Advice/experiance Bisoprolol furmate 1.25mg

[DDL26]

Hello, I'm looking for advice on/about these meds.

I was given them by a locum GP for high blood pressure. My main concern being, I am currently waiting to see my heart specialist who I see annually (hole in heart, narrow arteries) for a check up. I am currently going through a bit of a stressful situation in the family so my blood pressure is sure to be high I think it was 170 odd over 68.

But was just wondering if I should wait to see the specialist or just take them? Surely I'd have to have a 24 hour monitor not just one BP check to be given them?

Any advice is welcome.

[Sillyfroggy]

I believe meds to lower BP shouldn’t be prescribed on the basis of one isolated reading. Rather than decide for yourself I would go back to GP. I don’t think it will harm you as that’s a v low dose and is a beta blocker so it just slows your heartbeat a bit. When my bp was high and an incidental finding during a visit about shoulder pain (!) I then had to monitor and record it at home for 7 days. GL

[Clerkenweller]

They are commonly prescribed to lower BP and calm things down by lowering the heart rate. If you’re under stress probably sensible. Can have side effects linked to BP going too low. I’d take them and see how you feel. Perhaps buy your own BP monitor to keep an eye on things?

[Cathybm]

If you have concerns you really need to speak to your medical team. All I can say is that I have naturally low BP but after my HA was prescribed the lowest dose of 1.25mg Bisoprolol daily, not for my BP (ideally they would like me on a higher dose but my BP can't tolerate it) but to slow the heart rate. All of these medications have so many different purposes that only your cardiac care team or GP can give you the answers.

[Ashleigh_BHF]

Hi DDL26

Unfortunately no one on here can advise you whether you should take the prescribed medication, that is a decision between you and your doctor. A 24 hour BP monitor is usually recommended but if your BP was particularly high (as you said your systolic can go up to 170mmHg) then your doctor may have not wanted to wait for the 24 hour monitor to start you on medication to lower it. Each surgery is different, but you can wait several weeks or even months to have the 24hour monitor so you can see why your doctor may not have wanted to wait.

Your GP will have also taken into account your past medical history and based their decision for medication on that too.

All we can say is that if you are uncomfortable about starting medication, then call your GP and have a chat with them to understand why they offered you medication so readily-there may be a very obvious reason that they didn't communicate to you at the time. They also need to know if you have decided not to take them.

Take care,

Ashleigh

[DDL26]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll book an appointment today to see the gp again. I'm just a bit apprehensive to take them as my heart rate Is normal just my blood pressure being high, and given them after it being checked once.