Coming off Bisoprolol

[MrsAnxious]

I was taking 1.25 of Bisoprolol and it was decided that as all my results were clear, I could come off it. So, last Wednesday I went cold turkey. Considering I've only been on the medication since the beginning of December, the side effects have been awful coming off it

I have massive anxiety, insomnia and heart flutters.

Has anyone come off it and had the same? I really considered taking a tablet again this morning . . .

[ChoochSiesta]

I came off it and immediately felt normal again. It made me dizzy and lethargic.

[Hidden]

Hello

Everyone reacts differently to medications

I seem to be someone that gets side effects going on them and of them which I wished I didn't even if I have been on them just a short time

I am sure there are others that have felt the same but give it time while your body adjusts and you should get rid of these symptoms you are getting x

[Aimieyy]

Yes!! I was on this for 3 weeks and when I stopped I couldn't sleep even with my sleeping pills and my anxiety was bad too. It does get better! It just takes a bit of time to do so, I think it took about 5 weeks for me. I've been off it 2 months now and can sleep and do the school run without crying the whole time!! X

[Giorgos1973]

Δεν νομίζω να έχεις πρόβλημα σ αυτή την ποσότητα, εγώ έπαιρνα 2 5mlg την ημέρα για τρεις μήνες και το έκοψα αμέσως, αλλά ο καθένας είναι διαφορετικός

[Jaggie21]

I stopped taking Biso ( I was given it as I'd had a couple of sessions I'd had of Afib!) as it reduced my heart rate too much that I could hardly stand up let along walk. I'd been taking it for only a month. I felt fine for the first few days off it, then suddenly my heart rate started to soar and with Afib too. I felt even worse, anxiety etc. and GPs said to go to A & E ( mid Dec). They kept me in overnight, did endless ECGs, BP and weighings!. By next morning my heart rate had returned to normal with occasional flutters/ectopics etc but generally felt ok so was discharged with little or no information about anything. I reckon it was the Biso which caused the problems and I only have Rivaroxaban now (or at least til I see a Cardio specialist in March!). Heart issues can be so scarey.

[David-75]

Hi there, hope your symptoms are settling/ disappeared. I have been on 1.25 for 4.5 years and just coming off it now after consultation with cardiologist ( I have an exercise stress test each year and all seems well - so can come off it). I had a resting bpm of 46 (I am pretty sporty although had a HA 4.5 years ago at age 42 and had to have 5 stents)so wanted to increase that as could feel tired, foggy headed, lightheaded if get up too quick and a bit of tinnitus on waking (only for a minute). So long story short- stopped 2 days ago, bpm has gone up 3-4 bpm and feeling a little on edge; not sure if anxiety or body response (or both). Possibly feeling a bit tired and perhaps a bit heart fluttery- not sure. Taking it easy for a couple of days and hopefully will feel calmer soon but realise it may take a while with having taken it for so long (even if lowest dose). If I have to go back on, I will - but really want to get rid of one of the meds. How is it going for you?

[MrsAnxious in reply to David-75]

I'll be honest, I still have the fuzzy head & feel 'not quite with it' which has lead me to think that it may not have been the Bisoprolol or I may still be withdrawing but after 2 weeks? I have high blood pressure so it may be that?

Sorry, I'm not much help.

[David-75 in reply to MrsAnxious]

Not at all- as they always say, if you are worried see your Doc. What do they say? The only thing I can say is I think some of us have a stronger physiological reaction to anxiety than others- I am always told I am laid back- so wonder if I am not consciously aware of being anxious (if that makes sense) . I will be trying a bit of deep breathing and meditation / I found Calm app useful for this just after my HA( although I would say I am in a far better state of mind now than then- when I was vey consciously anxious😁!). I am going to try and tough it out for a a couple of weeks and review. Perhaps it is just my body waking up a bit and needs to realign/balance as such?!?!. Going to exercise today get out for a walk (in the sun!) and perhaps just do a run for a couple of miles. I hope you find a bit of peace with this soon- as I say, I think the Dr would be a good start or even the helpline for BHF? (I reached out to them a couple of times and they were really good).

[MrsAnxious]

Thank you!Take care of yourself and don't do too much too soon.

You'll notice a spike in your heartrate as you come off Bisoprolol so just go easy 😊

[David-75 in reply to MrsAnxious]

Hi- just to update; Sooo…. I am going to try again! this time very slowly weaning off. My cardiologist thought it would be ok just to stop on 1.25mg- but I did get some side effects after a couple of days. I also started to feel the benefit too though!. Drowsiness, foggy head gone; so alert that I was on edge/had anxiety (I was aware this time but could tell it was physiological response not me!), heart rate a lot higher when exercising ( I went slow on a usual bike ride to test)- not out of breath but was about +30 where I usually would be at 150bpm - so only rode for 20 mins. I had the thumping heart too (can’t remember if I used to have this before taking the blocker- quite possibly, it may be natural/ but unnerving when haven’t heard it for so long like that- even when at Max HR of 176! ). A little brief discomfort at rest, not sure if heart. I also seemed to get flutters on wakening but sleep seemed ok (I wake up a few times- but generally not bad). I did take it for 4 years, so having read a lot of forums now- I think it was a bit foolhardy to say I could just stop. So … second attempt…. Start 3/4 pill next week for 2 weeks, then down a quarter every two weeks (not sure you can guarantee equal dosage with a pill that small and that drug probably won’t be equally distributed throughout- but hopefully will work). So will have to take it easy with exercise (very annoying as I enjoy my running). I hope you are having more success!

[David-75 in reply to David-75]

Just to add - I have been advised by GP to try every other day for a couple of weeks; which is a far more logical approach (at least you know the dosage you are getting then). Hope all is going well for you.

[David-75]

Just to update- I never came back to this and I know people search topics …. So just to finish. I weened off by taking every second day and then every 3rd over about 4 weeks- then stopped. All good - it does make a difference to how I feel at rest; less tired and less fuzzy head. My resting heart rate is gone from 46 to 48. When running/ exercising still quite high, but have not been doing much running over last month due to sprained ankle - so hopefully will start to come down a bit. So all good - we are all different of course, but glad I’m off it for now.

[David-75]

Hope everything is going well for you. Best wishes.