Hi, My name is Dave and have just been diagnosed with a new AF and early heart failure.
I am taking bisoprolol 1.25mg (mornings) and ramipril 1.25mg(night time) for this and I am having some issues that's really worrying me.
I have constant cold hands and feet and shake when I wake in the mornings. I am fatigued with aching legs. Concentration is none existent and my libido has completely gone!!.
The worrying part is I was told they will take at least 2 weeks to start working properly so wasn't expecting my stats to go down as quick - 137/84 Pulse 79 to 111/68 Pulse 48, I have only been taking them for a week????.
Went to see my GP today as i was worried about the pulse of 48 and my stats went up to 122/65 and Pulse 60 and my ECG was fine so I felt like I was just lying about my stats which I wasnt.
Not sure if I'm taking my next bisoprolol.
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djayc2104
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You really should stick with it, it can take a few weeks (2/3) for your body to get used to the meds and definitely shouldn't stop or adjust them without discussing/informing your GP/Cardiologist. If you really feel they need changing then there are almost always an alternative.
Just for an example, I was on 2.5mg Bisoprolol which was increased to 5mg I reacted to the increase and thought no way could I continue, after 2 week it settled down, I ended up increasing to 10mg without any real issues, other than tiredness which was an acceptable side effect, imo.
To be fair I thought that with the dose I'm on and especially as I've only been taking it for a week?. All my other medication I'm on I have never had any adverse reactions to so I could only put it down to the new meds I'm on unless Bisoprolol or Ramipiril is causing an adverse reaction to my other meds??. I take Levothroxine, Allopurinol, Atorvastatin, Rivoroxaban and Lansoprazole.
Such a low dosage is for maintenance, not intensive treatment. The Bisoprolol does work quickly, though, and lowered heart rate and BP is intended to take the strain off your heart. The former is what's making you tired, and takes some getting used to.
Hi there I agree with Gaz I’ve been on Bisopralol 5mg and Ramapril 2x5mg since September 2018 I suffered heart failure in A&E luckily that night and was induced into a coma to save me, The hands and feet going really cold and white are a typical side effect of the heart having to pump harder and in the really hot weather you can find you suffer similar symptoms to heat stroke even not sitting in the sun or shade so have always have a fan and don’t over do anything I’ve had no problem with either tablets and I’m on a good few others too your consultant /drs will keep you right just double layer up in winter and cool in the hot summer months and all should be good, maybe just me but I never read side effects of any medication some lists are endless I just ask when I’ve to take them and how often, hope you find a good balance but for me they do the job and that’s good enough for me keeping my heart pumping away and no stress getting to it because of the meds and libido wise I'm sure that will settle it’s apparently a more common side effect in males so ask about that too Take Care
I can totally understand, and relate to everything that you are saying. It took at least 3-4 months after my diagnosis, to even begin to feel ok again. All I wanted to do was sleep. I am also taking most of the same medicines as you. Give it time, this too shall pass. Best wishes. Marianne.
I also had signs of heart failure. I had echocardiogram, stress test and heart catheterization. My heart muscles are not working properly thus blood leaving my heart is reduced. I was feeling dizzy and doc put me on metoprolol. It made me sick like your symptoms with bisopolol. So I tried Entresto with same side effects. I also take Humira for anklosing spondylitis (AS) so I thought the Humira or AS was affecting my heart. Long story short, I went on a anti-inflammatory diet which is plant based with fish. My BP is starting to stabilize on the diet. I have a echocardiogram end of December and I will see if my diet has helped my HF. I have a difficult time with beta blockers and no quality of life due to side effects. Hopefully changing my diet is an answer. Hope you feel better.
Your stats probably went up when you saw the GP because of stress. My cardiologist recommended a get a Qardio blood pressure monitor which also logs heart rate. You can then keep a history and email it to your doctor. I'd stick with the medication for now but make another appointment if the problems persist. You might try taking both pills in the evening, which I found helped. You are on a very low dose, so there's probably no option for reducing it further (which I opted to do). Make sure you keep hands and feet warm or you risk problems. I've just dealt with my first ever chilblain caused by reduced circulation. Have you actually seen a cardiologist, or just your GP?
Hi When I was started on Bisoprolol it was just 1.25mg (half a tab) a day in the mornings. After a flare up a few months later the dose was upped to 2.5 mg. that was 3-4years ago. On both occasions I has side affects you are describing but the severity wore down to an acceptable level after a short time. When shaking hands with people even now they flinch with the coldness of my hands. 🤣 .
Hi Dave. I can sympathise, I was perfectly fine when discharged after my ICD was fitted following my SCA. I was put on Bisoprolol 2 weeks later and felt exactly the same. On 2.5 daily and found life so difficult almost immediately. You have to give them time and dont suddenly stop them but I struggled for months with chronic fatigue. Once they increased them to 5mg daily I just couldnt function and dropped back to 2.5 again but still wasnt happy as I couldnt work or do much at all. They tried different beta blockers and I was worse with allergies. It seems Im very sensitive to the meds. They didnt prevent my arrhythmias either, I had more with the higher dose of bisoprolol so they tried me on Quinedine and it seems to suit best. 2 years on and only 2 ICD shocks compared to the frequent shocks on Bisoprol so give the Bisoprolol a fair chance and if s not good in a few months ask to try something else. It may be something else suits you better too so do ask to review it if things don't improve. I still get awful tiredness after doing so little but I've got used to it now and just have to pace myself. It is frustrating but its better than no life!
I was on 3.75mg Bisoprolol, very cold hands and feet and too tired to do anything for several months. I've found reducing the dose has had a commensurate effect on the tiredness, so it's tolerable on 1.25mg. My hands and feet remain very cold, but I just take steps to manage that. However, the reduced dose doesn't control the symptoms so effectively. Definitely talk to your GP again and good luck. And maybe it would be worth doing some research before the appointment to ask about possible side effects from taking several medications?
Hi there I had a slight wobble in the middle of the pandemic during first lockdown actually I was very dizzy and walking/ staggering a bit to the left eventually got told to go to A&E they took me off the Bisopralol (5mg) did tests etc found I’d have previous mini stroke showing up on scans obvs no physical signs thank the lord so was put on the lower dose of 2.5mg as they thought it might have been the Bisopralol but I’m back up to 5 mg again and had no problems since they did say my heart rate was slower when admitted to hospital but alls good and stable now so I’m pleased 😄
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