Bisoprolol 2.5mg for SVT

[KylieSmath1234]

On 26/12/2020 I had an episode of SVT that went on for 5 hours and was taken into hospital where I was given two doses of adenosine (neither of which worked). I was then given a beta blocker through IV - I believe this may has been Bisoprolol which bought my heart rate down gradually from 220bpm to 90bpm. I have has episodes of SVT before, mainly after periods of stress but they have always self resolved so I have never had medical intervention up until this point. The cardiologist at the hospital prescribed me Bisoprolol 2.5mg to take one daily. Since taking this medication I have experienced very odd side effects as when I am relaxed and falling asleep my heart palpitates and jolts me awake. I have never experienced this before and it seems more than coincidental that it is occurring alongside taking Bisoprolol. I am confused why this might be happening since Bisoprolol is supposed to deter palpitations. I am now so sleep deprived due to this I am desperate for help and/or advise on what to do. Please could you offer some help/guidance, I have already informed my GP who was stumped and told me to carry on taking the medication or stop if I wanted to but the risk of SVT happening again would increase it I were to do so, therefore I am scared to stop taking the medication. Has anybody else had a similar experience?

[Hidden]

Hi, I'm on 7.5m of bisoprolol per day plus a cocktail of other drugs. I don't have any major side effects.

I'd strongly recommend speaking to your GP again and also consider giving your consultant a call.

You'll get sorted in the end, so try not to worry too much.

[Peony4575]

Bisoprolol gave me palpitations I didn’t have before I started taking it. Always at night . Short bursts lasting a minute or so that would wake me up and funnily happened at regular times . Bisoprolol didn’t agree with me . By the reviews on this forum it doesn’t agree with a lot of people

[JohnHosta]

Hi Kylie,

Seems there is a lot of bad press about taking Bisoprolol, but from my experiences I think it does the business.

I visited A&E on several occasions after heart palpitations and irregular heartbeats. Once my brain had detected I was on the verge of an episode My heart seemed to enter a Grand Prix and seemed to be racing, overall I felt weak and very anxious although I didn’t suffer pains in the chest or breathlessness.

Anyway after blood pressure checks and ECG, nothing was ever found. I convinced my local doctor to arrange an appointment with a coronary specialist and after some tests I was advised to take 2.5 mg of Bisoprolol.

After 6 months my summary:

No visits to A&E and no Grand Prix trials.

I do have some episodes of sleep awakening, just as I’m going under and sudden awakening. I just take ages to get back to sleep.

I have learnt if I get up quickly from sitting sometimes I feel a little dizzy,so I must learn to slow down a little.

Overall I do feel a little more tired, but that’s probable because my heart is not working as hard, but before lockdown 3,I was playing 4 games of golf a week and doing 15,000 steps a day.

So Kylie, like your namesake, “do the Locomotion” , but just at a slower rate. Try and read in bed to take your mind off things and maybe get a Fitbit, my resting heart is about 54.

Best of luck and give the medication a try.

[Auntielala]

Hi Kylie,

I'm on a much lower dose than you, 1.25mg, I don't notice any particular side effects from it, but I'm on a lot of other meds. But what I can say, is when I go to bed if I lay on my left side I do sometimes notice palpitations, it happened a lot more before I was on Bisoprolol and happens much less now. Do you notice it more if you're laid on your left side? I used to only take it pill in pocket, ie only when I had an attack, but then an anaesthetist refused to let me have my cancer surgery last year unless I took it, and I've taken it every day since, through chemo and radiotherapy and not had a single SVT. So for me it's working.

Hope it settles for you soon.

[dawny1908]

Hi. I take 1.25mg bisoprolol for mine at night and half a 1.25mg tablet in the morning. Touch wood mine seems to have settled. I have had a few trips to the hospital with mine. Also needing adenosine (very weird feeling) but I also get no chest pain etc just the palpatations which at its worst was 196bpm. Since taking my extra 1/2 tablet my BP has come down to normal and I don't feel so anxious inside n touch wood have not needed hospital since Sept x

[Mgs333]

I have had nightime palpatations for about 5 yrs and have had every test under the sun including angiograms, calcium scoring , xrays and scans etc etc....I was on Propanalol for a few years and then Bisoprolol....I hav'nt had any side effects with bisoprolol, but they haven't really worked either....nightime palpatations can be frightening and will disturb your sleep patterns, but don't seem to be dangerous....Bidsoprolol is supposed to be the best beta blocker because it is heart specific so is more efficiant than others so in theory should be ok but I would check with your doc to see if you are tolerent of it....good luck.

[onadiet]

Yes I was put on Bisopnorol for high blood pressure and heart flutters Caused insomnia and heart pounding but not fast. Stomach ache and neck ache and other symptoms.