Increased heart rate at night while reducing Bisoprolol causing insomnia

[Firefl]

Hi all, really would appreciate some feedback on the following:

Was on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol and two days I decided to split pill and take half with the intent of eventually stopping them altogether. Since reducing dose two days ago I have faster stronger heart beat at night which is causing insomnia. Selected to stop taking based on experience a month ago whereby I had no Bisoprolol for 6 days due to GP error. During the 6 days with no Bisoprolol I was fine but resumed the dose when I finally got prescription reinstated. Since then I have questioned myself as to whether I really needed them????

As it states on the box: DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS MEDICINE UNLESS YOUR DOCTOR TELLS YOU TO STOP as my GP did not seem to be concerned about when I was without the medicine for 6 days, I assume it would be ok to reduce Bisoprolol slowly rather than abruptly. Hence cut down to half of 2.5 but am aware of strong faster heart beat during night which keeps me awake because it stays at the same intensity.

Has anyone else had this happen when reducing Bisoprolol?

Is it possible for my body heart to adapt to lower dose of Bisoprolol over time to point whereby I can get some sleep?

Basically, my metabolism has been slowed down with the medicine, my fat cells are storing more fat (despite a healthy diet) and my glucose levels have risen increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes..... Surly this is will contribute too and compound my undiagnosed cardio problems, existing hypertension, high cholesterol and pre_ diabetes number ?? What a dilemma...!

Cardio testing (CT echo) 're diagnosis not yet done.... halted due to Covid.

Sorry for long post . Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Hidden]

Hi there

How long have you been taking bisoprolol and have you been advised by your doctor to be able to discontinue.

Your heartbeat will increase for a few weeks after stopping or reducing bisoprolol because it needs to get used to working without medication, also do not go cold turkey stopping as you may get severe rebound withdrawal problems.

I was on 2.5mgs for only 3 months and am still reducing very slowly as I have had tremendous withdrawal effects even reducing at a slow rate.

Some people do not have any problems when reducing and stopping bisoprolol but if you search bisoprolol buddies you will see that many do and the problems they have withdrawing.

[Firefl in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Nannyknitting for your most welcome input. I have been on bisoprolol for 6 months pending cardio tests and diagnosis.

As stated in previous post I have cut 2.5 dose in half, this being the third day. The insomnia is debilitating due to faster heart rate which has been a lowered heart beat for six months with the bisoprolol.

Perhaps I dropped dose too much!!! Considering "cold turkey" issue, surprised how well I was without bisoprolol for 6 days....the mind boggles!!

Are you having any fast heart rate and insomnia while withdrawing from the bisoprolol? Would be helpful to know either way.

Thank you for info 're: bisoprolol buddies.....Will go there.

[Hidden in reply to Firefl]

Hi firefl

I suffered dreadful sleep deprivations when I first started to decrease bisoprolol, nearly every night I was only getting one or two hours sleep. I used to take a piraton which helped me sleep for a few hours longer and also listen to sleep mediation which also helped. I generally get about 4 to 5 hours sleep now but when dropping in dose I always have very bad nights again until my body stabilises.

I am only dropping by .1mg every two weeks and still suffer nervousness and a sort of anxiety which I never had before bisoprolol. My heart rate always goes up when I drop a dose but then evens out about day 10. It is now always faster then before starting bisoprolol and my breathing is much easier But I can still become very breathless with a fast heart rate.

If you are coping with the 1.25mg drop I would now continue until you have a few normal nights sleep (it will come) and then perhaps drop a little slower. Each drop you will probably still suffer insomnia and other side effects but stay on that dose until you have a few good days and then drop again.

I am now in my 7th month of withdrawal and still not quite down to .25mg so it has been a long haul for my self but as I have said I have a friend who just stopped with no withdrawal effects.

Hope all this helps

Good luck and there will be a light at the end of the tunnel and you will feel much better.

[Firefl in reply to Hidden]

Good grief seven months of withdrawal......mind blowing. How have you managed to stay sane all this time due to lack of sleep? Sleep is so important to me because the mind and body needs to restore itself so I can function following day to best of my ability despite pre-existing health problems.

