Sleep Disturbance Bisoprolol Beta Blockers

[celticlady]

Just had a weird sensation last night as I was starting to drift off, experienced a sort of fainting feeling-hard to describe- felt swooney and woke with a start. I sometimes get this through the day but wondered if it was BP related-I'm new to all this, been on Biso for 2 weeks and struggling with the side effects. BP fluctuates from 150/90 to 110/75 so might explain some side effects but not being able to get to sleep when I feel so tired is really frustrating. If I try to have a nap through the day I also wake up with a start-not swooney but as if my body can't go into relax mode like before the BBs. Any advice/personal experience would be great and a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to answer my previous posts.

[etheral]

Hi, your BP looks fine. The BB will have more of an effect on your heart rate, so I would check this when you get symptoms to make sure it is not falling too low. Some people get CNS effects which could also explain your symptoms. In any case if the symptoms started when you started the drug, discuss this with your doctor and perhaps another class of meds would be suitable. Best, etheral

[CDreamer]

Beta blockers can cause depletion of Melatonin which may affect sleep. When do you take them? If taken with food during the day it can lessen side affects but many people struggle with the affects of Beta Blockers. If you continue to struggle go back to your GP and ask for another rate control drug.

Monitor your Heart Rate as well as your BP - does it drop when testing? The more information you can give your doctors the better.

What is your normal resting heart rate when not in AF? And in AF. Keep a record of all this data and your symptoms.

Best wishes

[celticlady in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you Not been diagnosed yet but had palpitations s.o.b and dizziness leading up to doc prescribing BBs. Also fluttering episodes. Got cardiologist phone app on sat then the wait for tests. HR been good between 54-75 with 64 regularly. I take Biso at 5pm with a snack. Good that palps have died down so just need to sort an alternative. Did read that bBs can affect autonomic nervous system so lots of research needed just hope the cardiologist is sympathetic to these issues. All good wishes, Moira.

[CDreamer in reply to celticlady]

Good luck, try taking the BB’s in the morning to see if that helps your sleep.

[Threecats]

Hi Celticlady, I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling with the Bisoprolol.

I started taking a daily dose of 1.25mg just over a month ago, for AF. I had resisted for quite a long time (surely I’m too young to be on daily meds at my age - still think I’m 21 , not nearly 60🙄😊) I was also afraid of side-effects, as I tend to react badly to everything but, following a ramping up of AF episodes over Christmas and New Year, I finally decided to give it a go.

I have had side-effects - cold extremities, dizziness and tiredness, some shortness of breath too but these have gradually eased to a tolerable level as time has gone on. The sleep thing you mention I’ve also had but, in my case, it transpired that I have mild sleep apnoea, I’m assuming that your sleep problem has only started since you began the medication? You have my sympathy with that one. I kept experiencing a weird feeling and jerking awake with a start as I was trying to drop of for months before being diagnosed - it was completely exhausting!

As CDreamer says, other rate control drugs are available so it’s definitely worth a chat with your GP if your symptoms continue.

I hope you’re able to I find something that suits you soon. All the best to you , TC

[celticlady in reply to Threecats]

Thank you for this. It really helps to hear other people have had similar... sleep disturbances only started with the Biso. Just had a deep sleep nap so got no chance of drifting off tonight. Radio 4 and BBC world service oh and my crime thriller till the early hours!!

[bassets]

I have a friend who swears she began hallucinating when she was taking Biso, waking in the middle of the night terrified, convinced there was someone else in the room. She didn't continue with it after that. It seems to affect people differently. Perhaps you have a touch of sleep apnea as Threecats has. Anyway best of luck for your future sleeping.

[irene75359 in reply to bassets]

Exactly what happened to my friend; hallucinating whilst wide awake. Her doctor was totally unconcerned and said she would 'get used to them'.

[bassets in reply to irene75359]

As if you could!

[celticlady in reply to bassets]

Thank you apparently tart chey juice is good for any of us suffering from lack of/disturbed sleep.

