Bisoprolol withdrawal

[Gladys08]

Hello all, I hope you are doing well.

I was prescribed with a beta blocker 10 years ago for my vasovagal syncope, I had really bad tachycardia then, fortunately I see that I do not have this any more. I started to wean off this med in late Dec. but 5 days later I was very dizzy so I started taking it again but since then I have felt horrible. Dizziness is my main symptom but it's so bad, I have it all day, I also feel a tight chest, numbness near my mouth, tingly arms and trouble talking.

My bp has started to normalize, I used to have very low numbers and I am now seeing 100/70 for instance, my heart rate is normal, this is why I am not sure if the withdrawal is the dizziness issue.

Anyone else that weaned off this medicine feeling this way?

Thank your for reading me.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Gladys

You need to see your GP as soon as you can, better still dial the NHS 111 no for advice.

Please let us know how you get on.

Jean

[Gladys08 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you, I am seeing my cardiologist today, I will let you know.

[Gladys08 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hello Jean, I went to see her yesterday and although she laid out a plan to wean off the pill over the course of 3 mothns she only said she did not think the dizzyness was from this but that it could be since many folks respond differently. 😿😿😿

Three months to wean off a pill is a lot but this is a reminder for all reading that you should def not stop cold turkey like I did, at te time I just thought wow my bp is starting to normalize and I don't have brain fog I don't want this medicine anymore.

My EKG came out normal, I have vasovagal syncope so that could be bothering me but I do feel that ever since I tried to leave the bb in December I became dizzy and ligtheaded and have been ever since. Will have to wait....😿

Thank you 💝

[Teresa156]

Hi Gladys,

Jean is absolutely right, you really should be seen by a Doctor as soon as possible as what you are experiencing doesn’t sound right - especially as you started taking the Bisoprolol again.

Did you actually wean off it completely? I couldn’t help but notice that you started weaning off late December and then started taking it again after 5 days which means you might have come off it too quickly unfortunately as that’s only a matter of a few days in between. Please can I ask what dose you are on?

[Gladys08 in reply to Teresa156]

Thank you all, I will be seeing my cardiologist today, I will let you know what she says.

I am on 1.25 and I am currently taking one quarter. So after the 5 days I started taking it again and still am. I feel pretty awful but at least it does not show on my bp level or heart rate.

[Teresa156]

Hi Gladys,

1.25 is still quite a powerful little pill, believe me. I’m on that and when I do try and come off it as I’ll be having an ablation this year, I will reduce over 3-4 weeks to reduce to nothing.

You had been on this for a long time too. I tried coming off 2.5 mg about two years ago, over a week with the advice of a cardiologist and had only been on it 6 weeks and I had awful symptoms of withdrawal and started taking it again, so I won’t come off it quickly ever again, even though I’m on 1.25 now.

I do wish you all the best and do please let us know how you get on.

[Gladys08 in reply to Teresa156]

Hello Teresa, I went to see her yesterday and although she laid out a plan to wean off the pill over the course of 3 mothns she only said she did not think the dizzyness was from this but that it could be since many folks respond differently. 😿😿😿

Three months to wean off a pill is a lot but this is a reminder for all reading that you should def not stop cold turkey like I did, at te time I just thought wow my bp is starting to normalize and I don't have brain fog I don't want this medicine anymore.

My EKG came out normal, I have vasovagal syncope so that could be bothering me but I do feel that ever since I tried to leave the bb in December I became dizzy and ligtheaded and have been ever since. Will have to wait....😿

Thank you 💝

[Peony4575 in reply to Gladys08]

Bisoprolol crosses the blood brain barrier and can affect the central nervous system which could account for your dizziness . I was so bad they swapped me to Atenolol which crosses the blood brain barrier less, it was better but still awful I cannot tolerate beta blockers . Good luck Gladys this very unpleasant but you will get through this . A lot of people have the same problem

[Teresa156 in reply to Gladys08]

Hi Gladys,

I’m glad you had some good advice 😊

I didn’t like to go into detail but because of the problems I had a couple of years ago, I reduced from 2.5 to 1.25 over about 3 months. I used jewellery scales! ( got them off Amazon) It was quite tedious measuring out a week’s supply, I was literally taking off .4 of a mg each time. I did it though and my heart didn’t even notice, so it can work 😊 3 months will whizz by.

