Post CV Bisoporolol withdrawal?

[Purplekatt]

Me again, after my cardioversion last Wednesday, back in NSR but been feeling odd at resting HR of 44. Then last night, lying in bed around 22:00 feeling my heart race and thumping pulse in my ear, put fitbit on, showing 65. Should be happy but not with feeling of heart and ear, so checked pulse, felt some fast beats but mostly rhythmic. Did 4 Kardia reads one NSR at 65 and 3 unclassified that it said may be due to arrhythmia outside of algorithm. continued through the night, woke up with 75-85HR but have done ’cube breathing’ and am now down to 55 HR.

As I was asked to drop from 10mg Bisoprolol to 2.5mg directly, and having read that this medication should be reduced slowly, could this be caused by withdrawal rather that AF? I started to think I may need more meds to keep AFib away? pre AF my Resting rate was high fifties mostly. Feels like I am walking a tightrope!

[Desanthony]

Maybe they should have dropped to 5 first. Maybe best to contact your cardio nurse if possible?

[Purplekatt in reply to Desanthony]

Thanks! I have written to the GP cardio nurse including the Kardia reads so hopefully she will get back to me in the next few days.

[Peony4575]

unfortunately, in sensitive people such as myself, weaning off bisoprolol can cause all sorts of arrythmia

[Fannyphasbees]

I was dropped from 10 mg to 5 mg after DCCV in November and now told they’ll review in 6 months with a halter and may drop it further or take me off Bisoprolol. Hope that helps.

[Purplekatt in reply to Fannyphasbees]

Thanks, sadly I went back into afib with 137 HR last night (still am), so likely to have to increase dose again now anyway.

[Fannyphasbees in reply to Purplekatt]

Sorry to hear that! Keep your chin up. X

[DawnTX in reply to Purplekatt]

i’m sorry to read that unfortunately it happens more than it doesn’t. My first one lasted 3 1/2 weeks and was incredible. My second one was a horrible experience. There were to be no more for me. That’s when I ended up with my pacemaker. Try to stay positive and keep the faith does a lot of stuff they can help you with.

[Vonnegut]

Gosh! 10mg of Bisoprolol is a lot! I had to stop taking 1.25mg after only 3 days as it brought my heart rate diwn to the low 40s and felt very tired!

[OzJames]

how long where you on Biso? if it was only weeks then should be ok... if its 6 months or so maybe wean down slowly which is what i've done after my CV's

[Purplekatt in reply to OzJames]

since December, but sadly back in high AFib so likely to have to go right back up plus add digoxin back in, as rate stayed high otherwise.

[OzJames]

sorry to hear it’s back Hope things settle soon.

I had all my bloods checked a year ago and found I was at bottom of scale for magnesium, Vitd3 and CoQ10 so I started supplementing and my levels are now getting close to mid range.

My ectopics have greatly reduced as well so maybe next time you do bloodwork ask to get these done

[Bluetonic]

I am mega sensitive to Bisop, and I was on 12.5mg a day to start with.

It took me two attempts to get off it as I felt so awful when coming off it like yourself.

So I took my own advice the second time, bought myself a pill cutter and reduced my intake very gradually , reducing the dose every couple of weeks. Luckily I had been prescribed 10,5,2.5 and I think 1.25 mg pills over the year so it was quite easy.

The last 10 days or so when I came off totally from 0.625 mg/day was still tricky with palpitations , headaches etc etc but it was worth it in the end

[Ppiman]

I think you’ve put your finger on it. I have read that owing to its slow metabolism, bisoprolol is safer than short acting beta blockers to reduce quickly - so I am sure the advice you were given was judged well.

Steve