[Nanirightnow]

Why don’t you ask your doctor to switch from Bisoprolol to a novel beta blocker which has demonstrated less secondary effects and more direct results . I am talking about Nebivolol. Talk to your doctor first of course. I switched and it worked for me . I am much better.

[celticlady in reply to Nanirightnow]

Thank you ..can I ask your side effects to bisoprolol? Many thanks

[celticlady in reply to Nanirightnow]

Also forgot to mention I'd asked for the lowest dose of BB and neviprolol lowest is 2.5 .

[Nanirightnow in reply to celticlady]

The difference between Nebivolol and any other BB is that it’s a ON booster at the same time which helps blood circulation. Being myself a middle age man another important fact is that it has not ED as a collateral effect while the others BB have.

[celticlady in reply to Nanirightnow]

Thank you..got chat with pharmacist on Friday... you've actually given me more information than he did at last chat . Will look into this maybe can cut tablet in half.

[Auriculaire in reply to celticlady]

That might be the lowest dose tablet they make. I am on 1.25mg Nebivolol ( was on Bisoprolol ). The tablets are 5mg and they are deeply scored so they can be broken easily in 4 pieces. I have read this is usually what you get as the lower dose ones are very expensive .

[celticlady in reply to Auriculaire]

Thank you ..did you have bad side effects with the Biso?

[Auriculaire in reply to celticlady]

Yes. I find even with the Nebivolol I still have vivid dreams. I suspect these are a side effect of beta blockers in general. But I feel less lethargic and breathless.

[RoyMacDonald]

I have trouble sleeping anyway and Bisoprolol made it 10 times worse, can't remember sleeping at all while I was on it. Made me very relaxed though, so much so that I didn't care about sleeping. I used to stare out of the window all night and watch the Seagulls interacting with each other. I would also do exercises in bed, then get up at 4 am and have a shower and get breakfast (1st) Then have a second breakfast at 8 am with everyone else.

Never started sleeping until I came off the Bisoprolol altogether.

All the best.

Roy

[celticlady in reply to RoyMacDonald]

Thank you Roy ...did you replace it with anything?

[RoyMacDonald]

No. Didn't feel the need for another drug. I did start drinking tart cherry juice which is high in melatonin though. I sleep normally now unless I get over excited (race weekends) but I usually manage pretty well as long as I exercise and don't eat too late in the day. I try and finish eating by 6 pm at the latest, and always stick to a 10:30 pm bed time, but get up when I feel like it. (unless I need to get up for a race weekend)

All the best

Roy

[celticlady in reply to RoyMacDonald]

Fab ...where can I buy the cherry juice?

[RoyMacDonald]

I get mine from Dolphin Fitness dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/bio... You may want to try a single bottle first though to see you like it. I buy in quantity though as I drink a lot of it on a regular basis.

All the best.

Roy

[BobbyGee]

I'm on Bisoprolol (5mg daily), and I too have brain "incidents" when waking up or dropping off to sleep. I have Permanent AFib, and, as such, one has to weigh up the pros and cons of being on a beta blocker. Bisoprolol has "smoothed out" my palpitations and ectopics (pro) but has caused some sleeping disturbances and weakened my stamina (con). Night-time radio and/or audio books are my lifeline. I'm 74.

[celticlady in reply to BobbyGee]

Thank you BobbyGee. I know what you mean I enjoy listening to late night radio...but read my crime thriller now as it disturbs my partner. Glad you're over the worst and feel better. Still waiting for diagnostics and here in UK we have an overload ed NHS. Luckily in Leeds we have a cardio centre of excellence . Will feel better given a diagnosis...seems like AF but could be other Dodgy electrical malfunction. Will update on here when results through. Take care

[Nanirightnow]

Regarding nebivolol price don’t buy the commercial brand but generic. Here in the US generic is very cheap. 90 pills of nebivolol 5 mg price should not be more than $ 25 (US dollar). In UK you have a better and more humanized health care system . So, it should even be cheaper than that.

[celticlady in reply to Nanirightnow]

We get these free if over 60 so won't cost me anything. One advantage of getting older!