I am glad she has looked you over…take care and I hope the withdrawal goes well 🤞

[Peony4575]

So sorry Gladys. I had an awful time weaning off bisoprolol and I had only been taking the lowest dose for only a few weeks. It affects quite a lot of people. Cannot describe how awful I felt and it caused various heart arrythmias and terrible anxiety

[Gladys08 in reply to Peony4575]

Hello Peony4575, I went to see her yesterday and although she laid out a plan to wean off the pill over the course of 3 mothns she only said she did not think the dizzyness was from this but that it could be since many folks respond differently. 😿😿😿

Three months to wean off a pill is a lot but this is a reminder for all reading that you should def not stop cold turkey like I did, at te time I just thought wow my bp is starting to normalize and I don't have brain fog I don't want this medicine anymore.

My EKG came out normal, I have vasovagal syncope so that could be bothering me but I do feel that ever since I tried to leave the bb in December I became dizzy and ligtheaded and have been ever since. Will have to wait....😿

Thank you 💝

[Gladys08 in reply to Peony4575]

Thank you, how much time did it take for you to feel better?

[Peony4575 in reply to Gladys08]

Am afraid it was over a year before the palpitations etc settled down but I was really bad hopefully won’t be as long for you

[Gladys08 in reply to Peony4575]

Oh dear, yes, I will have to be patient. Thanks for responding and have a great day!

[Ppiman]

I would think you should talk to your GP. Beta blocker withdrawal does need to be slow and a rebound effect is well documented after long term use as the heart's beta receptors slowly eventually naturally recover. It sounds rather like steroid withdrawal, to me, which also needs to be slow for the same reasons.

A call to your doctor is your next step. Do please let us all know what transpires.

Steve

[Gladys08 in reply to Ppiman]

Hello Steve, I went to see her yesterday and although she laid out a plan to wean off the pill over the course of 3 mothns she only said she did not think the dizzyness was from this but that it could be since many folks respond differently. 😿😿😿

Three months to wean off a pill is a lot but this is a reminder for all reading that you should def not stop cold turkey like I did, at te time I just thought wow my bp is starting to normalize and I don't have brain fog I don't want this medicine anymore.

My EKG came out normal, I have vasovagal syncope so that could be bothering me but I do feel that ever since I tried to leave the bb in December I became dizzy and ligtheaded and have been ever since. Will have to wait....😿

Thank you 💝

[Ppiman in reply to Gladys08]

One thing I have found is that my body does tend to right itself eventually but take longer to do so than it ever did when I was younger. I would be surprised if that wasn’t the case with you, too. I’ve had symptoms that go on for a really long time yet do then slowly go away.

I do hope yours are like this. There doesn’t seem to be anything essentially “wrong” but those symptoms must certainly be very unpleasant while they last.

Steve

[Lilypocket]

I was taken off Bisoprolol ( 3 .75) from one day to the next after my ablation which is why I may have had some bad episodes of Afib but I didn't have the symptoms you describe. Worth checking them out as they may be unrelated to Bisoprolol. Hope you can get some answers at your dr's appointment.Take care.

[Gladys08 in reply to Lilypocket]

Hello Lily, I went to see her yesterday and although she laid out a plan to wean off the pill over the course of 3 mothns she only said she did not think the dizzyness was from this but that it could be since many folks respond differently. 😿😿😿

Three months to wean off a pill is a lot but this is a reminder for all reading that you should def not stop cold turkey like I did, at te time I just thought wow my bp is starting to normalize and I don't have brain fog I don't want this medicine anymore.

My EKG came out normal, I have vasovagal syncope so that could be bothering me but I do feel that ever since I tried to leave the bb in December I became dizzy and ligtheaded and have been ever since. Will have to wait....😿

Thank you 💝

[Lilypocket in reply to Gladys08]

There does seem to be a connection in your case. Glad you managed to see a dr. I was glad to come off it as getting up hills was quite tough 😄 I felt like a spring chicken when I came of it ( once the arrythmia was sorted). X

[Gladys08 in reply to Lilypocket]

Hello, your heart was arrythmic once you came off the bb? Thank you!

