Hi Everyone, I guess I am probably reading more in to this than is the case, but just want to run this by you and get your opinions.
Early June (2020) I have a Heart Attack and 3 stents fitted.
Got put on a load of pills, was seemingly making a good recovery, felt good apart form minor aches and pains, but one problem was my slow heart beat. (Resting average 43) - I spoke to the doctors are after consultation am stopping taking the Bisoprolol (I am assuming that this should increase my heart rate to something a tad near normal) - (Heart rate was never excessive prior to HA, never really checked it but on odd occasion I did, was @ 65 - 70)
My worry is that I could be having heart failure as the symptoms for it are very similar to the side effects of the drug. Breathlessness, tiredness, weakness (No swelling of any appendages! )
Like I said, I am probably worrying over nothing but after a HA, I do find I tend to be a worrier!
I don't really know what to do as I don't want to burden my doctor or cardiac nurse with something that will probably turn out to be nothing, on the other hand, I don't want to ignore it if it is something! (Talk about confused!)
Bloody google has got a lot to answer for
Thanks all
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CarlGreen
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I was put on bisopropol and was fine but after my cardioversion my heart rate fell to 48 and I had to ask the doctor if I should reduce the dose. Gradually I cam off it as I was getting more and more fatigued and breathless. I am back on it now as I have AF again and waiting for another cardioversion
Thanks for your reply, sorry to hear your AF is back (But glad to hear I am not the only one who found the drug made me fatigued and breathless) - I hope you feel better soon.
Hi sue I have recently had cardioversion how did you find recovery I’m 5 weeks in from it and still experiencing some twinges in the chest is this normal I’m awful worried about it. It could be anxiety on my part I’m also taking beta blockers 2 day which keeps my rate around 59 to 63 beats
I spoke to my cardiologist last week about slow heart rate I was concerned mine was 45 to 50 resting sometimes lower, he said great!
His words not mine were
Your heart only has so many beats in it until it runs out. He said think about the field mouse with a very fast heart rate v whale with a very slow heart rate and who lives longer? Anyhow thst was his take on it. He also said some top athletes have heart rates of 20!
I’m sorry you feel fatigued and breathless it’s a horrible debilitating and worrying feeling .
I wish you well and keep us posted on your recovery.
Thanks, since posting I have stopped the drug, feel quite healthy, am exercising (20/30 miles on my electric bike) heart rate averages 50 (resting) but the biggest improvement is that I have stopped worrying about it Anxiety is a bugger! (And I am not generally an anxious person) So if anyone else is out there with the same sort of worries, its easy to say but try not to as it wont change anything, I find that time is one of the greatest healers going. Good Luck everyone and thanks for all your answers.
Be careful just stopping it, it is alot stronger than people realise. My advice would be to cut it down slowly over a couple of weeks. My HR can go as low as 34 just for the record on a quarter of 1.25mg when resting or asleep. Your heart does slow down when we relax. It isn't going to stop. 🙂
Hi, thanks for the advise, I did check with the doctors before stopping (I wouldn't take it on myself to stop any medication) and am monitoring my blood pressure (Just in case!) The Docs did not say anything about cutting down, just said to stop?
Personally I don't think the problem in a lot of cases is Bisoprolol it's how we react to it and the Condition of our Hearts. In my case it took 10mg to get my Heart Rate down to 33 BPM Cardiologist thought that was to low so reduced to 7.5mg now it can be 40 to 60 BPM on average. I was told Bisoprolol is to manage your Heart Rate and importantly to stop it racing away, not just to reduce it.
I work on the basis it must be a very useful Medication otherwise thousands of us wouldn't be on it !!!
My heart rate was alwaz 65-70 before ha and after and since taking bisporol and rampiril it is 50-60 and bo mostly 80-48 before it alwaz 110/70 bp I know gp says ef 31 and severe damage to heart but I otherwise feel ok and not breathless
I'm no doctor but Bisoprolol is a beta blocker that slows the heart and aids blood pressure, it helps reduce the hearts output. A side affect can cause the body to slow up and make you feel tired. If you have no adima that is a good sign, but go back to your GP and explain your issues.
I've been on Bisoprolol for a year and 1.25mg is a low dose which is a good sign the highest I think is 10mg. I don't think you have heart failure like myself but please do talk to your GP or cardiologist or a nurse better to be safe than sorry.
This forum is wonderful but you do need to talk to an expert, best of luck.
