Bisoprolol and Tummy Troubles

Hi,

I started taking 2.5mg of Bisoprolol just over 5 weeks ago. After 2 weeks I started to have mild diarrhoea and which has continued for the past 3+ weeks.

At the moment I am assuming it is to do with the medication although my doctor said it’s unusual and was reluctant to consider a change of medication.

I appreciate that any new medication can result in either diarrhoea or constipation until your body gets used to it but I would have thought 5+ weeks was long enough,

Has anyone had a similar experience and are there any alternative medications to control my heart rate I could talk to my doctor about.

[BobD Volunteer]

There are numerous other beta blockers not to mention calcium channel blockers so always worth discussing.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob,

I’m due to see my cardiologist this month so will speak to him about my medication, I got the feeling when I spoke to my doctor a reluctance to change anything.

[Singwell]

Very common with Bisoprolol to get irritable bowel like symptoms. My brother has AF (as well as me) and had a lot of difficulty until I td him to change his diet. Now he's fine.

[Hidden in reply to Singwell]

Hi Singwell,

That’s interesting as I have been cutting out various foods to see if it was something like IBS but without success.

I eat quite healthily so I am at a bit of a loss, was there any particular food (or drink) that triggered your brother’s problem.

[Singwell in reply to Hidden]

It's always difficult to say because our gut microbiomes are ndividual, which means we might need different foods. In general avoid high fat, processed foods and also fast release starches such as white rice, pasta, white bread etc. Plenty of plants in your food, nuts and seeds are good. Not everyone gets on well with pulses but try tinned ones to see how you do with them. Plenty of fruit, avoid eating heavy and late. My brother drinks, I don't. I advised him to follow The Doctor's Kitchen YouTube channel and dietary advice. It's a good place to start.

[momist in reply to Singwell]

I'll second what Singwell says here. My worst food is white bread, and I use the gluten free stuff although I am not coeliac. It might not be the bisoprolol of course, but if it is then 5 weeks might not be long enough to get used to it. I had the vivid drams and cold hands and feet for very much longer until my body adjusted and they mostly went away.

[Hidden in reply to momist]

Hi momist,

I switched from white to brown bread a while ago as it’s high in fibre and supposed to be better for you. Having read up on IBS today it suggests avoiding high fibre, so a bit of a dilemma.

You may be right about the 5 weeks being insufficient, just don’t know. The Bisoprolol literature suggests a few weeks for the body to acclimatise although I think that’s somewhat optimistic.

[Hidden in reply to Singwell]

Hi Singwell,

Thank you for the information, all in all a bit of a minefield to navigate through. I will follow up on the YouTube channel.

I looked at an NHS video today about IBS and they suggested eliminating foods from your diet for 2 weeks and see if it makes a difference, if not then reinstate them and try others.

I thought I would give this a try although I doubt if it’s going to be that easy.

[Hidden]

G'day Denboy70,

Bisoprolol ... hmmmm, a tricky little number. That said I've now been on it for 12 years ( and 2 days). Initially started on at 5mg, about a year ago increased to 7.5mg.

I was originally prescribed it to be taken with other morning meds ( around breakfast time). About 3 or 4 months into it I began getting random, sudden and inexplicable nose bleeds during the latter part of the morning, early afternoon.

I saw my GP who looked up in her book of Witches Magic Potions and Brews and she said we'll change it to be taken at night. I did as I was told ( for once) and I have never had a nose bleed since.

So, time of day might be something for you to consider in conjunction with your GP of course.

I would also suggest ( if you haven't already done so) you read thoroughly the bit of paper in the packet, read it carefully.

John

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi carneuny,

I hope you weren’t on anticoagulants when you got the nose bleeds as it can be a nightmare to stop the bleeding, I know that from past experience.

I was going to talk to either my GP or Cardiologist about switching to an evening dose as some mornings the medication makes me feel a little bit spaced out for a few hours. Be nice if that also cured my tummy problems.

Yep, read the Bisoprolol leaflet from start to finish, if you took note of everything these leaflets say you would be reluctant to take any medication.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hiya Denboy. Well, yes I was on anticoaglants and yes it took a while to stop, but as I say as soon as I changed to night I've been fine ever since. And such a basic and simple change too.

About the leaflet. Well I think its more a legal approach than anything. The patient can't say they weren't told. Whether they understand everything is another matter ! But just sometimes there are little gems there that the healthcare providor neglects to tell the patient.

😀

Good luck.

John

[Mrsvemb]

When I was first started on Bisoprolol 1.25mg about 10 years ago, the first prescription was issued by a private hospital. I was given the Cardicor which is the original brand name version of Bisoprolol. I was fine with this, no side effects.However, when my GP prescribed this I was issued with a generic version of Bisoprolol and this caused quite severe diarrhoea.

I contacted my cardiologist, who requested that my GP prescribe Cardicor, so I had no further problems.

There are many generic versions of this drug and it is the different fillers that are used which cause the problem with diarrhoea.

I have since changed to Nebivolol for other reasons.

It might be worth asking for your prescription to be changed to Cardicor. Hope this helps.

[Hidden in reply to Mrsvemb]

Hi Mrsvemb,

That’s interesting about the difference with differing providers, a question for my cardiologist when I next see him.

[Mrsvemb in reply to Hidden]

When I first spoke to my cardiologist he didn’t seem convinced, but agreed to request that GP changed my prescription anyway. The next time I saw him, he said that he had since had four other patients with the same problem.

This may not be your problem but worth trying. Good luck with getting it sorted.

[Jst455]

I have found that all my cardio meds adversely affect my IBS. I take Bisoprolol, Ramapril, Atorvastatin, and Rivaroxaban - they all have intestinal side-effects. My doctor would not consider changing the meds as he says all the alternatives have similar effects, so he prescribed Mebeverine , 135mg x 3 daily. Loperamide made things worse. I have had IBS all my life, so it might be that your body will adapt to Bisoprolol and you will be able to tolerate it.

[Hidden in reply to Jst455]

Hi JK5AEO,

I’m sorry to hear about your struggle with IBS, I had it about 2 years ago, tried many things and even had a colonoscopy and then after 6 months it just suddenly stopped.

I’ve never found out what stopped it and probably never will, just apprehensive that it’s come back again.

Hopefully my body will adapt to Bisoprolol over time.

[Magson]

When I took 1.25mg of Bisopropol daily it didn't cause diorreah but it gave me a number of other side effects. I was glad to stop it.

[Hidden in reply to Magson]

Hi Magson,

My doctor told me it’s one of the better beta blockers as the medication focuses on the heart, from the posts I’ve read about Bisoprolol there’s a lot of people who would disagree with that statement.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

It is not unknown to experience side effects with any medication, including supplements and over the counter medications. Beta blockers are often associated with side effects, such as dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, fatigue and shortness of breath. If the syptoms continue, perhaps contact your pharmacist or GP surgery for advice.

[Hidden in reply to TracyAdmin]

Hi Tracy,

Thank you for the response. I am going to speak to my cardiologist who I am due to see soon on a suitable alternative medication. I am hoping he has come across this problem before.

I saw my doctor before Christmas who said it was unusual to have tummy troubles with Bisoprolol and suggested I give it more time. I think doctors are reluctant to change medication originally prescient by a hospital.

[TracyAdmin Partner in reply to Hidden]

I hope they are able to help at the upcoming appointment. You may find our booklet helpful to download from our 'Patient Resources' tab on the webpage, 'Atrial Fibrillation (AF) drug information' booklet heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

booklet