Bisoprolol alternative?

[ConcernedWifeyy]

Hello all,

Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with a reliable, effective alternative to Bisoprolol? My husband suffers from persistent AFIB and while it is helping slow his racing heart , he feels extremely fatigued and groggy and breathless most days. It obviously hasn't helped the irregulat beats, but is looking to feel more awake. He is on 2.5mg 2x a day.

Thanks!!

[mjames1]

Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, can serve the same function as a beta blocker. For many of us, it's tolerated much better..

Jim

[Hrpapa in reply to mjames1]

Much better for me as well. No chest tightness .

[Ilovedogs12]

My cardiologist has just changed my medication from Bisoprolol to Diltiazem for the same reason - tired, groggy, breathless. The Bisoprolol doesn't seem to have steadied my heart but it has slowed it down.

I'm about to start the Diltiazem so I'm hoping to feel much better.

[KelliEAnniE]

hi I was put on bisoperol when first diagnosed but consultant changed it to verapamil as I had asthma and made it much worse I have no problems at all now I am on verapamil and apixon can walk anywhere without getting breathless

[Silvasava]

I had similar issues with Bisoprolol, changed to Nebivolol and much better for me

[DevonHubby1 in reply to Silvasava]

Same for my wife

[KelliEAnniE]

hi also I have raynauds and bisoperol made that much worse also

[Ducky2003]

Diltiazem. I lasted 3 months on Bisoprolol and it was awful. I couldn't breath properly or function on the stuff. My pharmacist explained that it attached to receptors in the lungs as well as tge heart, and that causes the breathing issues.He recommended Diltiazem so I told my cardiologist to change my medication.

[Buffafly in reply to Ducky2003]

Cardiologists don’t believe that, mine insisted on a small dose in spite of my asthma and after a few days I had a bronchospasm which is extremely scary, now noted as intolerant to bisoprolol!

[Ducky2003 in reply to Buffafly]

They prescribed it when I was discharged from hospital after my first AF attack. I spoke to my pharmacist about it when I got my repeat prescription.

I saw a cardiologist a few weeks later and told him I wanted off them and wanted Diltiazem instead. He pretty much said what did I know about it. He soon shut up when I rattled off what the pharmacist had told me.

Never seen the guy since as thankfully, it's been EPs since.

I run most things past my pharmacist now, especially as the Advanced Nurse Practitioner at my GP surgery prescribed me Buscopan once and my pharmacist asked "is she trying to kill you?" due to a red flagged contraindication with my current meds.

[Buffafly in reply to Ducky2003]

Interesting, when I had a CT colonoscopy they wanted to give me buscopan but asked if I had any heart problems to which I replied cheerily (thinking CAD) ‘No, only AF’. The response was an alarmed ‘No, no, then you can’t have that!’ Never found out why though, I had taken it in the past for IBS.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Buffafly]

Strange. They wanted to give it me for gallbladder attacks but pharmacist just said it was a medication interaction rather than my AF.

[Buffafly in reply to Ducky2003]

I looked it up, causes tachycardia and can cause low bp and even anaphylaxis so contraindicated with heart arrhythmia or indeed any heart issue.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Buffafly]

Be a bit of a bummer if you were one of the thousands who don't know they have AF and took it. 😳

[Buffafly in reply to Ducky2003]

You can get it OTC in small quantities with cautions so maybe it’s the dose that does it?

[Dodie117 in reply to Ducky2003]

My cardiologist in Ireland said the same and said try nebivolol. 👍

[Qualipop]

I was changed from bisopralol to Candesartan, a calcium channel blocker but that was for BP rather than anything else.

[Porageface]

I’ve had a number of beta blockers over the years without any breathlessness. More recently I have developed heart failure which I have assumed was related to my heart itself rather than the medication

[Hartingdon]

I had similar symptoms so had it reduced to 1.25mg which I can tolerate okay.

[Hartingdon]

I should add that, I take it at bedtime so I don't feel bad all morning as previously.

[Dodie117]

Nebivolol. My doctor here in Ireland said it’s prescribed for af in people with asthma as it doesn’t impact lungs. I take very low dose (1.25mg) as af pretty mild but take extra when I feel an episode happening.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

For my Rapid and Persistent AF I went from Metprolol to Bisoprolol up to 10mg but BBs didn't do the job.

Enter private Hesrt Specialist who was interested. My heart rate shows 47avg Night H/Rate.

It was during the day a problem. Exertion difficult, sweating and fatigue.

He introduced Diltiazem CD 180mg. TOO MUCH 1/2 dose. Went from 135 resting to 51! In 2 hours.

For last 2.1/2 years AM CCB Ditiazem 120mg for Day H/Rate. 60s Day now

PM BB. Bisoprolol 2.5mg for high Systolic BP. was 170s to110-135 and Diastolic BP from 90 to 69-79

I did lose 3-6kg after a 18 month period.

Hope this helps. A 24hr Heart Monitor helps to see what the med is doing. I had 3 in 2021.

Drs like to put meds up and allow H/Specialists to change meds. Not helpful for me. Metopolol was banned. H/Rate 186 Day I was a zombie, couldn;t exert, and pauses at night.

Bisoprolol is a good med and I will go to sleep after I call a big exertion. Diltiazem my life saver. Can be taken if Ventricles OK via ECHO test.

cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)

[Angelawimbledon]

My Cardio prescribed Flecainide but as my HR is low any time it's as a pill in the pocket regime. It works well and stops the episodes. I'm having a ct angio test soon