Reducing bisoprolol

[JoDogBlue]

After an ablation in early April I went into symptomatic AF after two days but have since had a successful cardioversion. I remain in NSR and on advice from the arrhythmia nurse have reduced my bisprolol from 5mg to 2.5 mg daily. I'm a week into the lower dose.

My heart rate has increased, which doesn't surprise me, but I'm waking with pain and a slight burning sensation in my lower legs. I'm assuming this is down to withdrawal but don't want to get into a Google rabbit hole on the subject. I'm just wondering if anyone has had similar experience and how long it might last?

I'm still on Amiodarone to control rhythm but hoping I can come off that before long and find out whether the ablation has worked!

[Teresa156]

please can I ask how long you took to reduce from 5 mg to 2.5 mg? If you did this too quickly, ( i.e cut the dose in half and took that) your heart would definitely protest. Bisoprolol is a powerful drug.

It’s definitely a good idea not to Google as that would make you feel worse ( believe me) as there are many horror stories about withdrawal from Bisoprolol.

It is different for all, but when I tried to withdraw from 2.5 to 1.25 then nothing over 1 week ( on instruction from cardiologist) I had symptoms all over my body and face. My heart rate really escalated too. I hadn’t had an ablation and I’d only been in it for 6 weeks. I failed withdrawal and went back on it.

I have read that if you come off too quickly, it can take a few weeks for the withdrawal symptoms to subside.

In my opinion, to reduce from 5 mg to nothing, you should take at least two to three months, possibly longer, reduce in quarters or smaller and space each reduction over a couple of weeks at a time. When cardiologists give advice on withdrawal, they always think it quicker and easier, but it isn’t. I would recommend getting a pill cutter from Amazon 😊

I’m now on 1.25 mg after reducing about 18 months ago and I had an ablation a month ago, when I come off it, I intend to take 6-8 weeks this time…

[Skigirl25]

I was placed on Bisoprolol three months ago after my HR shot up in Spain. They did tests and found no AF but put me on the drug anyway. I had a nightmare on the drug but I'm having even more of a nightmare getting off. I'm now 5 weeks off (after weaning from 1.25mg over 4 weeks) and struggling with elevated HR. My resting pulse is between 75-85 which is 10-15bpm higher than it was before the drugs. But it shoots up rapidly to 125-140 when I walk, with even slight movement. It’s worse in the morning (by about 6pm my HR settles to about 70-80). I have adrenaline surges, insomnia and anxiety from the adrenaline. I also have wobbly legs from time to time and tremors and shakes. have a few half decent days them it hits me all over again. I've read so many accounts from others struggling with the same. Sorry to hijack your post but I need some hope that this will eventually ease and hoping someone who’s been through it can provide that hope. The GP is phoning me again today but I don't think they understand how hellish thus drug withdrawal is. I run my own business and haven't been able to work for three months! Hardly left the house as HR shoots up when walking. I hope you withdrawal doesn't last long. When I cut down from 2.5mg to 1.25mg it lasted about a week. Then settled again. But I struggled to breathe when on betas as I'm asthmatic. Wishing you a speedy withdrawal!

[Ppiman]

I would mention this to your doctor and ask about something called peripheral neuropathy. I have this, too and I remember reading that beta blockers can affect it.

Steve