Bisoprolol and anxiety meds after AVR and CABGx1

[Beater]

I don't get many responses or zero notifications. I'm trying to ask if anyone has had issues with beta blockers and anxiety meds mixed together. I am in a terrible withdrawal of both, down to 98lbs, unable to eat anything as I am suddenly allergic to everything and I am bedridden 18 months now. I am desperately looking for HELP!!

[CDreamer]

Many people have problems with withdrawing from Beta blockers - which are adrenaline blockers as well so when you withdraw, unless done ver, very slowly - you are susceptible to rebound anxiety.

What advice have you been given & reasons for stopping both at the same time? Seems to me you need specialist advice, support & supervision.

I had to withdraw from beta blockers suddenly & it wasn’t pretty for 6 months or so but I had help & support & did a lot of CBTMindfulness, yoga, breath work, walk in green nature & doing things that gave me pleasure.

It can be as difficult as coming off hard drugs.

Do you also have AF?

[Beater in reply to CDreamer]

Yes I have been to every kind of Dr. Possible as well as a million MRI scans, ct scans and ultrasounds. I am following the instructions of the Dr.s and now I am so overmedicated that I can't even walk to the bathroom without assistance anymore. I'm just looking for someone who has had the same experience. My Dr. stopped my beta blocker abruptly after 11 months of me telling her that I couldn't handle it, it made me so weak that I would pass out after a bowel movement. She wouldn't return my calls or my Dr.s calls and we were left to our own devices. My Dr. was on matt leave and her replacement was very young and new. She had no idea how to treat me. I hope that you are better now. I have done CBT, EMDR, mindfulness, meditation and have a psychologist too. They broke me and now won't admit it or fix me. Just spent a week in hospital and they sent me home because they needed the bed for covid. I'm dying and they don't care.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Beater

I'm sorry you feel you're not getting a lot of feedback from here. This is a forum for people with atrial fibrillation - a heart rhythm disturbance. Of course, we'll always do our best to help anyone when we can. Personally, I know nothing about CABG, AVR or anxiety medication. I wonder if the BHF forum would be better place for your question?

I hope you can get some help and wish you well.

Jean

[Beater in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you. I'm not sure how I ended up in this particular forum? I wish to be in the bisoprolol/medication forum but don't have hope to get to it? I'm not very tech savvy.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to Beater]

Pharmacists are knowledgeable about potential interactions between medications, so one thing you could do would be to speak to the pharmacist at your GP practice; you could also request a review of medications. Also look at the leaflets accompanying your medicines which often detail interactions.

[Beater in reply to Samazeuilh2]

I have spoken to several pharmacists. They will only do what the Dr. says and it seems that they are really not interested in losing the extra $$$$ they make from the pharmaceutical industry. It's all about greed and money these days. Look it up, you will be astonished.

[CDreamer in reply to Beater]

I don’t think there is such a forum - this and the BHF heart forum are probably the ones where members post most about things such as Beta Blockers but you might also try the Anxiety forums - to find a full list of forums - and there are many - go to ‘My Hub’ where you will see a drop down menu and all the forums you are listed on there and below that in blue text - + view all your communities, choose the communities tab and put Anxiety in the search box.

[CDreamer in reply to CDreamer]

Try this forum healthunlocked.com/anxiety-...

[Beater in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you but I need something that includes open heart surgery as well as anxiety meds. I have joined that forum. Thank you again.

[Beater in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you

[susieanna]

can you not withdraw slowly from these ???? You can’t be allergic to everything. I suggest you get to the Drs. ASAP.

[Beater in reply to susieanna]

I have tried everything and I have a million Dr.s yes we tried slowly but my body is too weak to endure a withdrawal currently.

[Beater in reply to susieanna]

Yes I have been trying which is why I'm allergic to almost everything and made me so sick. You need to be in great shape to go through such a horrid and years long withdrawal. Look up Benzo Buddies or Benzodiapam Information Collection if you are interested in the hell that I am experiencing all brought on by bisoprolol withdrawal.

[Gersky]

I’ve been on a beta a blocker and anti anxiety meds and not had or ever been cautioned about a problem. There is a potential problem with some anti-anxiety meds and some AF meds. But you didn’t ask about AF meds. Hope you find some answers.

[Ewloe]

why are you stopping the anxiety medication? I’m on bisoprolol and sertraline the EP said sertraline is the safest for me. I have to stay on bisoprolol ( I’ll be on a beta blocker for life), but we’ve got it down from 7.5 to 5mg. I’ve titratated this down myself extremely slowly and not experienced any problems. My GP would have done it overnight but I’ve used a pill cutter and literally crept it down. But I’m sticking with the sertraline.

