HR has been 120- 130 for a while now taking either 5mg or 7.5mg bisoprolol. The increase in dose to 7.5 mg maybe made an average 5bpm difference. At this point I was in Atrial flutter most of the time. Trying to bring my hr down , it was suggested to me that I increase to 10 mg and then possibly 12.5 ( because I am heavier). Anyhow - I sort of expected 10 mg to bring me down to 115 maybe 110 at lowest, but I am now back in atrial fibrillation with a heart rate early morning at about 70bpm lifting to about 94 bpm in the afternoon. A huge change. Is this cause for celebration or worry? Does anyone know why the change has been so radical?
I wonder if being a heavier person the bisoprolol hasn’t really been working, and now the dosage is large enough to make a difference.
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Rhiannonimity1
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To all your questions - yes, that could be the reason. I'm on just 1.5mg of Bisoprolol and my heart rate, which is constantly in AF, generally stays between 60-90bpm. I'm not overweight.
So long as you feel ok with your heart rate as it is, then I'd say it was cause for celebration.
I have AF. I had bisoprolol increased by increments to 10mg and now heart rate is mostly between 62 and 82, and I feel well. I weigh 63kg. so seems a lot but it works.
Over the last six years, I have had my Bisoprolol increased gradually ( each time after episodes of tachycardia ) from 2.5 mg to 10 mg ( 5mg twice daily ). When it was increased from 5 mg to 7.5 mg, it made no difference, but a day after the further increase to 10 mgs, my HR slowed to mid 60s and has stayed more or less like that for 18 months now, whether or not I am in Afib. It sounds to me as though you have found the perfect dose, with the comforting knowledge that you could increase it a little more if necessary. I hope the lower heart rate is making you feel more ‘comfortable’ .
Like you I’m a larger person. I’ve been on 5mg of bisoporol split 2.5 am/pm
I’ve been fine until last weekend. Afib just came on for no apparent reason.
On Monday I came out of afib but my heart rate shot to a continuous 130. I monitored myself with my Apple Watch.
By Wednesday it hadn’t changed so ended up in a&e. They kept me in which was a shock (I thought they’d give me a magic pill and I’d be ok lol)
Day 4 now and I’ve just gone back in to nsr with a pulse around 80 (I’m usually around 52-54 post bisoporol). As you get LOTS of time in hospital to research things, I’m now 99% sure it’s the heat that made things go crazy. I’ve recently taken to drinking 2 liters of water a day but good old google says to drink a LOT more if you have afib.
hello Macymoo. Thank you for your reply. I have been in persistent AF now for about 6 months - but I do feel so much worse in the heat! It must be a relief to be back in NSR. Personally I don’t miss NSR,. I especially don’t miss the hospital visits. I will research about the water. If I am dehydrated I feel my AF more. Thank you.
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