An unplanned experience of withdrawal from Bisoprolol Fumerate!!!

[dikda]

Newby - 84 years old male - very fit and sharp as a tack. 7 years ago out of the blue due to high BP I was informed that I needed a quad heart by-pass. No fear just absolute anger and fury! Kings College performed brilliantly and turned the sequence into what I was able to view as a total non-event. Very quick recovery and no after problems whatsoever. Maintenace meds were Bisoprolol Fumerate and Ramipril both at 2.5 mg. My then GP asked me to monitor BP&P twice per day once per week, accumulate resultsand e-mail her roughly every 2 months - worked well, supplemented by full blood scan annually . Typically 130/55/ 43. Pulse rate was low as in '56and '57 I had practiced as a freediver in the Far East to 40 - 50 feet with immersion time of up to 3 minutes - I WAS very fit. My surgery GP had monitored me effectively constantly for 7 years and even when I asked whether I should be concerned about my low pulse rate, the response was "If you are well it should not be a problem". During those 7 years, I think that I saw my GP twice as we communicated by e-mail. My GP retired and was replaced by another who after a year in the position became pro-active and wished to review my meds and me. The 2 heart meds were both cut by half to 1.25 mg and suggested an ECG just as a check - fine by me. ECG took place approx 4 weeks after the reduction in meds. The 'remote technician' reported adversely on my low pulse rate and as consequence my GP proposed that the Bisoprolol should be discontinued and went on holiday.

That is when the s...t hit the fan (or didn't as it happened). The replacement GP was an experienced partner, so when I contacted him with an impacted bowel and t...s like rocks that I could not pass, he obviously prescribed laxatives which eased matters. Xmas day my daughter delivered my turkey lunch which, so that I would not stress the system I divided into 2 meals some 5 hours apart. Boxing day I awoke with severe stomach pains which I could not ease by any method. Suddenly I became very cold, shivering and then shaking all over. My hands were uncontrollable, my mouth was distended into a grimace and my body was trying to force me to cry- I felt absolutely terrible!!!! Acute depression? Don't know but NEVER experienced before. Finally, I forced myself out of bed and assumed that it was a withdrawal sympton (of which I had no advance knowledge) and took a 1.25 mg Bisoprolol and 3 hours later, the symptoms subsided. Now I am trying to stabilise too loose motions. Watch this space for a follow-up!

A VERY unpleasant experience!!!

Dikda

[Peony4575]

A very colourful and riveting account of a very unpleasant experience . I have been a casualty of bisoprolol withdrawal. Put bisoprolol withdrawal into the search box and a lot of information will come up. I find it shocking that doctors tell patients they can just stop beta blockers makes you wonder if they have ever read the patient information leaflet . In short you need to wean off beta blockers slowly if you want to avoid the unpleasant withdrawal effects as much as possible which involves cutting an already tiny tablet into even tinier pieces . Good luck

[Hidden]

I think I will stick to a few pints of old Peculier to be honest.

[BC10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes - some people will do anything for a quick thrill eh?

🤣😉

[MountainGoat52]

I never fail to be amazed that GPs think that medications can be switched on and off at will. Starting many new drugs you have to allow an acclimatisation period, so why not when stopping a drug? To halve BP medications seems to be a very crude method and then to halt one abruptly, well it beggars belief.

I had problems with Bisoprolol in combination with Losartan. Thankfully my GP asked me to meet the Pharmacist the practice employs and she helped me get the balance between the two medications right. For me that meant 1.25mg of Bisoprolol and 25mg of Losartan. With this regime my BP generally sits around 125/75 when I am relaxed with a pulse rate in the low 50s. Often my pulse rate sits in the 40s without any causing any ill effects. Diet can affect pulse rate..... I now keep off the dried apricots!

I hope that you get the other problem sorted and get back on an even keel as soon as possible.

Best regards, Gerald