Had problems a few weeks ago with palpitations/short of breath/light headedness-all random out of the blue. I'm 65 with no previous heart issues. My GP put me on Bisoprolol 1.25mg 10 days ago. The palps have died down but still adjusting to them also BP is lower although sometimes 110/70 in the evening-previously I was only very high when I had the palps, was always top end of normal-145/90 fairly regularly. Currently have shortness of breath, some light headedness poor sleep, fatigue but am relieved the palps have virtually disappeared. I also feel anxious but that could be a generalised health anxiety due to my recent experiences with para medics called out and general worry re health.
I had some chest wheezing recently-not asthmatic but can react to tree pollen. (Some years ago had a tachycardia incident-rapid heart beat ,light headed settled eventually and only thing I could associate it with was being close to an oil seed rape field-happened in same area week later-never happened before never since-internet suggested histamine reaction.)
I have a phone appt with cardio in 2 weeks. If it is Afib they will probs put me on BBs but I just wondered if anyone swapped brand and how that went, also any anecdotal experience of positive/negative results with Bisoprolol. Or if there is another med type to stop the palps other than BBs.
Many thanks for your time, all contributions gratefully received!
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celticlady
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The dose of Bisoprolol you have been given is a very low one, though some people can't tolerate it at all. It will bring your blood pressure down a little. Be aware there are lots of others you could try, but I'd give this beta blocker a fair trial.
Your symptoms sound typical of AF, but don't let that anxiety persist or that will make it worse. It's like it feeds AF.
I've had AF for 17 years and it took a lot of those years before I could stop obsessing about it and stop constantly recording what my heart was doing. Honestly, the more you ignore it the less severe it will be. If someone had told me that back then I'd have said, "Well your AF can't be as bad as mine". I'd have been very cross with them.
Look to your diet and don't eat any foods, or drinks containing artificial additives. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my attacks. Cut back on sugar and lose weight if necessary. My AF only came on when I put on a little weight and got so much better after I lost 14lbs.
Thank you jean, you're so right-my anxiety has kicked in. My appetite is quite low-again, anxiety but my diet has always been fairly healthy,lost weight with all the anxiety I think as my appetite is low. I have been feeling my pulse too often as I have always had a fairly steady one but had a few 'blips' where it was uneven. All ECGs-at GP and A& E came back ok but need a holter monitor assessment for a true picture. Never had any palps after my long walks or chest pain but something isn't right. Luckily here in Leeds we have an excellent cardio centre. Many thanks for your wise advice. Moira.
Oh yes-I expect everything will settle down once it's on-especially now on the |BBs! Mind you sounds like that's a way down the road as cardio appts really slow. Apparently lots of post covid/long covid symptoms presenting with cardiac issues.
Hi Celticlady, just to let you know that I could not tolerate Bisoprolol so was put on Nebivolol. Though I have to be careful as it can make the blood pressure to low if not. I don’t have experience of the palpitations side of things. The reason I changed Bisoprolol was due to the chronic nausea they caused. Many thanks, and take care, Judi
Thanks Judi. We all get really different reactions. Not enjoying the light headed stuff the constipation and the shortness of breath. But glad the palps have died down. The dizziness can bring on panic feelings but can't risk going back to the way I was. Take care.
I've actually had a very good response to bisoprolol 2.5mg which I'm on along with 3 blood pressure meds and statins. It's prescribed to protect my heart from strain, but has also helped my b.p. which is now better controlled than it has been for many years. Bisoprolol is actually slightly beneficial to anxiety, but understanding my heart issues and getting on a good medication regime overall has helped anxiety most, and you may well find yours goes down a lot when you are further along in your journey and understanding. The only adverse effect of bisoprolol in my case is feeling cold sometimes, so I have an extra jumper nearby or, better, get up and move around.
Thank you Alan. Good to hear you're doing well. It's early days for me so a diagnosis will help. The worst things were the palps and the adrenaline is blocked so that works ...just the s.o.b and light headed Ness to deal with. Best wishes.
Hi, I can only speak from my own experience . Have been on Bisoprolol 1.25 for two years now. I take it every morning at 10.00. I don’t have any problems with it really, apart from perhaps feeling the cold a bit more. My BP seems to maintain an average 118/75I also tend to think that it does help me to feel calm at times when I might have felt stressed. My pulse is usually in the 60’s but I do have a pacemaker which I am not totally dependent on.
