Bisoprolol zombie

[MisterMagoo]

After initial amazing success with Flecainide controlling my Afib, which gave me my energy back for work, social and family life, I'm now in Flecainide induced flutter which is still better than Afib. However, I'm now on a very low dose of Bisoprolol (1.25mg) to prevent the risk of ventricular arrhythmia caused by flutter but with it I'm worse than before I was on Flecainide. My RHR is mid 40s, which I can live with, but my head is gone. I feel disassociated and tired. My work is suffering, my family have a constantly knackered dad and socially I'm away with the fairies at times. This is worse than being in Afib and I'm seriously thinking about coming off all drugs apart from Edoxiban. But I'm also wondering if I could just come off the Bisoprolol. I can't find any evidence of the real risk of flutter induced ventricular arrhythmia. Just the odd documented case and descriptions of the mechanism of how it could happen. Obviously I'm going to try and talk to my Afib nurse tomorrow and won't do anything prior to that but I would value the forum's views and experiences to help in that discussion

[CDreamer]

This is my very personal, possibly extreme take on Bisoprolol - if a drug (I’ll qualify that as a none life sustaining drug) is not helping and giving you symptoms which are worse than the disease then I would seriously question the sanity of anyone continuing to take it or advising others to continue to take it. I’ve had stand up rows with cardiologists whilst on a cardiac ward because I refused to take Bisoprolol after experiencing all the symptoms you describe and then some.

In my case it turned out that Bisoprolol, along with other drugs, exacerbated an underlying condition the effects of which are far more problematic than living with AF. Once I came off Bisoprolol my quality of life improved dramatically, I could cope with AF episodes, I couldn’t cope with the affects of the drugs, Bisoprolol in particular. So my view is the sooner you come off, the sooner you will start to recover but think months. The other affect Bisoprolol had was weight gain and I’ve really struggled to lose the weight I put on.

Just be REALLY careful coming off it because the rebound affects can be horrendous as well - simply because it is an adrenaline blocker. Severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, internal tremors and suicidal thoughts. Titrate down very, very slowly. I’ve seen many posts here with people being told that a low dose of Bisoprolol you could just stop and posters have described their difficulties doing so which suggests otherwise.

Many will think my views extreme and I know Bisoprolol helps many but when your quality of life severely declines, purely because of a drug you are taking which is supposed to increase your QOL ………. Really?

[MisterMagoo in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks, CD. I'm catching this early. Not even been on it for a month yet and only on 1.25 mg a day so hopefully no long term effects. I had a long early morning drive to catch a flight last week so didn't take it that day and felt good but I'll be keeping an eye out for withdrawal symptoms.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to CDreamer]

I don't CD! There are other drugs that could be tried.

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

Sorry Bob I don’t understand to what your reply “I don’t CD!” refers?

If there is good reason and you tolerate them of course. I was commenting specifically on Bisoprolol and my own experience of a lack of understanding from some doctors, who don’t live with the results.

Just another example of how important individualised evaluation and careful monitoring is, unfortunately we are still in the dark age of medicine when we accept that it harms as much as it cures.

[Frances123 in reply to CDreamer]

I read (I don’t CD) that Bob meant he doesn’t think your views are extreme?

[CDreamer in reply to Frances123]

Thanks - I get that now 👍

[Buffafly]

You could take Diltiazem instead.

[Morzine]

Just like to add as you have been on it only a month, it took me a good few months to loose all that fuzzy head, weird eyesight, and leadedlegs….even now I’m. It in top gear,.,but I lost all the weird symptoms in time just not ever got back to full energy…Sue

[mjames1]

I have the same reaction to beta blockers. Ask to switch to Diltiazem as a nodal blocker to take with the Flecainide. Worked for me.

Jim