You will see from the many posts on this site that some people are on very high dosages of Bisoprolol. The dose you are taking 1.25mg is the lowest dose available. My GP and cardiologist said to just stop taking it. When you are on any higher dose you most certainly need to gradually reduce the dosage. I experienced some horrible ‘episodes’ while on my 1.25 dose of Bisoprolol. Like you each time I had an episode both my wife and I began to panic that there was a problem with my heart after my surgery. The instant I stopped taking the Bisoprolol I began to feel better. Over the next few weeks though I did have very minor episodes. As time went on these decreased, and after about a fortnight they stopped completely. In hindsight, one of the main problems for me was inactivity while on the drug. It’s a catch 22 situation though, as after your procedure you need to take it steady and gradually increase things. The drug clearly affects everyone differently. For me personally I was never so glad to get off it, and since stopping my health improvement has gone from strength to strength. I don’t know if you have one, but I invested in a Omron blood pressure monitor. I found this a useful tool if used sparingly, especially if I had a ‘funny turn’ or was just not feeling quite right. It can also be a useful aid whenever you are discussing matters with your GP or surgeon. Good luck with your progress.
Please just speak to either your gp or cardiac nurse that is what they are there for and certainly would rather you seek there advice. Any symptoms no matter how mild should be reported different people react differently and what might be fine for one person may not be for someone else if u see what I am saying! Please just ring them and get professional advice!
Hi The good thing is that you are getting proper care and HF nurses are brilliant. I suspect bisoprolol was used to reduce your BP but it does reduce heart rate. Mine was 100 bpm and I'm on 2.5mg has made it 69 bpm. My BP was normal but apparently even more normal now. I have left bundle branch block with all arteries clear. I would speak to HF nurse or bhf helpline nurse who is very good as well. Best wishes
I'm on 5 mg of Bisoprolol along with a few other drugs. From my research I found on average your resting heart rate will drop between 20-25bmp, so it looks like to are on track. They are more concerned about your blood pressure. I've been told, if your BP can take it they will increase your dosage to the maximum or if you complain too much about the side effects.
I have found the best way to cope with fatigue and the other side effects is to get fit. If your NHS region runs a Cardio Rehab session I recommend going. You should get an invite to join but it may be work enquiring and get your name on the list. This 8-week programme is run by the Physio Department at a hospital, all the Physios specialize in Cardio Rehab. They also ran a fortnightly education session, well worth attending. I have continued my fitness routine and I do notice the side effects more if I miss a week of fitness. Speak your Cadioligest/GP and the Rehab team, follow their advice and do what you can to get yourself fitter.
If you are still struggling with the side effects, again speak your Cadioligest/GP, they have options that they can try that may help reduce the side effects.
My GP stopped my bisopralol because it dropped my BP and heart rate so low I could barely get out of the chair even on the lowest dose. NO problems since and HR under control. I think some people just don't tolerate it well.
I think bisoprolol is one of those drugs which suits some people and not others. In my case I was glad to be off it. As I understand things you have been given your doctor's OK to come off it. If I was in your shoes I would come off it. Whether you do so in one go or gradually is up to you. The cardiologist who advised me to come off it thought it was OK to just stop but I did do a short taper. it took a while for me to feel normal though.
What I would do is keep a diary. How do you feel now? Do things get any better when you have stopped the drug. Then you've got some evidence on which to take decisions rather than just worry about things.
I've been on Bisoprolol 1.25mg+300mg aspirin for over a year and it's been life-changing for me. I do have some of the side effects but none so bad I'm worried I might be going into heart failure. That said, everyone is different and you do have concerns that only your medic can help you with.
It may be something as simple as changing your beta blocker but only your doctor can determine what is really going on and you must give her/him/them the opportunity to work out what is happening.
Please talk to your medic as soon as possible and then update us.
I have AF (diagnosed December 2019) also asthma and COPD. I was put on 5mg of Bisoprolol once a day. I found the breathlessness was so bad I could hardly function and I was very tired.
Discussed it with my doctor and now I take my Bisoprolol at night just before bed so the worst of the effects happen when I am asleep and my days are nearly normal.
Still waiting for a cardio version which was postponed in February and again in March.
I would definitely discuss things with your doctor, remember they don't mind you asking lots of questions.
I was on a beta blocker for 20 yrs. Initially was terribly breathless and tired. Lately my heart fell to a low rate. I was told to very slowly wean off. Am now on a very low dose and seem to be better. These drugs do slow your rate and your dose may be too high. But wean wean off slowly with Dr supervision only
Hello there, I've been on propananol for 20 year and now I'm on bisoprolol fir the last year. I know you said you've been on beta blockers for 20 year too. I'm concerned about them causing heart failure. Is this a concern for you too? I'm now 41 and been on them since I was 20 Hope your well
Hi I have been on this medication for the last 17 months with no problems, i know how you feel about taking up your doctors time but worrying about symptoms will not do you any good,a lot of GPs are doing telephone appointments it might help just to talk to them to put your mind at ease.
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