Long term Bisoprolol side effects!

[Dozer5]

Dear all - I've been on a low dose of Bisoprolol (2.5mg) since November 2020 and have coped okay - no real complaints. I did notice tiredness towards the end of the day (16.00 onwards) but then at 64 I thought that might be just getting older. I'm struggling with my cycling as I simply do not have the puff I once had but, of late, I've been feeling a tad queasy and lightheaded - the heart seems fine and the blood pressure within the bound of normality. Could this be a longer term reaction to the Bisoprolol? Any thoughts?

[10gingercats]

I suggest it is not Bisoprolol causing your tiredness or your age!You are young compared with my 83 and I do not share your experience..... with heart failure .I take 2.5 Bisop. twice daily .Been on it for a year. So far so good. When I became a little breathless the docs. found I had fluid on my lungs.Took meds for it and it disappeared. Still on low dose to prevent a recurance.

[JaneFinn]

Bisoprolol 2.5 does make me feel tired, sluggish, and affects my exercising too. (But I still take it as it keeps my heart rate down as needed.) I think it affects everyone differently.

I don’t know whether it could be responsible for your new symptoms, but (I’m not a medic!) it seems unlikely to me? I definitely would check it out with your GP (telling him all your symptoms, old and new). Hopefully he can help reduce the unwanted effects and rule out or treat other causes. I’m the worst at just leaving symptoms and hoping they’ll go away! - but the sensible thing to do is check it out with a GP Jx

[AussieHeart]

I’m no expert but everything I’ve read up on AF suggests any change especially feeling queasy and lightheaded should be investigated/ mentioned to your EP. It could be migraine without pain as some meds and/or AF can bring this on but please get the next appointment going

[Singwell]

If you'd recently started the Bisoprolol then I'd say yes - it night be that- I found difficulty in climbing hills when I was on it. On the flat I was fine. But this is a new change after more than 18 months. Same with the tiredness, which might be lethargy due to changes in the heart. Tell your doctor, ask for an ECG and I agree, get your lungs checked.

[Ppiman]

It could be age as we are all different and, since my atrial flutter in 2019 (age 66), even despite a successful ablation, I certainly have lost some stamina. I do get various other heart conduction issues, including mild tachycardia and occasional AF. I also feel lightheaded on occasion. If I were you, I'd would mention it to your GP.

My bike isn't being used these days, partly through laziness, and your post has spurred me to get the tires inflated and start cycling again!

Steve

[Jbeans]

Hi.I have been on beta blockers fir over 30 years, and bisoprolol for 18 months. They always make me out of breath on exertion. They prevent the heart from beating too fast so it's understandable that they cause shortness of breath. They also cause fatigue. It's a well known side effect. The only time I have felt light headed is when my BP drops ( am also on antihypertensives) I think it is important though to get these symptoms checked by a GP as its so easy just to blame medication. 2.5mg is not a high dose. I am on 6.25mg.

The biggest side effect I have experienced is hair loss.

Please explain your symptoms to your GP. Not everyone gets on well with bisoprolol and it might be that you need a different beta blockers. Bisoprolol is the number one choice in AF as it is cardio selective, bit not always ell tolerated by everyone. There are alternatives.

[Dozer5]

Thanks JBeans - I am seeing my Cardiologist shortly so will pick up with him. My Missus did remind me this morning that she had a virus last week whereby she had vertigo and slept all day. Nausea being one of the symptoms. So...there is a good chance I've simply picked that up. Feeling okay today. Thx for the input.

[JaneFinn in reply to Dozer5]

That could well be it! Let’s hope Glad you can check with your cardiologist too xx

[mav7]

As Hidden states above, schedule a visit with your doctor.

After 1.5 years on Bisoprolol you should be accustomed to any side effects.

[Hidden]

Hi Dozer,

I was given Bisoprolol (2.5mg) in December last year after my first experience of A-Fib and it did what was expected in reducing my heart rate. I did however suffer with a number of side effects.

For the first week I felt light headed and a bit unsteady but this cleared up after a week.

I also felt extremely tired and just wanted to sleep and I had to force myself to get up and do something instead of sitting down for hours. This side effect remained until I stopped taking Bisoprolol.

The other side effect was that my fingers got so cold that I could not feel them, however only a problem when we had a really cold snap a while ago.

All the above are listed as known side effects in the literature that comes with the tablets together with the advice that many of the side effects are short term as the body gets used to the medication.

I had persistent AF so I persevered with the Bisoprolol as it kept my heart rate below 90 which my doctor was after.

I had a cardioversion 3 weeks ago and are currently in NSR so my doctor said to reduce the Bisoprolol to 1.25 mg a day which I did.

Unfortunately although in NSR this low dose of Bisoprolol was enough to keep pulling my heart rate down to where my resting heart rate ended up going down to 40 beats during the day and 37 beats at night.

My doctor told me to stop the Bisoprolol straight away which I did and my resting heart rate is now around the mid 50’s.

There is no doubt that Bisoprolol is a powerful medication even at such low doses. As soon as I stopped taking it the constant feeling of tiredness went away after a few days.

I would prefer not to have to go back on Bisoprolol in the future if things change, unfortunately it is the favoured medication of most doctors despite the fact there are other cardio selective beta blockers available.

[Dozer5 in reply to Hidden]

Hi DenBoy70 - thank you very much for such a long response. Your notes really help. I suffer from the same side effects you appear to have had and they can be draining. I am a keen cyclist and now find myself struggling to enjoy my rides simply because I do not have the puff I once had - the Cardiologist tells me this is understandable as my heart rate will not move up a gear to match my body requirement for oxygen - this has made my previous hobby considerably less enjoyable but I persevere!

Currently I get occasional giddiness but I do not believe my AFib has got any worse - in fact since taking the Bisoprolol I am not aware of any 'racing heart' symptoms at all - these were originally my reason for going to see the Doc. So - I will see my Cardiologist for a check up and push him to see if there is a less reactive medication - it makes life a little less enjoyable!

Many thanks Dozer5