Bisoprolol and low mood

[Kayjas]

I have only been taking 1.25mg bisoprolol for about 1 month but I have started feeling really low and a word I don't like saying is depressed.

I have had bouts of depression on and off for years but this time it feels worse.

Could it be a side affect of the tablet?

Thanks for reading.

[Paulbounce]

Hi Kay.

I'm not a medic but 1.25 mg is a low dose. I can't confirm if your depression is related to that. Beta blockers can help though with anxiety (helping the physical effects).

"I have started feeling really low.....I have had bouts of depression on and off for years but this time it feels worse".

I can't tell you the answer - only your doctor can help with this. From my personal point of view (and using it in the past) a dose like that was fine. For me personally a low dose won't have much effect. That's just me though and we all respond in different way's to med's.

If you feel on a 'downer' have a chat to your medic. Maybe other things are making you feel that way. Not a nice thing I know.

I wish you good luck with getting it sorted. I'm sure you will.

Paul

[CDreamer]

Bisoprolol is a beta blocker and as such will also block adrenaline channels, which maybe what you are experiencing. My experience has been it can affect mood. Everyone reacts very differently to every substance so because it can be helpful for some, doesn’t mean it helps everyone.

Many people find Bisoprolol a problematic drug, myself included. I stopped using it about 7 years ago and now have a red alert on my medical file.

[beardy_chris]

I blame Bisoprolol for giving me depression but, at the time, probably like you, I had a lot going on - diagnosed with AF, giving up smoking, etc. I put up with it for about 6 months but mentioned it to my cardiologist who changed my drugs immediately. He said they have an arsenal of possible drugs so don't put up with it. He switched me to Diltiazem and things started looking up immediately.

I would advise giving Bisporolol a chance (which you probably have) and then talk to your medical team and see if they can suggest a change.

[Auriculaire]

Not everybody can tolerate Bisoproplol - even at the lowest prescribed dose of 1.25mg. It made me feel awful physically and low mentally. I now take a low dose of Nebivolol and feel much better. I do not usually suffer depression tending more towards anxiety!

[icklebud99]

yes absolutely, Bisoprolol doesn't agree with lots of people, when I took it I felt like I was walking through treacle. My legs were so heavy, as if no oxygen was reaching them. I had them changed to Atenolol and its like night and day, I have my life back again. Go to your GP or Cardio specialist and get them changed. Good luck.

[Lindabob]

I’ve e been taking it for over 10 years and I find no side effects at all. However, when I first had AF diagnosed I did feel very low. Over time I learned to live with it. After my ablation I still take it, and life is ok.

[Boombiddy]

Hey Kayjas ,

Sorry to hear you're feeling so awful on Bisoprolol.

Like you I am on the lowest dose. I felt very depressed at first. And much more fatigued than before, and very lame-brained.

(As you can see from others' replies, this is pretty common with Bisoprolol!)

One thing that has helped tremendously has been my cardiologist's suggestion to take it at night. I feel less fatigued, depressed and lame-brained. And taking it at night has improved my sleep too, which has also really helped.

When I started taking it, (I was still taking it in the morning), it was giving me very low pulse rates, (& this would worry me at night), until I adjusted to the Bisoprolol. So if that's the case with you, wait a bit until that improves and/or discuss it with your doctor.

I think (from my experience) that a severe AF bout can leave you flattened, very low and debilitated for quite a while. Combine that with Bisoprolol and - double whammy!

It took me a long time to recover and “get out from under” the aftermath.

So don’t despair! Certainly talk to your doctor, but remember this may be just physical symptoms that will subside as you recover and adjust.

[MrFeen]

Hi there

I take 5mg of bisoprolol daily and while it doesn't make me feel depressed it just makes me feel quite flat and slightly unmotivated. I suppose these symptoms could be mistaken for depression.

1.25mg is quite a low dose though, it may be worth talking to your Dr. 😁

[PhyllisK]

I can only thoroughly agree with the above comments . I also had the same symptoms but I had 5 mgm’s of Bisoprolol daily . My doctor changed my medication to Nebivolol with good effect. Best wishes . PhylK

[Cigarboxblues]

Bisoprolol has definitely made me unmotivated (as MrFeen says) and generally stuck in a low gear mentality and physically. It feels like I’m not able for 4th gear at all and only 3rd gear for a while. Yes that bad.It’s something I’m struggling with but in my own stride. I know the pills will have side effects but they do me good. I put up with the feelings and know I can do more to help myself if I put my mind to it. I’m 57 going on 75 some days.

As most have said, and none of us are medics, you consult you GP.

Good luck you’re not alone.

[Magson]

I am afraid it's horses for courses. I took 1.25mg daily for about 3 years. Part of my AF treatment. I had quite a few side effects. However my wife takes 7.5mg and has no side effects whatsoever. She has it prescribed for high BP.

[Boombiddy in reply to Magson]

That is a significant point I think for all of us who have normal or low blood pressure.

Its effect of lowering blood pressure is greatly beneficial to those with high BP, but those with normal or low BP feel awful.

[Bowlingfan]

Hi Kayjas I have been ok on Bisoprolol and I’m on 5 mg , but what else are you on as Digoxin made me feel really low so I had to stop them and take Flecainide instead which has proved better for me ? Think a lot of this is trial and error till you find what suits you so worth speaking to your cardiologist .

[Nigel2000]

Metoprolol makes me depressed. It’s a known side effect.