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!

[Teresa156 in reply to Skigirl25]

Just read your post, I can’t offer you any advice on how long this withdrawal will last, as I only lasted about a day, before I went back on Bisoprolol, after going through everything you describe. I have Afib and it caused Afib, just coming off it too quickly.i had only been on it for 6 weeks then.

I think four weeks reducing 1.25 to nothing, was still a bit quick. Some may be lucky and some, like us aren’t. It is totally up to you, but if I were in your position, I’d probably go back on it ( wait until everything stabilises) and try reducing over three months, going down by a lot smaller doses of something like 0.10 mg a time. Jewellery scales are great for this ( Amazon) and I bought some when reducing from 2.5 to 1.25. After each drop, stay on that dose for a few days until the next drop. I used to measure out my pills weekly, placing then on a sheet of paper as sometimes I’d cut a bit too much off, so would leave them for another week. You’ll also find that every pill weighs slightly differently but only by a few points of a gram. I also purchased a pill cutter. It’s a faff, but it will be worth it.

I’ve also read posts where people have swapped straight onto nebivalol at an equivalent dose and come off that instead ( equivalent dose is also 1.25) it’s supposed to be a bit ‘kinder’ and easier to come off of. This would mean of course a GP appointment. Nebivalol is better for asthmatics too. Bisoprolol shouldn’t be given to someone who has asthma.

GPs and medics do not understand at all. They think 1.25 does nothing.

I hope you manage to beat this soon….best of luck.

[JoDogBlue in reply to Teresa156]

Thanks for your comments. My symptoms have reduced and now I've been told to stop taking Amiodarone, something I've done before. I'm hoping that by the end of what used to be called summer I'll know whether my ablation did the job.

[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