Bisoprolol AND Amlodipine?

[IanGordon]

As I popped my morning pharmaceuticals it struck me that I'm taking two medications that seem to both be there to control blood pressure, albeit through different mechanisms. The CCBs predated my recent OHS with the beta blockers being prescribed on discharge. I've only ever been mildly hypertensive but I guess a degree of post operative protection needs to be in place. Before I chase down my indifferent GP are there any similar experiences out there or knowledge of this drug protocol ? Cheers, mi hearties!

[jimmyq]

I would have a chat with the pharmacist where you get your prescriptions. They should be able to shed some light on things.

[controlcause]

In fact i am also prescribed CCB(amlodipine)+Beta Blocker(nebivolol) + ace inhibitor(ramipril) which I am told additionally help to ease atherosclerosis .. Frankly I am not in favour as there is an interaction which i feel dizzy upto 1-2 hours of my morning medications

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi Ian,

I was on both for a short period after experiencing some issues earlier this year. Bisoprolol from back when i had the HA and CABG. Had to come off the Amlopidine as my blood pressure plummeted causing dizziness and a few other very unpleasant symptoms.

As Jimmy has said already maybe first stop is your pharmacist, unless you are having issues with both, then i would go straight to GP

cheers

Mark

[stevejb1810]

It is very common practice to prescribe more than one med to control blood pressure. As you have said, it’s all about protecting your heart and reducing your overall risk factors. It’s about giving your heart as much help as possible. The downside can be very low blood pressure and dizziness. If it’s an issue, your GP should be your next port of call - the pharmacist is likely to confirm what you already know.

[IanGordon in reply to stevejb1810]

Cheers Steve. I left a the query with my GP. More than happy to take a belt and braces approach during recovery/rehab but hope to avoid bisoprolol in the long term as it puts the brakes on my active lifestyle!

[IanGordon in reply to IanGordon]

Despite having my discharge notes which state both , my GP surgery (probably the receptionist) says this is unclear so I need to speak to my consultant! Just need clarity and some reasurance. That would require being patient centric though. Just asking people to do their job as in principle my care is now back in the hands of my GP. Now that's scary! (Rant over)

[Phil-52 in reply to IanGordon]

Hi Ian. You say Bisoprolol puts the brakes on an active lifestyle. I'm on 5mg daily, along with numerous other pills but I run 3 times a week and swim once a week. I race right up to half marathon distance. What would you class as active ?

[IanGordon in reply to Phil-52]

My limited time on bisoprolol knocked back my resting heart rate and made exertion - cycling,tennis, hill walking - quite restrained. You, Phil, seem to be coping more than adequately so not in your league but active within my peers. Never been a runner and overall exercise tolerance declined as aortic stenosis progressed. Now shuffling back to fitness- 3rd week post OHS.

[Phil-52 in reply to IanGordon]

I don't pretend to be any sort of athlete but I am thankful to be running again post bypass. My HR does drop quite low being on the beta blockers 45bpm last night pre run but I did peak at 172 during a hill session. So I don't think the Bisoprolol hampers too much.

Good luck Ian, hope all goes well.

Phil

[Shaz12 in reply to IanGordon]

Wish you better Ian 😊

[CherryB7 in reply to IanGordon]

I too have had the same experience with bisoprolol I'm a walker, don't run, being worked up for angina, though no definitive diagnosis yet, waiting on a CT angiogram, but walking my dog has become extremely difficult. Where I live and whichever way I go, there is a hill, and my ability to walk up those hills has markedly decreased. A dog walk of just over a mile that used to take me 20 minutes a few months ago, now takes twice that amount of time, and I have to stop. I was looking for info with regard to take amlodipine too, which I have just been prescribed, because if I stop the bisoprolol, my blood pressure and heart rate go up, but it wasn't made clear to me whether to take them together or not, although I was told if I felt dizzy or ankle swelling increased, that I could stop the amlodipine, but as the bisoprolol is also having an adverse effect, I would like to stop that too.

[Mjd7568]

I take two big white ones a big orange one, little orange one, yellow one and a blue and white one.

I’m starting to get competitive over how many tablets I take, I was talking to a colleague yesterday who asked how many I take to which I proudly said six he smiled and said I take six as well but I’ve also had a hip replacement 😩

[IanGordon in reply to Mjd7568]

What a colourful life! Have to say I could get competitive but only on how few but appreciate some of our tabs can enrich life's quality.

[MelB51]

Yes, I am also on a beta blocker, amlodipine, an ACE inhibitor, diuretics, statin, clopidogrel and ivabradine (to slow my heart rate down), so I think such cocktails are pretty normal. Generally, a pharmacist is happy to talk about the medications, what they are for and so on...

[IanGordon in reply to MelB51]

Cheers, Mel. Next stop my friendly pharmacist. Flogging a dead horse with my GP. Just want to avoid over medication which may be to the detriment of my recovery but at the same time appreciate limiting my heart rate is a good thing even though only the valve was broken.

[Shaz12]

I’m also on a beta blocker and 1 orange tablet for heart failure and fluid on the body I’m going to be having a ICD implant in 2 weeks time.

[IanGordon]

Having spoken to my pharmacist, on balance I'll wait until my 6 week post operative review - can't do any damage in the interim.

Thanks all for you feedback - much appreciated.

[wiltsgirl]

Hi IanGordon, I'm equally confused. I am 8 weeks today post triple bypass. Was not on any tablets prior to the op at all, apart from the normal female stuff, certainly nothing for blood pressure. I am now on 75mg aspirin; 20mg statin; 3.75mg Bisoprolol and 1.25mg Ramipril. Saw my consultant yesterday who said that these are all designed to protect your heart and what has been done, the betablocker may stop one day. The doses are very small and I have not had any side effects apart from a dry cough initially from the Ramipril which I have been told is normal, it has now got a whole lot better. My heart rate prior to surgery was around 65 then it rose to 80 - 100 post op and is now back down to around pre-op levels, this may be to do with the tablets. I guess for me its early days and I will continue to monitor this with my GP. I wish you luck with your journey x

[Prada47]

One thing that I like about the Dolly Mixtures I now take is that when I was younger ( a lot younger ) I had to buy them, now they come free from the Chemist in a Picnic Bag every 2 months !!!

Regards

Frank W

[Zoesgranny]

I’m on both - bisoprolol made me feel useless as the dose was increased so now I have Amlodipine 5 + bisoprolol 3.25. I think bisoprolol is medics favourite but high dose didn’t suit me.

[Hidden]

I underwent successful catheter ablation in May 2018 and subsequently prescribed both Bisoprolol and Amlodipine at the lowest dose. It was explained that Bisoprolol is to be taken in the morning and Amlodipine in the evening, presumably because I am more active in the daytime. I am an active person but have slowed down over time. Is that due to the ageing process or health issues I don't know.

[Angel2319 in reply to Hidden]

I take Bisoprolol 2.5 mg before going to bed. Irbesartan 150 mg at 4:30 pm. Then 12.5 mg of Hydrochlorotiazide in the morning every other day. My BP is now controlled after trying so many hypertension meds. Stay safe.