Coming off bisoprolol: Coming off... - British Heart Fou...

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Coming off bisoprolol

Jakesterblack profile image
46 Replies

Coming off bisoproll. Had enough of feeling this way. Dont get any support from gp and 8 weeks still not had cardiology app. Didn't take it last night felt so much better today in work. Anyone else came off it ?

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Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack
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46 Replies
Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack

Hi was lowered to 1.25 3 weeks ago but still struggled. Been on them 8 weeks for palpitations and a fib. Just feel so much better. Doc said one every 2nd night but I just dont want to feel like that. Going to skip tonight's too. BP ok at mo but have monitor so keeping eye on it. Thanku for replying

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

I was initially on Bisoprolol . It didn't make me tired, but what it did to me was leave me with freezing cold hands and feet, even at the end of May I was freezing.

I got Bisoprolol swopped for Carvedilol which has worked well for me, the cold hands and feet are now much better.

Fatigue is a common issue with beta blockers, but if it is effecting you so much the BHF and NHS sites both suggest talking to your doctor and getting put on a different beta blocker to see if that improves the situation.

I wouldn't recommend ceasing this medication without first talking to your GP.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd

Hi, I have tried hospital again also and no joy it's just getting a bit frustrated.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Jakesterblack

Hi

Yes I know the feeling. My GP declined to get involved, finally once I'd been allocated a HF Nurse, she was able to get my beta blocker changed fairly quickly.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd

I'll see how it goes if i could just get results through at least i would know what i'm dealing with. This was all a total bolt out the blue, i'd had the odd palpitation but 8 weeks ago was so bad thought i was having a stroke and ended up in hospital overnight

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Jakesterblack

It's frustrating at times like this. We're told to avoid stress, and you feel like shouting " you're causing me stress, will someone listen to me!"

Good luck, hope you get it sorted.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd

yep it's not ideal, thankyou and all the best to you too

mikealford profile image
mikealford

Yes. Just stopped. Told my gp would rather have 5 years awake and active than 10 years deathly feeling and exhausted most of time. Told him it was my body, i have a certificate to prove it. Felt so much better, suddenly i felt normal again. It's your choice of course, as always.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to mikealford

I'm definitely with you on that one and was gutted last night when i thought night two of not taking any but had to give in and take half as i just couldn't sleep with the palpitations. I just really need to speak to cardiology but the waiting list is just so long 8 weeks with no information at all tbh.

HectorsDad profile image
HectorsDad

We are all different, and every context has its own implications.... but my experience.

I’ve recently been taken off Bisoprolol by the cardiologist to bring my BP up, which it has (10%). It is always a bit low, but at times of stress it drops through the floor (well into the 50s).

However it hasn’t made any difference to daily tiredness, actually worse now. I think that the higher BP and heart rate means I’m less good at rationing my energy through the morning, and still crash in the afternoon, but there’s other stuff going on that might account for it.

Weirdly, I still get the frozen feet bit. I’ve had a touch of Reynaud’s for some time, but nothing like I have now.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to HectorsDad

i'm going through the menopause so i'm always hot never cold however my feet are like ice and actually feel painful when i take these tabs. I think the tiredness is just the worst thing of all

jerry12953 profile image
jerry12953

On the advice of my GP I took it for a month as an experiment to see if it would lower my Bp and if it would reduce my angina. Can't say that it really did either so i just stopped taking it. Then, funnily enough, I stopped getting the dizzy spells and the dry cough went away.......

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to jerry12953

yep my throat dry and sore every morning. I have constant headache and feel dizzy also

dunestar profile image
dunestar

I stopped taking it on the advice of my cardiologist. The day I stopped I felt like I'd woken up again. But it took a while for my heart to settle. Sometimes I felt it was really banging in my ears and I had a lot of sleep disturbance, some of which was caused by anxiety.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to dunestar

Ye yesterday i felt the best i have in weeks. However the palpitations last night were so bad i couldn't sleep so had to give in and took a half of one...

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to dunestar

How long did it take for ur heart to settle ?

dunestar profile image
dunestar in reply to Jakesterblack

Hello Jesterblack. I'd say it was about a month. I was very glad to be off the drug but it does calm you down. I felt more anxious at first and of course that had an impact on my heart. But I managed to get on top of it with breathing techniques and gradually I was OK.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to dunestar

Hi, yes i think the only good thing about it is i did notice my palpitations not as bad and i wasn't as worked up as i would normally be about stuff but i would still rather feel like my old self and like you try breathing and even meditation to calm myself down. I didn't take tablet last night, no palpitations and felt great this morning when i woke up. Hope you are well also. It's good to talk to someone that understands

BlueZircon profile image
BlueZircon

I have loads of problems taking Bisoprolol and only on 2.5mg once a day. What I have done recently is switched to taking all my meds late evening a couple of hours before bedtime instead of the morning. Have found I can function much better during the day that way. Maybe give it a try before you stop taking.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to BlueZircon

I went from morning to late night also but just wake up with a hangover feeling every day.

