Bisoprolol!!

[jokelly]

When you are diagnosed with AFib, then it is absolutely necessary to take blood thinners for as long as you have the problem, as blood can pool in the heart chambers and produce a clot. I take Elequis and was also formerly on Pradaxa (dabigatran). Both are excellent drugs with no side effects and little monitoring. I will be taking this twice daily for lifetime now, as my AFib is permanent.

Bisoprolol is a commonly used drug for reducing blood pressure which will help the heart, but there those of us who just cannot tolerate the side effects from this. Many others have no ill effects at all. For myself, I felt dreadful, like I had lead weights attached to my legs, tired, aches and pains, very lethargic and rather depressed. There are alternatives to this drug, although in my own case, I now take normal blood pressure medication (there is now a brilliant new one called Lercanidipine) and not Bisoprolol, which I would not agree to take again. Consult your doctor and ask to find an alternative for you if you feel you cannot tolerate Bisoprolol.

[StMax]

Thanks. This is exactly how I feel taking Bisoprolol. Reassuring to know there is an alternative.

[StMax in reply to StMax]

Thanks for the info. I have the same symptoms as you on Bisoprolol but many more too!! I will ask to change. Take care.

[beardy_chris]

I blamed Bisoprolol for making me depressed. My cardiologist said they have many alternatives and (very gently) told me off for enduring it for six months. He moved me to Diltiazem and the depression lifted almost instantly - with no other adverse side effects.

Bisoprolol seems to be the first choice drug and may be great for many - but it isn't good for everyone.

[seasider18]

Drug information.

medicinehow.com/how-does-le...

[jokelly in reply to seasider18]

Many thanks for the info. I have very fluctuating blood pressure with spikes and dips and this drug has stabilised the readings at an acceptable level, like no other. I do also take 24 mg Candestartan alongside Lercanidipine to control blood pressure. Doctors here will always try Bisoprolol as it is the cheapest front runner and does suit many if not most people. But as we see on many such forums, not all of us and we have to push for alternatives, which doesn't always please the doctor's NHS budget.......

[seasider18]

Like you I have 'fluctuating BP' that varies dramatically. Originally in 2000 I was prescribed high dosages of various BP meds. Eventually about six years ago I managed to be referred to a hypertension centre/clinic. They are part of the kidney units at major hospitals and will do a wide range of tests. He decided that I am not truly hypertensive but just have peaks and the drugs brought it down too much particularly after exercise.

My drugs were gradually reduced to 12.5 mg Losartan in the morning when it is normally high. I judge whether to take another at night but not if it is under 120. I still have highs but not the lows with dizziness and being light headed.

[jokelly in reply to seasider18]

Yes, it is hard to know what is best. I had the Lercanidipine added when I fainted in the hospital waiting room and had BP of 198/210. On the other hand, I had nearly died following a minor op with general anaesthetic, when it dipped the following day to a non life sustaining 40/30. (Actually had a near death experience!) Fortunately, both times I was already on hospital ground... glad to say I am doing fine now and this was over a year ago . Getting back to the Lercanidipine, this is the drug which has had a really settling effect on those fluctuations and it sounds as if it would also suit you.

[seasider18 in reply to jokelly]

Had a similar experience to you:

I was having a colonoscopy and watching it on the screen and then glanced at the monitor with my vital statistics and saw that my BP had dropped to 40/29 and heart rate to 30bpm. I thought who is going to do something about this as it was difficult to speak with oxygen mask on when suddenly the nurse noticed it. Panic in the room. :

Discharge notes say: “Gellofusion was administered and .1ml of atropine given. Anaesthetist was called who then administered 1L of Hartman’s solution, an extra 3 mls of atropine and 20 mg of Boscopon . Patient much improved and monitored in his room for rest of day”

I said that it was vagus nerve stimulation that had caused it they said that it might have been dehydration. This was on a Friday in a private hospital. On the Monday I phoned cardiology at the local hospital where I had my aortic valve replaced as I had gone back into AF and was told to come in to see the registrar. I had hoped for a quick cardioversion but he just put me on the usual waiting list. I reminded him that amiodarone had previously given me problems so he said take bisoprolol instead. I later saw another one there who said that unless I took amiodarone for eight weeks she would not let me have a cardioversion.

A year after being back in NSR (about 2015 ) I had a DRE and again my vagus nerve was stimulated and back into now permanent AF. Now told that my right atrium is enlarged and a cardioversion will not work but If I have an ablation it might reduce the size of the right atrium. No thanks.

[jokelly in reply to seasider18]

Sounds like you have also been through the mill. My near fatal dip was following an AV node ablation (I had previously had two unsuccessful 'ordinary' ablations and cardioversions which lasted a few days) and they thought I was having an internal bleed. This was a collapse as I was getting ready to be discharged the following day... In the end, the rather panicked cardiologist admitted he was baffled, as my pressure rose and fell over twenty four hours and finally settled. (Actually I am now extremely wary of general anaesthetic as I suspect a reaction link). Two weeks later I had a dual pacemaker implanted to the lower heart chambers and I am just fine now and although the AFib is permanent, I am paced in the lower chambers and now have no symptoms at all. Indeed I forget about it these days and it all seems like a bad dream as four healthy years have since passed.

I don't blame you for saying enough is enough as I believe I agreed to one ablation too far in trying to cure the AFib, prior to the final procedure. AV node ablation is different, drastic and irreversible (it cuts off the electrics to the upper chambers and leaves them to do their erratic AFib thing permanently) but I felt it was my only remaining option and gave my consent and it has been a great success. In the end the decision about procedures and drugs is your own, having studied all the information you can get yourself and there is plenty of this about on the net these days. In fact, I think it is a duty to be as well informed as you possibly can be and to voice your opinions. That is not to say that you ignore medical advice, but be as knowledgeable on your condition as you can be if you have choices.

In this self-sought knowledge, I also decided, given my side effects, against Bisoprolol and stuck to that until a good alternative was found. I wish you well and that you will find a solution with which you can live. It is almost trial and error but good outcomes are possible and likely these days.