Good morning. I hope everyone is well... Has anyone experienced weight gain taking Flecanide & Bisoprolol. My GP said that the drugs do not cause weight gain!!! So wondered if anyone else as experienced this.. Keep safe in the sun everyone. 😊
weight gain.: Good morning. I hope... - Atrial Fibrillati...
weight gain.
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Elvis4
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BobDVolunteer
Change your GP! Beta blockers and bisoprolol in particualr are well know for causing weight gain. They change you metabolism so your previous eating habits come back to bite as it were. A change of life style may help but many people complain that they struggle.
Could it possibly be Covid and comfort eating thats partly to blame Covid kilos they call it here
HiSame problem once I started metoprolol. Of course one would gain weight with a heart rate in the low 50s. Right? But I was thinking, if the Flecainide is regulating my heart rate, why not d/c the metoprolol? (Of course with EP approval)
Thoughts?
Flecainide needs a beta blocker alongside to prevent flutter.
Sounds like what the typical gp might say. Unfortunately, they often don't know a lot about afib or the drugs we take. That question would have better been addressed to your cardiologist or ep. But yes, weight gain is a common and well known side effect of beta blockers like bisoprolol. Why don't you ask your ep if you can switch to Diltiazem. Serves a similar function and you may do better in the weight department.
Jim
I’m on metoprolol and I have gained weight… my ep is just like weight gain or have ur afib under control… ugh… had ablation and hoping it works so I can get off this asap
Don't know your situation and Metoprolol has it's place, but IMO over prescribed for afib. Will control heart rate when in afib but a weak anti-arrhythmic. I only took beta blockers when I was in afib not to prevent it. Another alternative is diltiazem.
Jim
I actually switched from diltiazem they took me off bc my hr was too low and they thought I was going to faint
What was your dose?
For diltizem it was 180mg
Maybe 120mg would have been better? That's what I took when I was taking flecainide 50mg twice a day. In any event, these are questions for an ep, and not a gp.
Jim
I was on flecainide it worked well but after the ablation my ep told me to stop taking it
It sounds like your ablation worked 100% and ended your afib. Is that correct? If so, congratulations! I had my first ablation in March and that hasn't quite been the case for me. My EP is blaming it on possible sleep apnea but that doesn't address my question to him whether the ablation was "successful" or not. He wants to resolve the apnea question before talking about a possible 2nd ablation. I have a sleep study scheduled for next weekend.
I'm struggling to lose weight being on metoprolol. So frustrating because they tell you to lose weight to help with your afib but the meds make it so hard to do, and in my experience most docs don't believe the meds are a problem.
Oh Yes! The Biso was the culprit for me and I couldn’t loose it.
I am on Bisoprolol and have been desperately trying to loose weight using WW and despite following the plan and counting my points I’m just not getting anywhere. Reading some comments on here I am beginning to think it’s the medication 😢
Yes it does. I finally got heart function back to a healthy place, and thanks to the beta blockers even intense exercise only has my heart at 140 max. Without it, I hit 170 now. Massive difference in all activities meaning you also burn less calories. Since I stopped them, I am literally shedding weight doing my old exercises.
As others here note, beta blockers have been known to cause weight gain but not flecainide. In fact it's the opposite according to studies I have read. I've been on flecainide for at least three years and my weight has remained mostly steady. Of course, I adhere to a specific diet and weigh myself regularly. That might help.
I think Bisoprolol causes weight gain. I gained 2 stones during chemotherapy, first year after I lost 1 stone, it was a struggle, but then they increased my Bisoprolol from 1.25mg to 2.5mg and another year has passed and I cannot shift the other 1 stone I gained. I'm on 7 prescription meds and at least half of them list weight gain as a side effect. It's depressing but I just try to think that being cancer free and having my heart under control is better than the alternative.
Yes I have been on Flecanide and Nebivolol for 3 years and put on two stone I cannot seem to lose an ounce! I do not overeat and am worried I will keep gaining!
So interesting to read this, I'm struggling to get weight off and think it's the bisoprolol but my GP dint really agree with me but might have changed my beta blockers if I had pushed it a bit. I'm waiting on the results of a blood test in case it's thyroid etc if it isn't what alternative might not have the same effect?
Yes, possibly me too! Always a slim build 5ft 8, 10 1/2 stones, bombing about the place, weight doesn't alter much during the year and, maybe a couple of pounds Christmas and holidays, but easily lost afterwards with no effort.
Though when not in a "good place" or unwell the weight easily and unintentionally drops off me. Which happened earlier in the year when feeing so unwell and wretched, and no real cause could be found (and they are still hunting), it was accidentally discovered that I needed a pacemaker (long story, and in another post) but my symptoms continued.