[Ppiman]

I have read that withdrawing from anxiety medicines, whether SSRI drugs or benzodiazepines, can be a traumatic experience for some. My own awful experience with SSRIs was now fifteen years or more ago, but it still stays in my mind. I suffered unexpected side effects from them, rather than withdrawal effects, but I have to say I truly detest the drugs and worry about the ease with which they are prescribed, even now to younger people. A recent study also showed that we have no idea how, or how well, they work.

Are you sure that you are "allergic" to everything? It's very unlikely since an allergy is a very specific issue with the immune system. Some people can become hypersensitive to the way their body reacts to drugs and over-estimate their feelings into catastrophic proportions, thinking death is around every corner. Have you heard of Claire Weekes? She was an excellent Australian doctor who understood well how the mind works and wrote some marvellous books to help with anxiety. Her books have been a real source of knowledge and comfort for me and many people.

Steve

[Beater in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you so much for your validation. Unfortunately the beta blockers did not play nice with anxiety meds after 11 months. I was unnecessarily on beta blockers as my BP and HR were very low. My irresponsible cardiologist would not return my calls literally begging for help nor did she return my Dr.s calls leaving her in a guessing game of fear. I'm now unable to tolerate almost everything including soap and I am now polypharma which was my biggest fear. I'm like a overmedicated zombie and still trying to recover from open heart surgery. The Dr s are more concerned with the pharma kickbacks than the patients now. It's all on the net if you take a deeper dive. It's actually quite insidious and when I die they will say it was a mental health issue. I never had issues other than sleep before the surgery and all the meds.

[Ppiman in reply to Beater]

Goodness me that sounds awful and, well, when I read about the US medical system, I am often brought to feel grateful that we have a different system in the UK. Mind you, at present, thanks to Covid absenteeism, lockdown early retirement, and our leaving the EU that is itself in a dreadful state.

Steve

[Beater in reply to Ppiman]

It surely is in an awful state. I'm in Canada which is in a worse condition as we have "Universal Health Care" which means that we pay through our taxes and get treated like crap when we need help. Some people get lucky with a smart and caring Dr. but that's like winning the lottery.

[Ppiman in reply to Beater]

That's shame as - from what I have heard - in so many ways Canada is a wonderful place to live.

Steve

[Beater in reply to Ppiman]

It is if you are healthy. Beautiful country and greedy government particularly in my province.

[MargaretWendy]

So sorry you are getting no help - it is a difficult combination for you and with not much response to your "help". I can only suggest you contact June Butlin who helped me give up Bisoprolol by coaching me when to eat and what to eat in my circumstances and enquires if you havehobbies/interests which can help the mind/body part of recovery. It is tedious answering her queries, which can be dealt with over the phone., but out of it comes her advice for change/variation. You do not have to travel to her office. By learning your dietary situation she can tell you what you should do. She is MARVELLOUS. You do have to pay, but it is worth it

PERSONAL CONTACT DETAILS REMOVED BY ADMIN.

[Beater in reply to MargaretWendy]

Thank you so much. I am currently bedridden for 18 months and unable to to even use my computer. I have actually spent thousands of dollars trying to find answers only to get the same results.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

I am sorry to read your post, please contact your Doctor for immediate medical advice. They are the best person to advice on medication \ interactions and also offer support and help for you.

[Beater in reply to TracyAdmin]

Unfortunately it is the Dr s that put me here and refused to listen when I explained that the meds were not agreeing with me. Now they are scratching their heads trying to figure out how to undo their own damage. It took 11 months for them to agree with me when I told them 3 weeks after surgery that the meds were making everything worse. A year too late for them to agree. It's unbearable.

[TracyAdmin Partner in reply to Beater]

I am so sorry - if you would like a chat, please contact our Patient Services Team on 01789 867 502 or alternatively email, [e-mail]

[Beater in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thank you so much.

[Ppiman]

I tried them twice, foolishly: first was fluoxetine and second, as I was told it was much gentler, citalopram. It most certainly wasn't any gentler. I stuck it out for about 14 weeks, having been told that the initial feelings of hyper-anxiety and terrific insomnia would pass. They didn't. I also had twitchiness (hands moving on the steering wheel I recall - yes, I know that it sounds of such little consequence in the telling of it); I also had itching, yawning, burping and, one of the worst for me but again ignored by my doctor, a song stuck in my head. This last one went on for about a year, even after stopping. I felt that I would go mad with it all. Words cannot explain how awful these drugs were for me. It was a truly dreadful period of my life and brought me to realise just how little people appreciate what drugs can do to some people, and how awful side effects can be.

Steve

[Ppiman]

I took them for about three to four months but it took over a year for me to feel free of side effects,

Steve