I have been diagnosed with atrial flutter/fibrillation (TBH don't think they know) about 2 years ago - put me on bisopropol. My heart rate since has been stable at 58/59 until 6 weeks ago. It shot up to 128. Then I started getting attacks of 'light headedness' (would last 10-15 mins and would have around 8-10 attacks). The attacks take you to the point of passing out, apart from 2 of them where I ended up fainting fo a second.
GP has upped my bisopropol from 10mg a day to 12.5mg, heart rate has come down to 120, and attacks have disappeared. GP won't touch medication again until I see Cardiologist at Birmingham in 4 weeks time.
I've read lots about the condition but they don't seem to mention my efffects. Has anybody experienced this? / what was your treatment?
Thanks in advance.
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mrhappydays
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Presyncope such as this and occasional syncope (actual fainting) can be caused by blood pressure falling drastically during an event. It can Also be due to pauses in heart beat if rate drops too low. Some people expericenc it during transition from AF to normal sinus rhythm (NSR).
You GP is not allowed to prescibe many of the drugs used to combat AFso his response is understandable. Sounds like you need a holter monitor for a few days so catch what is happening and no doubt the cardiologist will organise this..
For some years I had attacks of presyncope. It was first thing in the morning, perhaps 5 or ten minutes after I had got out of bed. They probably lasted for half an hour up to an hour or so. I wondered if it was low sugar, low blood pressure, dehydration etc etc.
It didn't happen that often or seem to coincide in any way with my AF.
However, since I had my ablation a couple of years ago which got rid of my AF, it hasn't happened once.
This could be a vasovagal event following evening meal. Worth checking out on York Cardiologist YouTube channel. If you're being seen at QEH Birmingham, their cardiology unit is very good.
Interesting my gp didn’t mention driving but needless to say, my wife does it all now ( think she’d change the locks if I tried!) . Gp did say stop alcohol and get decaf tea.
Hi mrhappydays, I have experienced this and I am certain that your cardiologist will find a solution. It can be very unsettling but it is resolvable. If it happens, sit down and relax and it will pass. Once your cardiologist has identified the reason, they will identify a suitable treatment plan.
It was scary the first time; then I thought its copable; then I ended up on the floor after one attack. Really looking forward to seeing the Cardiologist.
Yes, the same thing happened to me. Horrible. It was sorted out in the end. It’s really hard to deal with at the time but I’m sure there’ll be a solution. I hope it gets resolved soon 🤞
Hi there, I thought I’d written that 😆 couple of years I was on 12.5mg bisoprolol then recently upped to 15 then 17.5 ( I was on other blood pressure meds which then caused over load an BP plummeted. The GP had increased this but then when I called back to say I thought this was too much could I just reduce back to 15 (I only had 3days at 15 before it was increased so not really in my system)Gp sent to hospital, spent 9 hours waiting, had bloods and ecg but no meds or food/drink - the latter caused more problems with headache and nausea but physically I could walk bp came up and they did what I suggested -back to 15mg (but this time in divided doses of 7.5 twice daily)
I felt pretty ok (well better than I’d been)
I’m not sure if GP can only raise past a certain level if they’re advised by cardiologist or A/E dept who usually want to see the effects
See the electrophysiologist - if you feel worse call to see if can have earlier appt or may need A/E
Thanks for this. The GP might be cautious as history of heart disease in family (my daughter has half a heart; I ve had a narrowing of the aorta and the aortic valve needs to be watched). I ve read that 20mg is the maximum dose for bisopropol. On 12.5mg so far, and blood pressure has (generally) never been better, (typically 120/90), apart from the sudden drops. Cardiologist last year did discuss ablation as an option, so we'll see.
I too have a horrendous family history - think I got off light but yes they’ll have to be cautious with you - thanks for sharing keep us updated on what happens at the cardio appt
I went into AF at the beginning of December 21, had a cardioversion at the beginning of February 22 that successfully converted me back into NSR with a stable heart rate of around 52 to 53 (as it used to be before AF).
All was good for 5 weeks then I had 2 occasions in the space of 3 days where I felt dizzy/light headed for a couple of seconds, just stopped what I was doing, sat down and the issue passed.
The following day I had the same dizzy feeling but this time I blacked out and fell to the ground, as soon as I hit the ground I was absolutely fine again.
Doctor checked me over and did bloods, all ok, said to go to A &E if it occurred again.
A day later same thing happened again in the garden, thank goodness this time my neighbour was standing next to me and caught my arm as I was falling. A second later and I am fine again.
Went to A &E, they did all the checks and could find nothing wrong. Next morning woke up and back again in AF, think it was because it was so stressful waiting over 9 hours in A&E and feeling dizzy many times there.
So now back in AF with a resting heart of about 75 and no dizziness or blackouts for the past 5 weeks.
Having a 3 day monitor fitted in about 3 weeks but not confident it will show anything now I’m back in AF.
As Bob said cause can really only be a pause in heat beat or a drop in blood pressure, identifying it is the difficultly. Never before have I suffered from blackouts.
Doctor told me not to drive which I had already decided was too dangerous.
Be careful as my first blackout was onto a hard floor and it took 4 weeks to recover from the aches and pains as you drop like a stone and don’t realise.