Anyway, sorry for the ramble, but I have taken 2.5 bisoprolol since 2nd Feb (pacemaker day), and after endocrine blood tests came back normal the GP finally agreed to starting me on HRT on 18th May. I now feel completely great... And weigh 11st, and still gaining!!! I had a follow up appointment with the GP Friday and told her about my weight gain (so happy to feel well, but nothing fits, and I'm sat here crammed into work trousers, and will definitely need to go up a size) and asked her could it be the HRT, as that is the only thing that has changed, and she said that it doesn't cause weight gain in itself, but because ladies feel so much better when taking it, they go back to feeling themselves and eat more 🤷♀️... I can't say that applies to me, I certainly feel much more myself, but haven't changed my eating habits..... I hadn't thought that it could have been the bisoprolol??
Sorry for the ramble.
Take care all ❤️
"But because ladies feel so much better taking it, they go back to feeling themselves and eat more". Oh my gosh. What a stupid response. Just proves to me, some of these Drs don't know much about these meds.
Yes, definitely! She's a young female GP, I have been seeing her since the end of last year, and, on reading about the symptoms that I was having (on line appointment due to covid) regarding my presyncope episodes, recommended me to have the 7 day heart monitor, which picked up the slow heart rate, ectopics and pauses, which lead to the hurriedly implanted pacemaker. So I felt that I could have confidence in her. Her reluctance to prescribe HRT was so that all other medical tests could be received back, and therefore other conditions ruled out. She then agreed to the HRT, and commented that "ladies do feel better on it" (why should it be OK for ladies to not feel "better" I wonder 🤷♀️). And, to be honest, I'm not thrilled at taking a chemical to help with the symptoms, but it has given me my life back, practically over night. I don't know if the weight will plateau out at the 11st that I currently am, and whether I'll just adopt a more "middle aged" figure, or whether I'll keep gaining, and have to go back and see if I can try another type. 🤔Then again, it could be the Bisoprolol....Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post, take care x
Been on bisoprolol for years and Flecainide about 3 months. I attributed my weight gain to the heart getting faster and inability to exercise. Heart now back to NSR and appetite decreased activity increased weight loss 2 stone
Gosh, I didn’t know about Bisoprolol and weight gain ! I’ve been on the drug for 5 years it being gradually increased in that time, and now take 10 mgs each day. My weight has stayed exactly the same. All these drugs must be like Afib itself - having a different effect on everyone. I am lucky with my cardiologist, but it often sounds as though many are ‘technicians’ rather than ‘people people’. GPs ought to be ‘people people’ though, and look at your whole being, not just reach for the drug the pharmaceutical companies are pushing at the moment. If someone puts on weight and there is no obvious reason for it, like eating extra calories, or ceasing exercise, then just as you would expect a GP to do in a situation where the patient is losing weight, he/she should investigate other causes - such as medication. If you can explain that the weight gain began after you started taking Bisoprolol, the doctor should at least take your concerns seriously; after all, we are constantly told that weight gain is bad for our health in so many ways ! Good luck with getting proper attention with this. ……. I’ve just realised that all my posts are SO LONG -sorry everyone !
Mine too 🙄😂
It's much easier to blame the patient and not believe them when they say they haven't changed their diet or exercise . Doctors are hardwired to not blame the drugs . Cognitive dissonance - it makes them too uncomfortable to admit that something they are prescribing is doing harm as well as good. Beta blockers are standard prescriptions for afib . It seems daft to me that if the afib is paroxysmal and the heart resting rate normal in between episodes to have patients on daily doses of beta blockers that cause weight gain ( bad for the heart!) and often make them feel like death warmed up.
That's how metoprolol made me feel. I was totally dysfunctional.
I was on Bisoprolol then changed to Sotalol and my own experience on both has been that it reduced my heart rate [resting] to 41/45bpm and even walking it doesn't increase it much and I find I get tired really quickly so less energy versus reducing my intake of calories which I find really difficult - some might say mind over matter but I did lose 2 stones but it's crept back on again. Hoping to see Cardiologist next month as this months' one got cancelled and see if I can reduce the dose and get more energy back thus increasing my energy levels and walking a greater distance than I am already doing. Hope you get some more answers to help you with this. Take care.
Sorry but I've NOT put on weight, as far I can tell. I'm on 2.5mg of bisoprolol, which perhaps isn't much? And I'm lucky that my afib is largely asymptomatic, so can exercise regularly, but I thought it worth mentioning because in my experience weight gain with bisoprolol isn't inevitable. Any others?
Yes me, I’ve been on Bisoprolol for almost 3 years and no weight gain, wish there was as I’m to thin 🥴
Yes, me, I’m now on 7.5mg and I’ve been taking it about 2 months now - so far no issues……I do intermittent fasting (IF) 16/8 too so that might be it. I had to reduce my thyroxine as that set my heart off and was worried about weight gain but so far so good, in fact I’ve lost a few kg since starting the IF
Yes ! You have saved me a post … I was always about 8 stone and three quarters never much more ..now I am flying past 9.4!!! Never in my life have I weighed this …. I am on both of those meds too
It’s had the opposite effect on me. On Bisoprosolol only my energy returned so lost a little bit of weight but when it was combined with Flecainide I lost more! I’ve dropped a total of 6kg in six months without trying!!
