Beta blocker for AF other than bisoprolol & nebivolol

[Warm-heart]

Has anyone success with a beta blocker for their atrial fibrillation that is neither bisoprolol or nebivolol? The side effects of both are too much to bear. Any ideas or experiences would be really welcome to hear!

[beardy_chris]

I think Bisoprolol made me depressed. I'm not certain because I had a lot of other things going on at the time - but stopping Bisoprolol made a huge difference. My cardiologist told me they have a lot of alternatives to do the same job (control the heart rate) and switched me to Diltiazem (a calcium channel blocker). This made a huge difference to my mood and no side effects (for me). I'm not a medic and I'm not certain what influenced his choices but it is worth discussing the options with your medical team.

[Warm-heart in reply to beardy_chris]

Hi and many thanks for your reply. I have seen a few people recommend Diltiazem as an alternative and worth looking into. Is it AF you suffer from?

[beardy_chris in reply to Warm-heart]

Yes - I have permanent AF.

[Scooby40]

I really struggled with bisoprosol at first. I did persevere as it seemed easier than getting the Dr to sort it. I was lucky not to be working when I started taking them so I could rest. I now find they give me no problem.

[Cowboy72]

Ive been on Metoprolol and dont seem to have any adverse side affects, it didnt 100% cure the AF but helped minimise them for sure.

[Warm-heart in reply to Cowboy72]

Hi thank you. Was this the first and only beta-blocker you have had? My cardiologist told me today that they are all much the same in terms of side effects and advised I stick with it and take it earlier in the day.

[Cowboy72 in reply to Warm-heart]

Yea its the only one and I take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening so twice a day. Apparently its a 12 hour coverage. In the early days when I started taking them I did notice my dreams were very vivid and they said that was a potential side effect. Its been ok and that settled down once I got used to them.

[Mookford]

After my CABG (5 weeks ago) I had AF and was prescribed Amiodarone alongside Bisoprolol and it seems to have done the trick. It's not something you want to be taking for long though apparently, can cause other complications particularly thyroid. It's to be reviewed at my 6 week consultation.

[Alison_L]

I don't have Afib, but I switched from Biso to Carvedilol because I though the Biso was causing my feet problems. It didn't make any difference to my feet, but I haven't had any other side effects either.

I blame the Biso for my weight gain. Again, Carved has made no difference to this.

[Stardust69]

Hi Warm-heart, I’m relatively new to taking Bisoprolol (4 weeks) and I’ve had terrible side affects. Had to go back to the GP with really sore heads. She suggested taking my tablet at night instead of the morning and so far, it seems to have improved it. (I’m on 5mg).

My condition is still being investigated so I’m kind of in limbo with my diagnosis. I have CT angiogram tomorrow so hopefully good news.

[dembaba in reply to Stardust69]

good luck tomorrow.xx

[Warm-heart in reply to Stardust69]

Thanks for your reply Stardust69. How did your angiogram go and what have they found? I have mine in 2 weeks and am nervous about it.

[Stardust69 in reply to Warm-heart]

It went ok, nothing too scary. They didn’t tell me anything on the day. I have a specialist appointment on 16th November, so I might know more then. My GP said they might be in touch before then if there anything urgent.

The scan is another new experience chalked up lol 😂

[Warm-heart]

Glad it went ok! Thank you for letting me know. It is a long time to wait not knowing the result though, and of course you don't want anything 'urgent' that your GP would call you about! All best wishes.

[dhep]

I was diagnosed with afib 1 year ago and on my second thinner because of problems on my 4th blocker Nebivolol but stopped them I am on morphine for failed spinal fusion and it is blocking it gp insists I must take it but told him I couldn't I told him the bouncing is getting worse even with the nebivolol he said it won't stop it anyway?