprolol for Afib. I was on Sotalol and was going to switch to Bisoprolol but not anymore. After my Cardioversion I was fine for only 2 weeks and back into Afib. The Sotalol was worse than the Afib. Doctor kept increasing. I was not able to walk without being out of breath, palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, low Heart Rate and BP. I decided to do my own research. Doctor lowered my dose for preparation of med change but it appears all beta blockers have side effects for me so I am going natural for now. I am taking Magnesium, Hawthorn Berry, Vitamin D3, B12, and Wild Alaskan Fish Oil. This is day 5 and I am still in Afib but already feeling better. No side effects. I take supplements between 2 and 4 hours from any meds. I also take Amlodipine Calcium Channel blocker and Eliquis. I have only tapered off of 120 mgs. 2 X per day to now 80 mgs. 2X per day of Sotalol. May try to go to 60 mgs. soon if Supplements help my Afib back into rhythm.

[Hidden in reply to Desanthony]

Many thanks for this info - I’m learning that Pharmacists’ insights are extremely helpful and that Bisopropol is a two-edged sword! Your advice v helpful.

[BobD Volunteer]

There is a condition , (the name escapes me --Haemachromatosis maybe) where the organs get overloaded with iron which can cause all sorts of problems including causing AF I believe. We had a member many years ago with this condition which required treatment which subsequently improved his QOL (quaility of life) . It may be worth challenging your GP on this.

That said, bisoprolol does cause fatigue as it slows the metabolism .

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Thankyou that’s very useful information and I will definitely bring it up with my doctor.

[waveylines in reply to Hidden]

I have hypothyroidism too. Beta blockers and hypothyroidism do not mix well. This is because many beta blockers work by lowering the conversion of thyroid hormones. I was exceedingly poorly on beta blockers and bisprolol was the worst of the lot......they actually increased palpitatioms for me and of course the medics kept increasing the dose......doh!! All settled when put onto a calcium channel blocker instead. So in your shoes I would contact your cardiologist and ask to be changed to a different sort of medication.

[Hidden in reply to waveylines]

Thanks for this - I’m just diagnosed and will need to research what a calcium channel blocker is. There seems to be only one GP working at my practice who I’ve never met before and I haven’t seen a cardiologist so feel a bit anxious. I have no family or near friends to chew stuff over with so this Forum a lifeline.

[Ducky2003]

I was put on Bisoprolol for the first 3 months of my AF adventures and I could barely breathe. My local pharmacist explained that Bisoprolol, although classed as cardiac specific, attaches to receptors in the lungs as well as the heart, which causes the breathlessness. Consequently, I told my then cardiologist that I wanted off them and put onto Diltiazem instead. He listened and did so. Diltiazem comes with it's own side effects but at least I could breathe.

[Hidden in reply to Ducky2003]

Thankyou for passing on the info from your cardiologist. It’s good to have this insight when I see my GP

[Ducky2003 in reply to Hidden]

It was actually my local pharmacist who told me about the receptors. The cardiologist was all for keeping me on Bisoprolol until I insisted he changed my meds. Best of luck.

[KMRobbo]

Bisoprol _- yes it was for me. I was asleep 40 mins after taking every one of the 8 1.25 tablets I took, and woke up 4 or 5 hours later feeling lousy pain I upper chest and arms, no exercise tolerance, could not run more than 100 yards. The cure was worse than the illness so I stopped.My GP gave Me Atenolol 25mg, another beta blocker - much better but still bad, really tired, still pooe excercise tolerance. I did 14 days on that before abandoning it. My GP then decided i was probably intolerant of beta blockers so tried me on Verapamil 120mg mod release, a calcium channel blocker, which had no side effects for me. I stayed on that for 20 months until my afib progressed and it could not keep my rate down.

My advice: don't stay on meds that make your life a misery. There are many other beta blockers that may be better for you, than bisop, and there are other CCBs. Try them until you find one that works for you.

Not medically trained.

[Hidden in reply to KMRobbo]

I’m relieved it’s not just me being a wimp! You hit the nail on the head - the cure is worse than the illness!

[KMRobbo in reply to Hidden]

It was easy for me. I was asymptomatic in afib even at 165 resting. I had only had one afib attack. So one day I am running 6.4 miles at 8 minute miles pace, I find I have afib only owning to my sports watch and a transient fluttery feeling in my throat, I go to hospital, I stay overnight my AFIB stops. They chuck me a bisoprolol , I pass out. Wake up feeling terrible, have a low heart rate and struggle to run 100 yards. Pretty obvious it was the meds. If I had been symptomatic and ill in afib it would have not been so clear.