BlueZircon profile image
BlueZircon

Just noticed you said you were taking at night. What I suggest is you telephone your Cardiologist's secretary and explain the problems you are having with Bisoprolol and also ask her if you can have an appointment asap to discuss. Or ask for a telephone appointment with your Cardiologist.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to BlueZircon

Hi, i've called three times now and left my name and number but nobody bothers to get back to me, GP keeps saying oh cardiology will be able to help you but i can't see anyone in cardiology so i've just been stuck in limbo for eight weeks. I tried not to take one last night but palpitations were bad and I couldn't sleep so took half of one and that seemed to help but same as always up today and sore head, tired, sore throat just feel drained. They definitely help with the palpitations but don't help me with anything else.

BlueZircon profile image
BlueZircon in reply to Jakesterblack

Oh dear not good. Afraid you will have to go ' the old fashioned route' and write a letter to your Cardiologist making sure you explain how many times you have telephoned and the problems you are having. Unfortunately, if your Cardiologist has recommended you take Bisoprolol GP will be very reluctant to override that decision. I saw both the HF Nurse and HF Doctor in the last 2 weeks and neither of them would take me off Bisoprolol. Seeing my Cardiologist in November so hopefully he will. Also contact PALS at the hospital explaining how you cannot even get a telephone call back they are very helpful. You may be able to do this on the hospital website.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to BlueZircon

Hi, so the saga continues, made three phone calls to hospital and no reply. Called today was told no results available. Also called GP no results available. Tried different number at hospital and eventually go through to person that carried out tests who said results were put on the secretary's desk two days after which was nearly three weeks ago. Got secretary again who said she hadn't seen them then changed her tune and said she had sent to GP couple of weeks ago,back onto GP they said they didn't get them so basically got the run around again and five phone calls later my GP finally has my results but won't discuss them over the phone so having to go on Monday..... cut my meds down to half a tablet every second night, still feeling effects of them so just want to come off completely. Honestly nothing is ever simple is it ....

BlueZircon profile image
BlueZircon in reply to Jakesterblack

What a patient has to do to get answers when clearly your GP surgery is at fault!! They probably had your results in a pile of paperwork waiting to be dealt with. Happened to me once but I would not leave surgery until they found it as hospital told me it had been sent to them and there it was, lo and behold, nearly at the bottom of a huge pile in the filing tray!! Hopefully your GP will give you some answers and a decision on your medication. Don't forget to ask him what date he received the results at his surgery as everything is date stamped or, if sent electronically, will still be dated. Hope all goes well for you. Ask him for a copy of your results he can easily print this off.

BlueZircon profile image
BlueZircon in reply to BlueZircon

Forgot to add that over the last 13 years I have had numerous tests carried out at different hospitals and they always seem to get the results sent to GP within 2 weeks max (unless you are having a very complicated test). At least your perseverance has paid off (stressful as it was) and you have also got an appointment with GP. Let me know how you get on.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to BlueZircon

Thank you. Will let u no how I get on with results. Just hoping i can get off these completely

Morleyone profile image
Morleyone

Like you Iam on a low dosage of bisoprolol still working but Iam exhausted .Ive finally got another appointment to see the cardiologist in October hopefully I'll get some answers.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to Morleyone

I just feel better knowing that i'm not just been dramatic, I have realised now from the forum that many of us struggle even on the lower dose. I just want to be free of it tbh.

in reply to Jakesterblack

I’ve always had lots of help from Pals,they tend to get things moving!

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to

I've had 3 days no meds and feel brilliant. Been out and about and feel so much better

Morleyone profile image
Morleyone

Have you had your ct scan

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to Morleyone

Ye had one and then heart monitor for 24 hours but that was three weeks ago and heard nothing

Morleyone profile image
Morleyone in reply to Jakesterblack

I was the same Gp got my results refused to tell me got to wait for my appointment at the hospital I could have cried he wasn't very helpful at all

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to Morleyone

GP are saying they don't have my results and cardiology will give me them and when i phone i get nowhere so don't even have a clue when or where i will get them from..

Morleyone profile image
Morleyone in reply to Jakesterblack

Cardiology secretary told me they had been sent to my Gp he had them in front of him just refused point blank all he wanted to do was give me a sick note didn’t feel any better about things when I came home could have cried

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to Morleyone

Yep it's soul destroying especially when you just want to get back to some normality. I had one week off work when discharged from hospital and just want back to normal. Before all this I was working full time, going to gym 3 times a week and feeling the best i had in a long time.

Morleyone profile image
Morleyone in reply to Jakesterblack

I only work 20hrs a week now I’ll be honest Iam tired sweating and breathless

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14

You have to be very careful with afib.

The key in everyone of these posts is everyone talked to a Dr.

Unless I read some wrong which is quite possible.

Please be careful.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack

Thankyou, i'll keep you posted. Hope you are well too.

Yes I’ve just stopped taking it last night,it has just completely wiped me out,I have underlying chronic pain/ fatigue picture so not sure why they prescribed it in the first place,just awful stuff,I seemed to have all of the side effects!☹️

P.s Decided I needed to trust my own judgement...hard to do sometimes when you’re always advised not to stop taking them suddenly!

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to

hi yep i'm the same, i didn't take last night feel really good today so hoping i don't need to take again but i won't be silly if i'm getting pain or palpitations badly i'll take it but at the moment so far so good. Hope you are well, thanks for replying

Yep I feel the same about it,am hoping they can give me something else instead,feeling really awful at the moment but hoping effects of it will wear off soon,was only on it for three weeks.

Jakesterblack profile image
Jakesterblack in reply to

Hope you feel better

Thanks

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