Beta blockers-how long to stay on them?

[Caitlyn6]

I developed tachycardia 18 months ago after an immunosuppressant treatment . A GP put me on a beta blocker. A month later another GP took me off the beta blocker and I got bad withdrawal symptoms- palpitations, high heart rate etc. I saw a cardiologist privately who changed the beta blocker from propanalol 10mg to bisoprolol 1.25. I have seen him several times and my heart tests are all ok. I am also on perindopril 4mg for blood pressure and atorvastatin for 20 years. So I have been on the bisoprolol 1.25 for 18 months . Should I be looking to the cardiologist to see if I should come off it or is it ok to stay on a beta blocker ( low dose) long term? My resting heart rate is 53. I would not ask my GP as he caused the withdrawal in the first place by only tapering me for two weeks. I also have type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and underactive thyroid, aged 50. Thanks. I am happy to stay on it if it’s safe.

[Sunnie2day]

I'm on Bisoprolol 1.25+300mg aspirin once a day (I take it in the morning). My GP said I'd be on it the rest of my life and my cardiologist concurs. I'm on it for angina and to calm my 'exceptionally strong heart beat'.

I have Rheumatic Heart Syndrome (with trivial aortic valve scarring), recurrent pericarditis (with minimal pericardial effusion), and 'angina with normal coronaries' my cardiologist thinks is microvascular angina.

Bisoprolol has been a life-changer for me - my angina is pretty much under control and my side effects from the low-dose Bisoprolol are quite mild, well worth the benefits so I am not complaining.

You might find it worth talking to the private cardiologist and asking if you should continue taking the beta blocker indefinitely. I'll be on it for life according to my cardiologist owing the the success I'm having with it - things may be different for you.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thank you that’s helpful. Glad it is working for you.

[Hidden]

I was on it for nearly 9 years, a lot of that at 7.5 or 10mg rather than low doses. It’s perfectly safe to stay on beta blockers long term, and many end up on them permanently: had I not started having issues, that would have been the case for me to manage my SVT. The question of whether to stay on them or not is actually about whether you need to stay on them, and that’s a question only you and your consultant can answer. If you still have issues with tachycardia, then I would suspect it’s most likely going to be yes.

[Stobban]

Yea, If your resting heart rate is 53 bpm due to Bisoprolol that's good. I'm on Bisoprolol and my resting heart rate is similar to yours and I'm feeling fine. No racing heart rate and no palpitations and the nice thing to know, if any symptoms return the Cardio just has to increase the dose. Good Luck.

[tunybgur]

Hi Caitlyn,

I'm on 1.25mg Bisoprolol and expect to be on it for the rest of my life (I'm a 72 year old AF sufferer).

Initially it was because of frequent tachycardia attacks after a heart attack when I was 64, but now it's also because of Afib.

It dropped my normal resting HR from 55 to 45 and it's been like that for the last 7 years. My BP is about 120/65.

In conclusion, they are very effective meds and many people expect to be on them for the foreseeable future.

Good luck

[Caitlyn6 in reply to tunybgur]

Thank you. So they don’t cause any harm, being on them if u no longer need them I mean.

[tunybgur in reply to Caitlyn6]

If you no longer need them then you should stop them.....but how do you know you no longer need them?

You need to discuss with your doc...

Good luck

[Caitlyn6 in reply to tunybgur]

That is true. Maybe they are just working. I will make an appointment to see my cardiologist in a month or so, and ask his advice. Thanks 🙏

[Work2010]

Hi Caitlan, firstly I just want to say that any comments made by me (and possibly others also), cannot take acccount of your rather complex health issues and medication needs. As for your cardiac condition(s), I agree with the other replies received. I take 1.25mg twice a day and have been on this dose of medication for many years. I have what was known as Cardicac Syndrome X, and more commonly now - Microvascular Angina, and most recently - INOCA (Ischaemia with No Obstructed Coronary Arteries). As far as I know, I have not suffered any side effects and expect to be taking Bisoprolol for the rest of my life. I wish you well and hope that my input is of some help to you.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Work2010]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. X