A quick question please? I’m on a low dose of Bisoprolol at 1.25mg daily, my resting heart rate is now sub 50 BPM and regularly at 42 to 45BPM. When in Afib it sits around the 90 to 100BPM mark which although uncomfortable is just about tolerable until I revert back to NSR which these days is anywhere between 30 hours and eight days! I’ve read a bit about bradycardia and often this happens on beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, I don’t feel particularly unwell when in NSR with such a low HR but it is significantly lower than my old pre-meds resting HR of 65 BPM. Should I be concerned? I’m questioning if I need to be on Bisoprolol permanently or whether I should just take a different dose as and when the episodes occur? Thoughts appreciated!
Low resting HR on Bisoprolol - Atrial Fibrillati...
Low resting HR on Bisoprolol
We can't dvise on drug dose etc as we are not medically trained but there are many people who have low heart rates who manage very well. I once met an old life boat coxswain with a rate of 36.
If you have concerns then you need to speak to your consultant.
Hi Motov, I think this all boils down to how unwell you feel when you are in bradycardia. I too go through periods of it, often in the early hours of the day (1-4am mostly) and sometimes I feel somewhat unwell while at other times I'm not aware it's happening until my iwatch flags it up (I have it set to alert me whenever I am 10 or more minutes under 50bpm). I don't feel unduly concerned, having watched several of cardiologist Sanjay Gupta's videos on YouTube on the topic, but if you are concerned, or it's making you feel unwell, then this is something to discuss with a health professional.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don’t feel particularly unwell, just aware that it’s quite low? As the day progresses it sits around 55 to 60 BPM . I do intend to discuss the necessity of being on Bisoprolol daily with my cardiologist when I next see him.
My thoughts exactly! My original advice on being diagnosed with Pafib was to take 1.25mg of Bisoprolol as and when I had an “attack” about six weeks ago I had a nasty episode lasting eight days that ended up with a visit to A&E where they loaded me up with more Bisoprolol and sent me on my way with the advice to take 2.5mg daily. Three days later I converted back to NSR and on my own decided to drop the daily dose to 1.25mg as on 2.5mg I felt rough with chest pain and an even lower resting HR! My GP isn’t that much help and just tells me to stay on 2.5?? My cardiologist has suggested a pill in pocket approach with Flecainide and I need tend to find out it this approach can be applied to the Bisoprolol as it was in the beginning? I’m not asking for dosing advice or medical advice on here, just interested in other peoples approach and experience?
I have always had low BP until dx with aFiB. I was put on 1.25mg Bisoprolol and like you HR drop under 50 at rest. I weaned myself off it and take it as a pill in the pocket. My symptoms are horrible as I feel like my heart or guts are swinging and shakes ripple down my left side. My episodes run for months and yet I’m deemed paroxysmal and my EP reckons I’m not in aFIB when I experience these symptoms so perhaps Bradycardia even in 60 zone?
Hello there, I was diagnosed with SVT in January this year and was put on a low dose of Bisoprolol [1.25mg] daily. I found it worked for a while then the episodes started happening again and I eventually had to have a cardioversion in April as none of the medications worked on me [adenosine, etc] and was constantly in SVT for over 8 hours. Everything settled down again but then I started having 'lurches'/'flutterings' on a daily basis which was worse when I did any sort of physical activity [ie walking]. I had my first Cardiology appointment in September and mentioned this to him and the fact that my resting pulse varied between 41 and 47 and actually made me feel unwell [I likened the lurches as to walking several steps then running several then back to a walk] - These lasted for minutes to several hours. He said he wasn't concerned about my resting pulse but then prescribed me Sotalol 40mg x twice daily and these seem to have 'settled' things down for now but I still get the odd lurch/flutter but it is manageable. Perhaps you should talk to your Doctor/Cardiologist [if you have one] and get more advice regarding this. I know Bisprolol didn't work for me. Take care.
I can recall a couple of years ago long before PVI ablation my resting heart rate was 46/48 bpm around 5pm time. Didn't feel any difference but always been asymptomatic. After dinner/supper it reverts back to 56/58 bpm. Arrythmia nurse said 'that is fine' and wasn't concerned at all. I take 5mg bisoprolol first thing in the morning and have done so for 2 years. Always good to clarify this with arrythmia nurse or cardiologist.