Bisoprolol, yes!
Hi, I've been on both meds for a few years now and totally agree that they have vastly contributed to weight gain! I'm trying hard to lose some weight before I go in for a radio frequency ablation towards the end of the year and it's so hard. However my E.P. has taken me off the Flecainide and low and behold the 'flutters' have ceased almost instantly so I'm hoping that the weight might reduce too now that I'm not taking the Flec. Am still taking the bisoprolol though so fingers crossed. stay well,
Blue 
Seems that people have had mixed reactions. I wonder if it is more to do with other factors rather than Bisoprolol itself? I know common side effects are fatigue and dizziness (had both of these on and off). Fatigue will probably make exercise harder to start and complete, so possibly will have an impact on weight gain/loss? I also comfort eat a little when fatigued, could also contribute. Probably most of us are taking other meds as well and these may be the culprits, or may create issues in combination with Bisoprolol? On the positive side, if the B is working then people may feel more ready to exercise and be more successful if they have more confidence in their heart rhythm? Also - again, some folks might have undergone significant lifestyle changes concurrently with taking B and therefore could be losing weight through more healthy eating. My experience is all of the above. My weight started to increase initially but as I ‘got used to’ the meds a little and my heart started behaving, my exercise has been increasing and the weight is coming off now. Only a few kg’s either way, so nothing dramatic, but my B dose has been the same since Oct ‘21 but my weight has fluctuated.
When I was hospitalised for af they increased my bisoprolol from 1.5 to 5 mg daily. I didn’t realise I had retained so much fluid til they weighed my before my cardio version. I was shocked I had put on 5 kg in 5 days yet the medics just poo poohed it!
So annoying when we aren't taken seriously. Funny I've never known any Dr who can crawl inside the patients body and know how it feels. And how meds are affecting us.
Also I didn’t eat much as I felt so I’ll and not hungry so I’m sure it wasn’t the hospital food 😂
It’s awful!When I exercise, I can only get my heart rate up to the 70s.
I take metoprolol and Flecainide, but it’s the metoprolol that’s the culprit. I thought of asking my EP next visit if I can lower the metoprolol. My heart rate is 48 - 53 range. Metabolism is so slow now, even constipation a problem. BUT, no AFib.
There must be something we can do but I don’t want to rock the heart, either.
I have been taking Flecainide for almost two years and I lost about 10 pounds. It has taken my appetite so hard for me to eat. My EP even suggested I eat some ice cream since I am so thin. I don’t think my EP blames the medication but I do. It does control my A Fib so I keep taking.
Yes, absolutely. I was on both meds in the past, but Flecainide especially made me gain weight. No amount of exercise helped. When I switched doctors as well as meds, I lost 23 lbs. and kept it off.
Interesting.. I just stopped going on the scale, be cause nothing I did helped
That's funny but not funny. Frustrating to try so hard and nothing works. These Drs just don't get it.
I believe my flecainide has caused weight gain. After starting it, my weight inched about 10 lbs. I know I need the medication so I am just living with it. I also noticed onset of constipation when I began taking it. When my dose was reduced from 100 to 50 things improved a little. I think the best way to determine side effects is to go to the drug's website and look thru the list of side effects provided.
I started gaining weight after taking metaprolol, but the doctor said that was not the cause. Also taking flecanide.
Well, from personal experience, I can tell you that Bisoprolol definitely caused weight gain for me. Since reducing from 10 to 5 mgs, I've lost half a stone, and hoping to reduce further in the next month. They slow heart rate, and therefore metabolism. So I would seek a second opinion on this!!!!
I feel your pain! I’m on dofetilide, eliquis, and a statin and can’t shift the 7-10 pounds I’ve gained post-Covid. I walk 3 miles daily and lift weights, I track my calories. Have cut out bread and alcohol. Maybe the tachycardia I had for long before my ablations kept my weight down (kidding)? Docs don’t care because I’m not obese.
Drs don't seem to care no matter what size we are.
Since changing from sotalol to bisiprodol about 6 weeks ago I’ve gained over 7lb. I was over weight anyway so not good I’d tried everything I could think of to minimally effect. The surgeon I saw last week made me feel ok about it, he basically said it wasn’t overeating (fat person hang up) but the bisiprodol is known for weight gain due to the effect on your metabolism. He told me to do my best to loose some weight, but in order to do this I would need to eat tiny amounts of a balanced diet. Just someone listening and not saying it’s what you eat has made a huge difference. I’m in day 6 now of reduced calories.
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