Bisopropol tiredness: Hi,I've only been... - British Heart Fou...

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Bisopropol tiredness

Guineapigs profile image
32 Replies

Hi,I've only been in 2.5 mg for a week but feel so tired by lunchtime.

Is this likely to improve or can I take them at night.

I'm a bit worried about going all day without them to wait til bedtime though.

I'd appreciate any advice anyone has,

Thank you ,Sue

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Guineapigs profile image
Guineapigs
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32 Replies
NorthantsSteve profile image
NorthantsSteve

Hi Sue. I felt really tired at first but the Doc said I should try and get used to it and I have... mainly. I can still fall asleep (not great when I’m at work!!!) if I stop moving though. I say it’s my secret super power! It is possible to take them at night or take two 1.25mg tabs but I’d suggest you talk to your Doc first. There are pros and cons about when you take them as they’re designed to block adrenaline raising your heart beat. That’s usually seen in the day but I sometimes reckon my heart gets more stressed with the nightmares (but that’s other meds for you!)

Guineapigs profile image
Guineapigs in reply to NorthantsSteve

Thanks for that Steve. I think my BP definitely rises in the morning so feel I really need them first thing. I'll keep going for another week. I wonder if there's a better one for me. Propanolol just made me dizzy,I might need to go through the whole lot!😊

NorthantsSteve profile image
NorthantsSteve in reply to Guineapigs

That sounds like a plan! Good luck.

Pikaia profile image
Pikaia

It may be that you are still adjusting to them. It took me a good couple of weeks (e.g. 2 months I guess) until I had adapted to them. There are plenty of options as to when to take them, 1.25mg in the morning, 1.25mg in the evening, all in the morning or all in the evening. I would discuss this with your medical team as they will be best placed to advise you.

Guineapigs profile image
Guineapigs in reply to Pikaia

Hi,thank you Pikaia,seems everyday I feel worse but must persevere for another week at least I think. Trouble is also the doctors all give me different advice!

Pikaia profile image
Pikaia in reply to Guineapigs

Yes, there's little consistency across consultants unfortunately. Everyone is different and the tablets affect people in different ways. I found I felt better and more awake after having a good walk just to get the juices flowing.

mewg profile image
mewg

hi i was put on the same after my avr but they were causeing my heart rate 2 drop so i was like you very tired but when they stopped them i felt better but lately mid afteenoon im knackered and need a hour.

WGM1 profile image
WGM1

Hi - I was similar; asleep by lunch. Or really after any meal! I was advised to ask my doctor if I could swap the times I take them with ramipril (bp med, you take that too?) Which I was taking at nights. So I now take ramipril in the AM and bisoprolol at night. But do check with the doctor first of course.

Also, it's not cut out the tiredness but it much less frequent. But when it hits you, it's like running into a wall, huh? You just have to nap!

Good luck!

Guineapigs profile image
Guineapigs in reply to WGM1

Hi,thanks for that. I'm on ramipril too which I take in the mornings. I've been taking bisoprolol at breakfast time but think I'll try 1\2 morning & evening today then. At least I'm not the only one which is reassuring

WGM1 profile image
WGM1 in reply to Guineapigs

Do check with your doctor too. And yes, not the only one! It does get easier - or perhaps you learn to deal with it better - but there are times when you just need to nap.

HowMyHeartSings profile image
HowMyHeartSings

Hi Sue - it will improve but it’ll take several weeks. I was on 2.5 once a day but now I’m on 2.5 twice a day as my SVT at night was still intrusive. It will get better.

Guineapigs profile image
Guineapigs in reply to HowMyHeartSings

Thank you so much. So good to have this feedback & know I'm not on my own👍

Becksagogo profile image
Becksagogo

I have just been restarted on Bisoprolol but the lowest dose and I still felt like I had been hit by a bus. My HF nurse has asked me to persevere until my next appointment with her in 4 weeks. However it has been discovered that I am very low in iron so today I go for an iron infusion which hopefully will perk me up a bit!

My friends laugh at me because to stop myself falling asleep during the day I sit on the floor where I am uncomfortable! But it works for me and that way I get a decent nights sleep.

Guineapigs profile image
Guineapigs in reply to Becksagogo

It does seem to be a common problem. Is there not a better alternative. Can't get any help from my doctor,they just tell me to relax !

Malgail profile image
Malgail in reply to Becksagogo

I have the same problem as you & have also just been diagnosed with low Iron & Vitamin D. I’m on 3 months of Iron Tablets ( horrible ), but currently seeing no change in my tiredness. Hopefully you find the infusion a little faster to kick in.

My symptoms have been there for almost a year & have never really improved. But I think some of that is working from home means I go longer periods where I don’t really move, so not unheard of for HR to drop into forties for a while. I think the key is finding a way to manage some of the symptoms, which I haven’t quite done yet.

Good luck.

Napping is normal I reckon. lol. Two days ago I napped three times and almost missed an appointment with me heart nurse because i fell asleep. I've been on the meds since Dec/Jan and I am used to them i'd say but still get sleepy, but I have another med that gives me fatigue

flyingfeline2 profile image
flyingfeline2

I've been taking every other day, half of 1.25 and I still feel heavy and listless. Evening better but really I feel horrible on them. But if I don't take, heart racing on waking. So may have to take this morning. Tried athenolol and propranolol. Both made me feel nauseous. Hopefully yours will settle in time. 4 weeks seems a good amount of time to try it. But I haven't really found the right balance yet.

