HR reduction with Bisoprolol

[ian16527]

I have been on this drug for so long I cant remember what my resting HR was without it.

Currently on 5mg and my resting HR is 53-54 BPM.

It was going down to 46 last week.

I am not a super athletes by the way lol😀

[jeanjeannie50]

Are you taking your 5mg of bisoprolol as one dose daily, or 2 x 2.5mg morning and night? I think I'd be inclined to ask my GP if I could reduce the dose slightly.

Jean

[DevonHubby1]

in my wife's case there is a direct relationship between the Bisoprolol dose and her resting HR. GP had to reduce her Bisoprolol from 3.75 down to 2.5 as her resting HR was regularly in the low 40s and making her feel anxious.

[Spin-off]

Hi Ian. My resting heart rate is also 52-54 and I take bisoprolol with amiodarone. I can manage with that but dont really want it to be below 50. But maybe that’s ok? I agree with others - call your GP for advice, perhaps you could reduce a little. Good luck.

[Gillybean123 in reply to Spin-off]

hi there, was just wondering how long you have been on Amiodarone and how you are getting on with it? Thanks

[Spin-off in reply to Gillybean123]

Hi. It’s a checkered history. I was on amiodarone for 2 years about 13 years ago but stopped (just because I could) and replaced it with fairly strong bisoprolol. About 6 months after stopping I was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism which was put down to the amiodarone. So I was advised not to take amiodarone again. I’m also allergic to Flecanide. Recently though I have had to restart amiodarone - it was the only route open to me. (I was in a prolonged and bad episode of AF and in hospital). So now I’m taking 200 amiodarone and 2.5 bisoprolol with regular blood tests. I’ve only been on it 5 or 6 weeks, the first blood test was fine and I thought I was tolerating it well. But yesterday and today I’m very nauseous and headachey. Maybe it’s not connected to the drug? I’m considering calling GP for advice before the weekend - I’ll see.

[Hidden]

G'day,

When I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in Jan 2010 the Cardio Consultant prescribed 5mg Bisoprolol to be taken in the morning with other morning meds. To be taken as one dose. Consultant told me it was aimed at heart rate control. Prior to AF my resting daytime HR was around 88 bpm. When AF mugged me it was clocked at A & E at 156 bpm.

Side effects took a few months to show but resulted in full flow random nose bleeds - usually mid morning to late morning. I spoke to my GP of the day and she said take it at night with other night time meds. I did this and have never had a nose bleed since !

Fast forward to January 2021 ....... my current GP increased my Bisoprolol from 5mg to 7.5 mg. For the first 12 months to January 2022 I had no problems. Then very slowly I began to have problems, unreal tiredness, feeling like the 'Zombie from the land of the Living Dead', unbelievable low HR especially at night, down as low as 39 bpm. and resting HR during the day around 55 bpm. No good for me at all.

I decided of my own volition to cut the dose back to 5 mg ( and told the GP afterwards, also why I did it). As its a dirty drug ( needing much respect) and needing a pill cutter I spread the reduction over 10 day rests .... the first 10 days I dropped from 7.5 to 6.75, next 10 days dropped to 6.5mg and the final 10 days 5.75 mg then at the end of those 10 days carried on at 5mg, where I've been ever since and feeling like superman for my troubles. Impact on HR, over night averaging around 54 bpm and daytime 63 to 67 bpm.

Perfect, job done, sorted ! ........ still no more nose bleeds ! Still take my return to 5mg at night with my other night time meds. No impact on my BP either.

John

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi5

54 H/B too low. What is your BP?

I would check in with Dr and get the 5mg reduced.

chers JOY. 73. (NZ)

[Morzine]

agree with Jean, I’d ask to get it reduced a bit to 2.5 and see how that goes. It does vary a lot in day doesn’t it but go see gP and tell him

Sue

[ian16527]

ive been on 1.25mg to 6.25mg over the years.

just had it increased to 5mg from 2.5mg to see if it would control rate when in fast af

it didnt. Up to 170 bpm last week .

i am going to redice myself back to 2.5mg over a few weeks. I have a pill cutter

[Belle11]

That's quite common on bisoprolol. If it's giving you side effects, it would be worth discussing lowering the dose with your doctor. The last cardiologist I saw said that as well as slowing the heart, bisoprolol helps to keep the heart in rhythm. (I think this was why the previous cardio was reluctant to offer me a lower dose when I complained of side effects.)

I was on 10mg bisoprolol for 2 1/2 years and my heart rate was 44-48 bpm most of the time, and occasionally 39. I developed shortness of breath on walking, and increasingly, had ankle and leg swelling. This summer, I eventually persuaded a new cardiologist to reduce my dose slowly, 1.25mg at a time for a few weeks before lowering again. At present I'm on 6.25mg and my heart rate has come up to 48-54 bpm, occasionally 60, and my heart is still in rhythm as far as I know.

[Setschan]

Hi Ian, I think you got some good feedback already, I have PAF which reoccured 2 years ago (previously had two successful ablations 14 years ago) and have been taking for the two years flecainide 100mg and bisoprolol 2.5mg /day at morning. I am still pretty fit and active (thankfully) and my BPM rests at around 40-44. I'm fortunate i haven't really had too many affects from this and the medication works well for me. So requesting a lower dose of Bisoprolol would seem a good start.

[Alfc]

Hi Ian, Initially I did have a few issues. I described the experience as like having lead in the veins. My GP agreed to try me without it. I stopped for around two weeks but the disadvantages outweighed the pluses. I actually had more episodes without Bisoprolol. My heart rate was raised and at one point my heart rate was. over 150bpm when I was in AF. Needless to say I went back on bisoprolol and my average heart rate is around 56bpm. Blood pressure is low, but it always was.

I don’t know if the above helps, but if you’ve got any specific questions just fire them over.

Alan