Two nights without sleep were enough for me so come Sunday I am going to stop taking bisoprolol completely and see what happens. I went six days without them just a few weeks ago due to GP mess up and was fine.

Possible explanation for increased heart rate at night is that raised cortisol level is activating heart to go faster. I do have adrenal problems (untreated as of yet) linked to thyroid condition which is being treated. So I have just taken Holy Basil capsule which will decrease raised cortisol. If my theory is correct and cortisol is causing insomnia hopefully I will get some sleep.

So pleased you are now getting five hours of sleep...EUREKA.

Thank you most kindly for sharing with me.

[Hidden in reply to Firefl]

Hi firefl

Forgot to tell you I was advised to gradually move my bisoprolol to taking it at lunch time or mid afternoon and this helped me to get more sleep.

[Hidden]

It’s probably quite difficult for anyone to say with any certainty whether it’s the reduction in bisoprolol or actually your heart. I took it for 8 years or so for a type of arrhythmia (SVT), and although I did have occasional episodes whilst on medication prior to making significant lifestyle changes, I could go weeks with nothing at all. Had I completely stopped the bisoprolol at any point, my overall rate would have definitely increased, as would the likelihood of having an episode, but I could conceivably have gone a while without actually having any SVT. My dose was up and down a few times over the years starting on 5mg, ending up on 10 and then gradually all the way down to 1.25 with a few ups and downs in between, and I can’t say that I had any withdrawals or side effects for the duration, but since developing my arrhythmia, I get a huge number of palpitations and regularly experience bounding ones in my neck and chest at night in bed. Sometimes I can turn over and they ease somewhat, but 9 times out of 10 they don’t, and over the years I’ve learnt to sleep in spite of them having had tests to ascertain that they’re not something of (obvious) concern. I came off bisoprolol and switched to another type of medication in early 2018, but have had no change in the palpitations ai experience, so for me at least, the bisoprolol was not the root cause.

I think what I’m trying to get at is that in the absence of having a definite diagnosis yet, or confirmation that there isn’t one, and unless you’re finding the bisoprolol difficult to tolerate at the prescribed dose due to side effects, I would personally stay at 2.5mg until you know what’s what and then discuss coming off it with the GP EGB you know it’s the appropriate thing to do.

[Firefl in reply to Hidden]

Hey Charlie G thank you for replying to my post. Your comments and experience are most helpful which I will take into consideration and reply further to your post tomorrow if that's ok.

Thank you most kindly

[Ash05]

I'm on Bisoprolol 2.5 mg and I've been trying to stop it before, but unsuccessful. I was gradually decreasing the does over 2 weeks. Within the 2 weeks, I experienced increased heart rate and palpitations (I think it's normal since the heart is used to have the medicine and it's still not fully adjusted to not having it). But I think I make a mistake of stopping it too soon (2 weeks), and had a tremendous withdraw effect on the first day I stopped it as my heart rate shoot up and I ended up in the ER.... And I resumed it afterward.

So I think it will take some time for the body to fully adjust to the decreased dosage and if you want to decrease or stop it, probably do it very very gradually over a long period of time to avoid the possible withdraw effect.

[Hidden in reply to Ash05]

Hi there

As I mentioned to firefl I have been reducing bisoprolol for 7 months and my withdrawal has been terrible at times. Some people are very lucky and don’t suffer withdrawal but I am one of the unlucky ones.

I am now down to just over .5mg so I am getting there very slowly. Although it has been a long haul the side effects of each drop has mostly been tolerable but I have had a few meltdowns.

[RoyM]

I also have reduced from 2.5mg Bisoprolol over a good few months. I have been taking it since 2009. I have been in Permenant AF since 2016 and to be honest much better for it. I first reduced from 2.5mg to 1.25mg twice daily. I then after 2 months went to 1.25mg daily. After a further 2 months I reduced to 1.25mg every other day. On the 1st August I will reduce to 1.25mg twice weekly and stay there for two months. Then I will stop all together. It seems to be working for me. My resting HR is between 68/72 BPM. I am a fit 73 year old male.