I've been taking Bisoprolol 10mg for about 30 years for AVRT as well as Disopyramide and my heart rate runs at about 55-61. I've recently reduced the Disopyramide on my cardio's suggestion as it was causing more arrythmias than it stopped. Maybe even the PAF I've recently been diagnosed with as well! Anyway that amount of beta blocker has never really caused me any problems or maybe I've just adjusted after being on it so long. Would be interesting to know if I got more oomph if it was reduced.
No medication, just Rivaroxaban and my resting rate is 47. At night it does go down to 35 and after 2 ablations I am now getting a pacemaker. Longest pause in my heart was 9.5 seconds, with over 200 pauses in a week. We are all different and all need to keep the pressure on our doctors to get the right treatment. May need to go back on the Bisoprolol after the pacemaker is fitted to try and stop the AF.
Please don't hesitate to contact AF Association for support & information should you need it: info@afa.org.uk / 01789 867 502
Hello Motov. I am in the same boat. Low HR 53-56 without medication and was taking 1.25mg Bisoprolol, which was taking it to the high 40's. I felt too washed out and lacking in puff on the Bisoprolol, and even cut the tablet in half again (a quarter of 2.5mg tablet). All this on my own, so please get medical advice.
My thinking is that until an episode starts, the rate does not need controlling.
I am now on 50mg Flecainide to control the rhythm and on Magnesium Taurate (400mg a day) and lots of vitamin D3, and it seems to help.
Sign up to the Afibbers.org web site and scan the forum for electrolyte management. There are some exciting reports of "Natto" (fermented soy Japanese breakfast food) having a very beneficial effect on reducing the frequency of AFib episodes.
As Bob mentioned, all medication advice by a certified professional !
Motov, please see this:ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
and this:
webmd.com/vitamins-suppleme...
I’ve heard of nattokinase but as I’m on Warfarin for life following four DVT’s and a bilateral pulmonary embolism, I wouldn’t want to take this as it would increase my bleeding risk and current research suggests the anti coagulation benefit isn’t anywhere near as good as Warfarin at preventing blood clots. I currently take daily magnesium and vitamin C and have also noticed my heart is more settled since I stopped taking daily PPI’s, which are proven to restrict the uptake of essential heart minerals like magnesium and potassium.
I had same issue (low to mid 40’s hr) on bisoprolol, especially after I had ablation for AF and heart was healing. For my own edification I bought one of those finger oximeters. Even when my hr was low my oxygen levels were 95%or above. Try it. Might give you peace of mind. It did for me. Apple Watch also has that app.
Everyone is different. I took 1.25 of Bisopropol for about 2 years. It didn t suit me at all. Many side effects including lowering my HR to about 40 during the night. This triggered many AF episodes about 2.00am. I could set my watch to it. Glad I got rid of it. Good luck going forward.
I’m going to take it until the 20th when I have an appointment for an echocardiogram with a view to using Flecainide as a pill in pocket approach and after when I see my cardiologist I’m going to get info on getting off of it and see if it’s possible to go back to the PIP approach with it instead, as before? I’m on full time warfarin and have been for seven years as I have Factor V Lieden, so at least I’m anti coagulated for stroke/blood clot risk. I’d imagine on a dose as low as 1.25mg of Bisoprolol I can just stop rather than taper it as short of chopping my 2.5mg tablets into four, I don’t see how tapering is possible?
I just stopped Bisopropol immediately. No side effects whatsoever. This not medical advice.
I’ve read, half the daily dose for a week and then every other day for the second week? I’m going to call my GP to confirm but right now I see no reason to be continually on a low daily dose of Bisoprolol? My Afib is paroxysmal and can be once a week, once a month, every two months etc. and lasts typically 12 hours to one week? I have noticed since I cut out taking daily PPI’s and taking daily magnesium that the gap between episodes is getting greater…. who knows why??
Hi Motov.I was identical prior to my ablation in May this year.
1.25mg of Bisoporol , I have a low resting heartbeat of 42 to 45 and when in AF it can last for 30 hours but with a HR in the 70,s.
No further episodes of AF to date but I am still on the Bisoporol and my resting HR is still down in the 40,s.
My EP isn't concerned but of course we are all different and really it is something to discuss with your Doctor or Cardiologist.
Please don't hesitate to contact AF Association for support & information should you need it: info@afa.org.uk / 01789 867 502
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