Reducing Bisoprolol : I had an ablation... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Reducing Bisoprolol

Be-still-my-heart profile image
16 Replies

I had an ablation mid September and have a follow up at the end of January. My cardiologist said to reduce the Bisoprolol and then to come off it by the time I have my appointment.

I am now in 1.25 Bisoprolol and wondering how long I should give it before stopping all together. Has anyone else done this and did you just stop or take every other day for a while ?

I am still on anticoagulants and will remain on these until my follow up in January.

Also, if you have reduced Bisoprolol, did you have any side effects?

thank you

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Be-still-my-heart profile image
Be-still-my-heart
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16 Replies
BenHall1 profile image
BenHall1

Hi,

My understanding is coming off Bisop should be done slowly. There should be a bit of paper in the packet which gives guidence. Failing that talk to your GP or even your Surgery Pharmacy or your local store Pharmacist if in doubt. If I were on 5mg, I would reduce it by 1.25 mg per week or 10 days until .down to 3.75, then another 1.25 to get to 2.5 for a week then another 1.25 till I got to 1.25 etc, etc.

Buzby62 profile image
Buzby62

I watch this post with interest as I will hopefully be in the same position soon, ablation scheduled for tomorrow 🤞

I take 1.25 morning and 1.25 evening, I found splitting the dose helped reduce my night time episodes. I know 1.25 is the smallest dose, I was thinking of cutting them in half first, I will ask if/when the time comes.

Just read some of your other recent replies, glad to see things have settled down since your ablation, very encouraging.

kitenski profile image
kitenski

are you taking 1.25mg twice a day or once a day? If twice a day I think reduce to once daily. If only one per day you are on the lowest dose and could try snapping in half and reducing to that daily then just stop.

OzJames profile image
OzJames

I was on metoprolol but the equivalent dose in Biso is divided by 10. I started on 25mg twice a day then after CV I reduced to 12.5mg twice a day for 2 weeks then down to about 8mg for another week then just one a day for a few days then one every 2nd day then stopped after week. The Cardio said to stop a week after CV. BTW I purchased a jewellery scale from Amazon cost about $20Aus

Ronnieboy profile image
Ronnieboy

I was on 2.5 bisoprolol for years ,I basically stopped within 4 weeks after reducing to 1.25 without any side effects,I just feel so much better to be honest,the drug was making me tired.

JOY2THEWORLD49 profile image
JOY2THEWORLD49

hi

take your BB bisoprolol at night only is twice a day.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

vent profile image
vent

I came off Bisoprolol (1.25mg) ~12 months after my ablation.

My resting heart beat was always low ~60. While taking Bisoprolol it would be ~50 but would fall into the low 40s at night. I was concerned this was too low. My GP agreed and stated there was no need for me to take it any longer. Reduced to 1 per day for 2 weeks then stopped. Now another year on....no issue....& no AF :-)

Keano99 profile image
Keano99

hi, I’ve just come off 1.25mg, 18 months post ablation. I went to 0.625mg for a week, ok. Then came off it, 2 days, 4 days, week,had a couple of blips where HR went over 100, but that after golf and busy at work, so just took one as pill in pocket, did the trick. Last blip three weeks ago, so nicely off it now. I feel so much better as most of the dizziness I had has gone. Same with a low dose Spironolactone (dieuretic), I came off thst a few months back and the abdominal bloating I had went in days. We’re all different and it’s surprising how even low doses of these drugs can have side effects which are quite debilitating. Now onto weaning off the ramp April😀

BaileyC57 profile image
BaileyC57 in reply to Keano99

I am on 23mg metropolo and I think I am dizzy from this drug! I have taken for 3yrs and still feel dizzy everyday! Is this what you are on that made you dizzy?

Keano99 profile image
Keano99 in reply to BaileyC57

I’m was on just 2.5mg of Bisoprolol per day, after ablation, it was that which was making me dizzy….

Lilypocket profile image
Lilypocket

I was taken off Bisoprolol (3.75) straight after my ablation which was a mistake.Your Cardiologist's advice seems sound. I feel reducing a daily dose then stopping it might be better than alternating it. I eventually took it as a PIP ( after asking my dr's advice) until stopping all meds 4 months after my ablation.

Take care

Kia62 profile image
Kia62

I had a successful 2nd ablation..so far..over two years ago and am still on 10mg of bisoprolol

Bodydoctor12 profile image
Bodydoctor12

hello,

I was advised by my pharmacist to reduce it very very slowly so the heart doesn’t get shocked and rebound into arrhythmia- this was after my cardioversion in February. I was on 3.75mg at the time and the hospital told me to just stop it completely. I listened to the pharmacist and when I got to 1.25 I then cut that in half to .625 and slowly slowly phased it out. The peripheral neuropathy in my feet has subsided somewhat and is slowly improving. I still get cold hands and feet in cold water but the frozen extremities have also gone. My advice is very slow withdrawal. 🙏

GordonS profile image
GordonS

Be guided by your HR would be my advice

zak123 profile image
zak123

You feel like your comfort blanket is being taken away! Had a chat with my GP and agreed to take it every other day over a couple of weeks, and to be honest I had no side effects I have been in sinus rhythm for about 5 years with the odd blip but let's have it right us Afibers are super tuned to our heart beat 👍😁

Teresa156 profile image
Teresa156

You should definitely come off very slowly, even on 1.25 mg, which I take currently. In the past I tried coming off 2.5 mg completely, when I had only been on it for 6 weeks and I was told to reduce that dose over a week by my cardiologist, which was bad advice . I went straight into adrenaline rush after that final dose, then a couple of hours later into Afib. Some are affected very differently to others though. I have to say it was really horrible and I’ve never felt so anxious and shaky in my life.

When I reduced from 2.5 to 1.25, I took no chances and did it over four months! I bought a jewellery scale and it was probably the slowest decrease in history as I was chipping off tiny amounts over weeks. In hindsight it was probably over kill, but my heart didn’t notice a thing. My HR probably reduced overall by 2-3 beats a minute so very minimal.

If I was to withdraw completely from 1.25 ( which is very likely as I’m going to have an ablation next year) I’d reduce over 4-5 weeks, until I had nothing and I’d reduce by 0.25 per week.

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