[Hidden in reply to KMRobbo]

I had exactly the same reaction shortly after taking my first Bisopropol! It HAD to be the medication. When I get results of blood tests I will decide what my next steps are. I would like to know if my heart/lungs are ok in all other respects.

[Dee5165 in reply to KMRobbo]

It was interesting reading about Bisoprolol for Afib. I was on Sotalol and was going to switch to Bisoprolol but not anymore. After my Cardioversion I was fine for only 2 weeks and back into Afib. The Sotalol was worse than the Afib. Doctor kept increasing. I was not able to walk without being out of breath, palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, low Heart Rate and BP. I decided to do my own research. Doctor lowered my dose for preparation of med change but it appears all beta blockers have side effects for me so I am going natural for now. I am taking Magnesium, Hawthorn Berry, Vitamin D3, B12, and Wild Alaskan Fish Oil. This is day 5 and I am still in Afib but already feeling better. No side effects. I take supplements between 2 and 4 hours from any meds. I also take Amlodipine Calcium Channel blocker and Eliquis. I have only tapered off of 120 mgs. 2 X per day to now 80 mgs. 2X per day of Sotalol. May try to go to 60 mgs. soon if Supplements help my Afib back into rhythm.

[KMRobbo in reply to Dee5165]

You don't know how you will react to meds until you try them. Many people take high dose bisoprolol without problems. Just because I had adverse reaction does not mean you will. I post for information where I can say "yes I felt like that too when taking it" !

I am not saying don't take that drug.

[Dee5165 in reply to KMRobbo]

I am 70 years old and have reacted to most meds poorly. If they have side effects, I am usually affected badly. I have been healthy all my life and never had medical problems until High BP and now Afib. I also have a health science background and do my research before taking meds. Beta Blockers may lower my BP but the side effects are not worth taking them. I prefer to try a more natural procedure and if it doesn't start working in 4-6 weeks, I will research another med. Right now I read Magnesium, Hawthorn Berry and Wild Alaskan Fish Oil has benefits for Afib and lowers BP. Bisoprolol is a Beta Blocker so I would basically have a bad reaction. Thanks for your response and stay well.

[tabletphobic]

I had to come off bisoprolol, and am now on 25mg carvedilol. Still don't feel right and its the fatigue, sluggishness and sleepiness, also stomach problems with them. I take them spaced out throughout the day but don't feel right on them. I expected it would get better has my body got used to them but I'm not sure now.

[Hidden in reply to tabletphobic]

Your describing what I feel - ie worse with the ‘cure’!

[tabletphobic in reply to Hidden]

I think when I have my next cardiology appointment I'll ask if the dose can be dropped. I'm wary of constantly changing tablets , no harm in asking

[Hidden in reply to tabletphobic]

A cardiologist hasn’t been anywhere near me alas and I’m waiting to see whether I can get referred on. A general GP can only go so far.

[tabletphobic in reply to Hidden]

Actually I haven't really seen the cardiologist, more a nurse who checks the pacemaker. When I've asked questions before she had said to ask the GP, so maybe they leave it to them.

[Morzine]

You said you’ve only been in the tablets several days , Bisoprolol can take a while to settle down, plus I was washed out on 2.5 but the lower dose 1.25 was less fatiguing.

[tabletphobic in reply to Morzine]

No Ive been on beta blockers since February

[Morzine in reply to tabletphobic]

Mine took a few months to settle in but I wasn’t happy as it felt like second gear I was in, if I was a car! I was just so sluggish...I said that to my cardio and he lowered me to 1.25 and it mad a huge diference I am now in fourth gear never sixth but that could be my other tablets ....so I stick with that as it keeps my pulse a tad lower .

[tabletphobic]

It makes more sense to me to try lowering instead of dealing with more unknown effects with changing. At my check last week my BP & heart rate and pulse was fine.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Welcome to the Forum. Please do not hesitate to contact the Patient Services Team at the A F Association for any support or advice, alternatively visit the patient resources available online for booklets, factsheets or videos too. Take care, Tracy Home - AF Association - United Kingdom (heartrhythmalliance.org)

[Hidden in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thankyou and I will. I’m now on the lookout for AFib recipe books although I have Mediterranean recipe books which I think are similar.