Has anyone taken beta blockers for more than 10 years with no side effects?

[OzJames]

Hi all, at my last consult with cardiologist he suggested staying on low dose metoprolol for another year and possibly permanently as for me it might help suppress the adrenaline spike that can bring on my AF. I’m on about 10mg twice daily of metoprolol tartrate. The equivalent in Bisoprolol is 1mg. My question is possible side effects or altering of heart function taking it for long periods. Has anyone been on them for 10 or 20 years safely?

[planetiowa]

I'm on a very low dose beta blocker (12.5 mg Atenolol) which I've been taking for 10+ years with no side effects.

[hausjac]

Been on Bisoprolol 10mg/day for over 30 years. Reduced it recently to 7.5 mg. Used to taking it so don’t particularly notice any adverse effects

[OzJames in reply to hausjac]

Thanks for reply, that’s good to know that it’s well tolerated over that many years. I hope it’s helping with your AF. I was diagnosed when I was 35 some 30 years ago and was lucky to only have AF once every 4-5 year's, but only recently have started on full time meds

[hausjac in reply to OzJames]

In fact I was given it for SVTs caused by an accessory pathway in my heart along with an anti arrhythmic. That may be why my AF is asymptomatic and occurring infrequently thank goodness and long may it last! My new cardio has not added anything to this regime apart from the wretched Apixaban which I hate as I have OA and can’t take anti inflammatories

[OzJames in reply to hausjac]

Having OA is a nuisance along with AF!

I noticed some recent studies on Monoclonal Antibodies being trialled instead of anti coagulation. Might be years away but at least there’s hope for a new way to lessen the stroke risk

[hausjac in reply to OzJames]

That would be brilliant as I really hate blood thinners and it’s affecting my platelet levels now too

[Tykelady in reply to hausjac]

Thank goodness someone is on the same high dose of Bisoprolol as me. Everyone else seems to be on 1.25 and i was beginning to get worried that my prescription was wrong although they did tell me at my last hospital stay that I needed this dose as I also suffer from anxiety.

[hausjac in reply to Tykelady]

Yes Bisoprolol seems to have a bad name but like most beta blockers you just have to adjust yourself to it and I’ve always found it helpful

[Teresa156 in reply to Tykelady]

Please can I ask how you take 1mg of Bisoprolol? Do you have to cut .25 off the pill every day?

edited: oops! Ignore me! I think I must have read your reply wrong. I do apologise 😊

[OzJames in reply to Teresa156]

That’s ok… actually I bought jewellery scales from Amazon of eBay. Make sure they have a max weight, I think about 20 grams, so they are more sensitive at this low weight It also had a 20 gram weight so you can check it’s accuracy. 25mg Metoprolol tablets are small. So I cut to less than a quarter with pill cutter and trust my math is correct!

[Teresa156 in reply to OzJames]

Hi OzJames,

I actually have some jewellery scales as well, so know exactly what you mean 😊 I reduced 2.5 to 1.25 over 4 months using jewellery scales as I didn’t want to risk any adrenaline surges. It was a bit off a faff and in the end the pieces were miniscule 😃 I had to rely on the more sensitive measures.

Incidentally my Aunt has been in Atenolol (25 mg) for over 30 years with no ill effects, for her Afib.

[OzJames in reply to Teresa156]

Haha well there is method in our madness… your Aunt has done well with no ill effects for 30 years, i hope her AF is well controlled too!

[Teresa156 in reply to OzJames]

She hasn’t had another episode ( she says) since she went in it…recent ECG shows good -NSR too. She’s never given her AF another thought for nearly 30 years - and sometimes think that might be the answer 😊

[OzJames in reply to Teresa156]

Wow that’s great I started full time on Metoprolol 12 months ago and have had only one episode in September, fingers crossed I get another 29 years before the next one 😁

[Teresa156 in reply to OzJames]

You sound very similar to me James - I too have very few and only two this year, covid to blame for one 🙄 before that, one was a year before. It’s been in my life for about 18 years though, in the background, lurking, like they do. I have decided to go for an ablation next year, even though they’re infrequent. For me, it’s the uncertainty all the time and the anxiety it brings and the tip-toing around it all the time, trying to avoid it happening.

Best of luck in whatever you decide to do as you will know when the time is right 🤞

[OzJames in reply to Teresa156]

I believe an ablation can be more successful if done when there’s less wear and tear on the heart caused by frequent AF. I actually had an appointment with an EP the week before Christmas just to get a feel of what to expect. My cardiologist works in the same practice. If things go well my next appointment is August to do all the heart tests and assess what my heart health is. At that point I’ll decide whether to have an ablation. Good luck with the ablation and let’s hope 2024 will be a good year for us all

[Teresa156 in reply to OzJames]

I remember your post, when you were going to see the EP - I mentioned to you about PFA and flutter, as I too have flutter with the AF. I’m glad you asked about that.

It sounds promising for August, for your heart, based on how infrequent your episodes are. I do wish you all the best for 2024, Happy New Year 😊

[Tykelady in reply to Teresa156]

Not to worry. It's 5 in a morning and 5 at night.

[Hidden]

No personal experience but I know people who have and they appear to cope OK. The minimum dose for Bisoprolol I think is 1.25 mg and that is generally well tolerated but there are a few to choose from and from what we hear, Nebivolol seems popular. Not sure if a calcium channel blocker would be suitable but I’ve taken 120 mg for 9 years with no problems…..

[OzJames in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for reply. I’ve been on low dose Metoprolol for 12 months now equivalent to about 1mg of bisoprolol. I did read a study someone posted here that beta blockers could cause issues in the population of AF people who had no health issues apart from AF. It suggested that Calcium channel blockers maybe a better option

[meadfoot]

Yes I have taken atenolol for the past fifteen years no issues.

[OzJames in reply to meadfoot]

Thanks for your reply… good to hear

[Finvola]

I've been taking beta blockers for 10 years - firstly Bisoprolol which left me like a zombie - then Nebivolol for the last 5 years. I take 2.5mg Nebivolol and have no side effects that I am aware of.

[OzJames]

It’s interesting how one drug has no side effects with one person then the next can have issues. I’m glad you’ve been able to work it out.

[Snowgirl65]

My brother's been on metoprolol for 20 years; I've been on for 10. No side effects for either of us.

[OzJames in reply to Snowgirl65]

Well that gives me heart… pun intended! Thanks for letting me know. Hope your both going well with no AF!

[Snowgirl65 in reply to OzJames]

Thanks -- and the same to you!

[meemsdream]

I have been talking propranolol for 20 years+ and I do not have side effects.

[OzJames]

thanks appreciate the reply, that’s good to know I can be on them for a long time, hopefully with no side effects too!