Blood pressure meds & afib

[Tilly1957]

Is anyone on Bendroflumethiazide for blood pressure along with an anti coagulant? I was on that before af diagnosed, kept my bp within a good range. With the af diagnosis it got changed to bisoprolol. BP not controlled so well, and the drug makes me feel crap even though it’s only 1.25 since earlier this year. Since I started the bb 6 years ago, that’s when my fatigue/brain fog/aches & pains etc started but I am only just realising the connection, and with the reduced bb clearing some of the brain fog. I feel like I can function occasionally! Changing from warfarin to Rivaroxoban help, strangely enough. So my next challenge is discussing with the GP changes to the bisoprolol (getting off it) I don’t have a cardiologist, since initial diagnosis, or an EP. I had a random afib episode last night - 8 hours and then fell asleep with it still going. I guess I am just offloading, but any comments appreciated.

[Hidden]

Hiya Tilly,

Yeah, me !

Before AF mugged me back in Jan 2010 - my pre AF party bag of drugs was Simvastation, Ramipril and Bendroflumethiazide. This drug is defined as .....

"Bendroflumethiazide is a type of medicine called a diuretic". It's used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and the build-up of fluid in your body (oedema). Diuretics are sometimes called 'water pills' because they make you pee more.

However I was diagnosed with AF in A & E and kept in hospital for tests etc for a further 5 days. On discharge the Consultant discontinued Bendroflumethiazide and added a range of other drugs so that my post AF party bag then became ( on discharge ), Simvastatin, Ramipril, Warfarin, Bisoprolol ...... and then many, many years later was added Felodopine.

I don't know if you are aware that Bisoprolol has properties that make it useful for controlling high blood pressure. My Consultant prescribed it for heart rate control which it does and holds my HR at around 64 to 67 bpm regularly and has done for nearly 12 years. No sweat. How its multi function activities work I don't know but for me it is absolutely bloody useless at BP control.

So I need to stress, that once on Warfarin and Bisoprolol I came off immediately, Bendroflumethiazide. Hope that helps.

John

[Tilly1957 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I want an alternative to bisoprolol , I am convinced it’s a big part of my problems . Low dose bendroflumethiaxide is good for blood pressure control, suited me well both with bp & rate. I might ask about nebivolol x

[pusillanimous in reply to Tilly1957]

When I was first diagnosed my cardiologist said if I did not like the BIsoprolol I could change to Verapamil. I hated the Biso, but am perfectly happy with the Verapamil as a rate controller. I take 120 mg Verapamil,5mg Aporvastatin to make sure my cholesterol is under control (I'm addicted to cheese) and 10mg Lisinopril for my BP.

[pusillanimous in reply to Tilly1957]

Forgot to add I also take Xarelto !!!!!

[bassets]

I was taken off bendro-etc. when I first had an attack as the cardio said it was leaching minerals from my body which could hav caused some af problems.

[Peony4575]

Hi Tilly I couldn’t tolerate bisoprolol and had a difficult withdrawal as many people on here do . Am now off 275 days and counting . Suggest you do a search on Bisoprolol withdrawal on this site to find many and others experiences . Of course others withdraw with no problems whatsoever I hope you are one of those. Good luck

[Hidden in reply to Peony4575]

Hi Peony do you mind me asking what you meant by "couldn't tolerate Bisoprolol" and also what withdraw symptoms you had coming off of it? I take 10mg per day and feel tired a lot.Thanks

[Peony4575 in reply to Hidden]

Hi I got dry mouth soon after I took the tablet, I felt tired and draggy and sleepy all the time. Shouldn’t have to live like that that . My withdrawal symptoms were awful. Lots of arrythmia s I didn’t have before at night and burning legs, felt terribly ill and like I was about to collapse. Terrible anxiety . I had to change to atenolol to get off , had 3 failed attempts to get off the biso. Am ok now , it took a while , both me and the dog are relieved I have my energy back 🙂

[Peony4575 in reply to Hidden]

I must add. You must have the constitution of an ox being on 10mg I was only on 1.25mg and I was floored . Hats off to you !

[Hidden in reply to Peony4575]

Oh God. You definitely been through it!! Glad you feeling bit better now. When I read that Bisoprolol side effects should only last a short period I was concerned as been on them just over 2 months and still have the tiredness. Guess the tiredness may stay for as long as you on them? I find I get out of breathe talking on mobile if walking at same time. Never like that before. But least no a fib since been on them and Apixaban though

[Peony4575 in reply to Hidden]

If you find the side effects are affecting your quality of life you can ask to be switched to another beta blocker . I had less tiredness etc on atenolol and other people on the site switched . Might be worth a chat with the doc

[Hidden in reply to Peony4575]

Hi thanks. Yeah I'm a 46 year old feeling like a 96 year old at times😀. Need to sort something out with meds.

[Hidden in reply to Peony4575]

Sorry I meant 5mg of Bisoprolol I'm on

[Tilly1957 in reply to Peony4575]

Thank you. I have read everything I can find! I guess it’s about finding an alternative, not sure I can keep my bp down well enough without meds x

[Peony4575 in reply to Tilly1957]

I didn’t need to be on a bb so was ok for me to come off . If you need meds discuss an alternative with your doc don’t just stop

[Tilly1957 in reply to Peony4575]

I won’t just stop, thank you for saying though. X

[Hidden]

I was on Bisoprolol for a year and never felt so ill. Constantly tired, brain fog, body aches, cold legs, and many other symptoms described by others. My resting heart rate dropped to the low 40s so that during the night l would be jerked awake as if my heart had stopped and was restarting. I also also suffered from anxiety and depression during that time. I'm not sure if it was the drug of the fact just l felt so bad. Not being able to see cardiologist for a year didn't help much either. Couldn't wait to get off of it Bisoprolol unfortunately l then was given Flecanide which was just as bad. Much better on the meds l am now on, some side effects but nothing like before.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi. I do wonder if I am suffering with brain fog since been on Bisoprolol, as sometimes if someone says something to me, I have to ask them to repeat, like it didn't quite sink in what was said. In the nicest possible way, we as a family do have a history of memory type illness but I don't think I have the start of it. It is the meds I am on(or I hope it is).

[Hidden]

It could be your medication. I think all meds affect people differently for my part almost anything l take gives me some side effect or other. I also have had an allergic reaction to Penicillin, Tetanus and some food stuffs that is why l would love to be drug free but unfortunately that will never happen.