[Lilypocket in reply to Gladys08]

I had an RF ablation in 2022 and was taken off all meds the next day. I had a bumpy ride to recovery but I believe the sudden removal of Bisoprolol (after 12 years on it) MAY have contributed in part to the episodes of arrythmia and tachycardia during the blanking period (But that is a theory - I can't prove it) But I was never dizzy.

[Gladys08 in reply to Lilypocket]

Thanks for sharing, I also have an on-line appointment with my functional neurologist hopefully I can get help and answers. Best! Gladys

[hausjac]

I was on Bisoprolol 10mg for 30 years but decided to reduce it myself to 7.5mg obviously with my cardio's approval but I have to say I never had any withdrawal symptoms, You certainly need to get things checked out as that doesn't sound right to me. Let us know how you get on

[Gladys08 in reply to hausjac]

Hello Hausjac, I went to see her yesterday and although she laid out a plan to wean off the pill over the course of 3 mothns she only said she did not think the dizzyness was from this but that it could be since many folks respond differently. 😿😿😿

Three months to wean off a pill is a lot but this is a reminder for all reading that you should def not stop cold turkey like I did, at te time I just thought wow my bp is starting to normalize and I don't have brain fog I don't want this medicine anymore.

My EKG came out normal, I have vasovagal syncope so that could be bothering me but I do feel that ever since I tried to leave the bb in December I became dizzy and ligtheaded and have been ever since. Will have to wait....😿

Thank you 💝

[Catlover3 in reply to hausjac]

I am relieved to see someone else on a high dose of Bisoprolol. Mine has recently been upped to 6.25mg and I've been on it 21 years now.

[Tantaanna]

I experienced withdrawal symptoms from Biso as well. It’s not the same for everyone, but consult your Dr to help you.

[Gladys08 in reply to Tantaanna]

Hello Tantaanna, I went to see her yesterday and although she laid out a plan to wean off the pill over the course of 3 mothns she only said she did not think the dizzyness was from this but that it could be since many folks respond differently. 😿😿😿

Three months to wean off a pill is a lot but this is a reminder for all reading that you should def not stop cold turkey like I did, at te time I just thought wow my bp is starting to normalize and I don't have brain fog I don't want this medicine anymore.

My EKG came out normal, I have vasovagal syncope so that could be bothering me but I do feel that ever since I tried to leave the bb in December I became dizzy and ligtheaded and have been ever since. Will have to wait....😿

Thank you 💝

[Elli86]

Hi Gladys.

Firstly I’d say definitely get checked by a doc just to be sure like others have said. Secondly I would personally put the symptoms down to bisop withdrawal. It’s horrible and you need to do it incredibly slowly over a number of weeks/months. I was shaving tiny pieces off my tablets every week to try to keep the withdrawal symptoms down but even so it was still a massive shock to my system.

My heart rate was all over the place, ectopics were unbelievable, I felt dizzy, short of breath, chest pains, headaches to name a few. The body becomes heavily reliant on bisop and it’s hell getting off. Just take it REALLY slow. Gradually reduce the tablets by a tiny amount every week and obviously get checked by your doc just to make sure there’s nothing else underlying but I would be massively surprised if it wasn’t the bisop withdrawal. Good luck 💪

P.s just read above comment and 3 months is not that long trust me. That’s just about right. If I remember rightly I did it over 2 months but I can’t be 100% sure. It takes time. Just try to be patient and know that eventually you will start to adjust and start to feel great as well. The general feeling of grogginess, lethargy and brain fog lifting is unbelievable when your body finally rids it from the system. I felt like I’d been living in a dream and suddenly woken up.

It’s well worth the pain trust me 💪

[Gladys08 in reply to Elli86]

Thank you Elli, I'm still feeling the same. But this dizzy/lightheadedness is making me crazy, the only thing that does not add up is that I do not have tachycardia. Everyday of every hour I am feeling lightheaded, it's so sad and awful.

I do not have the brain fog but the lightheadedness is awful.

[Elli86 in reply to Gladys08]

The brain fog is what I had while on bisop. Didn’t realise quite how bad it was until I came off and it lifted. How long have you been tapering off now? I see you were taking bisop for 10 years so your withdrawal should theoretically be worse than mine although everyone is different.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

100/70 is low. Exercise - do you feel improved? What is your H/Rate?

cheri jOY.