I could find very little information on the subject so will be interested in how you get on with your cardiologist, please let me know if solve the mystery.
Thanks for that, Denboy. My experience similar, but getting multiple attacks, separated by a couple of minutes. Only ended up once on the paving slabs but think I was lucky as fell on my back. Had a light head attack yesterday - just one - unlike before when they were coming thick and fast.
Hi, Are you on any medication? My EP ( first appointment yesterday after being followed by a cardiologist for 10 years) told me this is often provoked by Flecaine as it works on the heart . I get light-headed when I convert back to normal rhythm or for a little while after as my HR drops to about 39 BPM.
See what you mean . I know someone who had long pauses with her extrasystoles so had a pacemaker fitted as it made her nearly pass out each time. She didn't have Afib.
I’m on 12.5mg bisopoprol ( plus drugs for blood thinning and bp reduction ) . Interesting that a few people have mentioned light headedness as a sign of converting to normal heart rate. I ve not experienced any evidence of my heart rate dropping ( apart from coming down from 128 to 120)
That is quite a brisk rate on such a large dose of Bisoprolol. I take 3.75 and an extra 1.25 ( advised by my Dr) when I go into Afib. 5 mg knocks me out when I eventually convert and is responsible for quite a drop in HR ( 120 BPM to 39/40). Many people have trouble on even smaller doses. I think Ppiman has put his finger on it in suggesting you could have two different things going on - Afib and Afl. Take care
Oh dear - poor you. The things we suffer, eh? Why do you think they don't know what is happening? If you have AF, it can hide the AFl, which can be happening alongside it. If you do have both, the ablation will be a bit longer as both atria will need to be dealt with.
I would get a Kardia 6L and take a few readings to show your GP when this kind of thing happens. I did have similar before my ablation, but never got to the stage of actually fainting (syncope). The Kardia advanced determinations were once said to be show up AFl, although I don't know if that ever came about. In my case, I had to have an injection of, I think, adenosine, during the ECG to show up the flutter. I can't imagine Kardia include one of those on their packaging for home use!
Interestingly, when gp increased by bisopropol, it only dropped heart rate from 128 to 120 (where it is now) but it virtually stopped the multiple light head attacks. Still constantly feel a little woozy in head.
Syncope (or presyncope) is definitely a symptom of both flutter & fibrillation.Your cardiologist will sort out your meds for you & maybe other treatments. Hopefully get rid of the episodes soon.
At least you have an appointment booked in the near future.
Betablockers do this to me. A dose of 5 mg made me virtually pass out and lowered my afib heart rate from 175 to 80 in about 2 minutes! Ended up lying a hospital bed at a dignified 45 degree angle awaiting emergency cardioversion!
I was the same on bisoprolol, I asked the cardiologist to change my medication, I am now on Nevibolol a much better drug with no side effects and resting heart rate the same around 61/65
Apparently bisoprolol is a “cheap” drug they offer everyone but has so many side effects on people and doesn’t agree with many
Bisoprolol is the drug of choice for both doctors and hospitals unless you have a problem with it. Nevibolol is an alternative or if beta blockers are a problem then Diltiazem which is a calcium channel blocker can be prescribed.
A woozy head is usually a symptom when you start taking Bisoprolol, I found it went after about 4 weeks on Bisoprolol.
Your initial post suggests you have been on Bisoprolol long term in which case the recent increase in strength may have caused it and should go in time.
It may sound perverse but ideally you want to be having your episodes when you see the cardiologist or if he fits a monitor which may happen, then he can see what’s happening first hand and treat it accordingly.
My chances of having an episode when I have my monitor fitted is next to zero I think as I haven’t had one for 5 weeks. Unfortunately the expectation of another episode is always with me.
My afib is permanent , and am on Bisoporol and Digoxin etc etc. I have no symptoms and just get days when I feel off-colour and exhausted. Afib is different for everyone. Try not to worry hope you get sorted soon. X
Hi I was on NO medication when dizzy spells began, lasting one year before morphing into seizure-type collapse and dead faint episode which lead to my atrial fibrillation/ectopic beat dx. It took the cardiologist another year to work out (via loop monitor) I was experiencing ectopics and put me on Flecainide (I tried Sotalol and Bisoprosolol) but I believe it’s the Flec keeps me upright! It’s improved my bowels as well so fingers crossed this and magnesium is all I need (ablation has been mentioned)! I hope it doesn’t take two years like me for you to get sorted! Good luck.
Yes have “mild” mitral valve stenosis and told on its incidental finding it wouldn’t cause any issues for up to 10 years when afib decided to rear its head. I have a “small” murmur now, whatever that means!!!
Could be several issues, but whenever I get light headed I always make sure I'm properly hydrated. Especially when I go into flutter or rapid afib which makes me urinate excessively. Then I'll reach for a sport drink like Gatorade for quick hydration.
Quick update: I had my meeting with Cardiologist today at Birmingham. He thinks its atrial flutter. He's put me on Digoxin to bring down heart rate below 100 and put me on waiting list for ablation which he said might be in weeks, not months. Saifd it should be 100 % successful. Told me to do lots of walking and no driving until ablation.
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