Good luck!

Bahookiemonster profile image
Bahookiemonster

I had the same issue. I perceived and I was fine after a month.

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day in reply to Bahookiemonster

Cannot resist - I'm Scottish too, and my Gran used to tell me to get up off mine (for the non-Scots here, a bahookie is a backside :) ) and get my chores done!

achillislander profile image
achillislander

Hi, I persevered with Bisoprolol for a good few months, starting with 1.25mg increasing over a period to 3.75mg, I was sleeping for 11 hours every night and having at least an hour every afternoon. The waking hours I felt like I had no quality of life. My cardiologist told me to persevere as things would improve. They didn't, on speaking to my Gp he changed me to Cardevilol, I immediatley started feeling much more alert and now can do much more. Their are alternatives out there, speak to your Gp and explain how it is affecting you.

Good luck.

jerry12953 profile image
jerry12953

Re: napping -

Long before I started any medication - like about 35 years! - I realised I felt so much better in the afternoon with a nap after lunch. I can get through without one if necessary but always feel really lousy. By about tea time I'm OK again.

It's just become a routine for me.

NYA2019 profile image
NYA2019

I can get really tired mid/late afternoon but what I found works for me is exercise. The weeks I don't go to the gym or do any proper exercise I feel worse. I started by walking every day, at first just ten minutes but increasing my time and distance and I now walk 5k (just over 3 miles) in around 45 minutes. I've also joined a group gym session that does an hour each week. It has taken me 8 months to get to this level, so don't rush, be sure to speak to your doctor or Physio Rehab team before doing exercise. They will encourage you to do more exercise and advise how much to do

LEE0512 profile image
LEE0512

I have been taking 5mg of Bisoporol (along with a cocktail of other tablets) since a cardiac arrest last year and did notice how tired I became but after a while became accustomed to them. A couple of weeks ago after suffering from more chest pains it was increased to 7.5MG and I have started to notice it again. After a while the tiredness becomes less noticeable. Hang in there.....

chdjazz profile image
chdjazz

I was on Bisoprolol for about 9 months, the nurse warned me they might make me weary, well yes they certainly did. I like walking and if I did anything like a moderate walk it would wipe me out for the day and sometimes the next day too. I was almost at the point of stopping taking them (not a good idea I know), fortunately I had a review with the cardiac nurse and after explaining the situation she switched me to Viazem. Well the first day on the new drug I felt ill but the second day I woke up bright as a button and I haven't fallen asleep in the chair since ( something I had started to do almost as soon as I sat down).

Within one day I felt normal again it really was incredible. Now the kick in the tale of this is the second time I went to renew my prescription Viazem was not available and so they substituted it with Adizem. Now after a few weeks on this replacement my energy is going down again and I don't feel great anymore, a bit annoying to say the least. I have my fingers crossed Viazen will be available when I renew.

So I guess what I am saying is if you really cant get on with Bisoprolol ask to try another drug, it might just be the answer. Good luck.

DavidG1971 profile image
DavidG1971

I was very tired too - still sluggish in the mornings. Not sure if I’ve adjusted or if it’s a winter / summer thing. I suspect it’s going to get tougher when I wake up in the dark come November. Hardest thing for me was the cold as I like to be outdoors -

I really struggled last winter. I’m hoping I might come off them a year after my stents (December) .....can’t wait to see if

I’ve more energy.

Pandorella profile image
Pandorella

The replies here are so helpful. I have been taking Bisoprolol for about 6 months, and every day I feel like death warmed up, tired and lethargic for most of the day. I kept telling myself it's my old age. However on one of the replies, someone said to switch taking the tablet at night time instead of the morning. I am on 2.5 mg daily. I decided to try at night this last week and I feel like I am back to my normal self and been able to cope with doing the housework. So Many Thanks to who ever suggested it! My next appointment is middle of September so I will ask the consultant's advice then. I find this Site very helpful, I learn so many things from all your replies! Best Wishes and Good Health to all.

17Nevil profile image
17Nevil

Hi

I reacted badly to them so I now take 1-25 in the morning and the same at night (under the instructions of my gp ) so it is possible but you should talk to your gp

Jue1512 profile image
Jue1512

I’ve been on 5mg of bisoprolol and 25mg of lostarten since my aortic valve replacement and I’ve been fine since day one on them , they must effect people in different ways ,I’m also on astorvastain, warfarin and aspirin and I’m feeling fine . Working as a bricklayer full time on a building site with no problems 👍

45sue profile image
45sue

I think quality of life is so important & being told to put up with things is not acceptable when there are alternatives. I was started on 2.5 of bisoprolol in the mornings but felt very flat and without motivation until I split the dose between morning & night . So persevere for a bit longer by all means but don't put up with it longer than you need to.

Guineapigs profile image
Guineapigs in reply to 45sue

Hi,I did speak to my doctor earlier & he said if they didn't agree with me just stop taking them! This is the sort of help I'm getting,ridiculous, everyone says you shouldn't just stop.

45sue profile image
45sue in reply to Guineapigs

I was told the same when Ramipril didn' t suit me but checked with the cardio nurse who conferred with the hospital pharmacist who said on no account stop & GP changed it instead. The average GP surgery must have a lot of patients like us so it surprises me that many doctors are not better informed.

Harrison4 profile image
Harrison4

My dr has split the dose 1.25 mg at night and the same in the morning seems to work better although still feel tired 😊

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