I too have been on 1.25mg of Bisoprolol for a few years without any major issues... just a little dizziness now and again, especially when standing up after I have been sat for a long time (resting pulse in the 50s). My brother on the other hand cannot tolerate the medication. He has AF, mainly stress related, and is now purely on Apixaban.
Hopefully the issues that you are experiencing will be sorted out soon.
I would urge you to keep pro-active with regards to your medication. Certainly give ample time for the drugs to work, but don't keep on suffering if you get side effects or feel unwell on them. There are usually alternatives available. It took around 18 months to sort out my cocktail and on the way I found I was allergic to some drugs and intolerant of others. 😀
I tried bisoprolol and metoprolol. Both made me nauseous and tired and generally sick. Then I broke out in a body rash. The cure was worse than the illness. I can’t tolerate beta blockers. Everyone is different.
I’ve just been taken off Bisoprolol completely. I’ve been suffering from psoriasis and hair loss! Never had it before. Apparently it only affects very few people - lucky me. Psoriasis is an autoimmune response so unfortunately will have it for the rest of my life now. My hair is slowly starting to regrow but still quite bald on right side where I sleep. I think some of these drugs have dreadful side effects. Good luck with everything. 👍
I actually have anklosing spondylitis which is an autoimmune disease. So I think the AS has something to do with my intolerance to beta blockers. I have changed my diet to vegetarian (with fish) and limiting alcohol. This has helped me.
Thanks Larivee. I've cut out alcohol completely...noticed sometimes before being ill that even one glass of lager gave me s weird heart/head sensation. AF can be caused by this. I miss it but the palps were alarming so will soldier on and see what the cardio tests come up with.
Thank you. We're all so different in our reactions. Trying to be positive and keep thinking this is better than the debilitating palps. The light headed stuff can trigger a panic issue with me so trying to keep calm and carry on! Best wishes
I have been on 1.25 bisoprolol for about 8 months. I started on 2.5 but the light-headedness was actually not manageable, especially when I passed out in the bathroom almost hitting the edge of the sink! I can manage 1.25 but definitely need to pause before standing up, and yes do get a bit of breathlessness and constipation...but I've done some reading (!) and I think the benefits are worth a bit of discomfort. BTW the side effects have become less over time...
Thank you ..how awful passing out like that. My BP was high end of normal and am a keen walker but just had a short walk and it's 99/72 also on evening . The good thing is the palps have died down so will persevere and see how it pans out. Now taking magnesium citrate for the constipation and slowly upping the walking. Still get a weird head rush/dip at times especially if BP is too low. With a long wait for cardio referral at least it keeps the more disturbing symptoms at bay. Best wishes.
I had a dreadful experience on Bisoprolol 2.5 daily. It was prescribed for BP in addition to Telmisartan. It dropped my heart rate as expected, but gave me a sharp increase in ectopic beats. I also developed a sore back and astounding fatigue.I am a retired registered nurse, 69 and fit, usually exercising 45 min to an hour a day. The bisoprolol reduced me to a walk around the block if I was lucky. It has been discontinued since mid January. My energy level is now back and the debilitating back pain has disappeared.
In my reading ( Johns Hopkins site), beta blockers can indeed cause arrhythmias as well as cure them. 6% of people on beta blockers also develop back pain. Small percentage but big number…
I have increased my magnesium, started Coq10, and have resumed my exercise program. Ectopic beats have been greatly reduced and I feel normal again. BP remains stable.
Never again will I take a beta blocker. We are all different of course, but this has been my experience.
Best of luck to all on this site. Heart issues are scary.
Was started on 2.5mg Bisoprolol in Feb 20 following HA and stent in Jan 20 and an episode of AF a month later. Didn't get on too well with it (dizzy, numb/cold hands etc.) and it was reduced to 1.25mg. Following bybass surgery in May 21, I found even 1.25mg was too much, reducing BP sometimes to just over 100, and cardiologist suggested coming off it. Unfortunately, after coming off it, my BP gradually increased over a week or so until it was too high. Now, after speaking to GP, I'm trying half a tablet 0.625mg to see how I am on that dose.
I had very cold hands and feet when on bisoprolol so changed to felcanaide with nebivolol. I get dizzy if I stand up to quick and occasional fatigue BP about 110 over 70, it was very high before started on bb's. Diagnosed with paroxysmal AFib awaiting cardiac ablation. I'm 57 and need to lose about 14lbs so interesting to read comments on weight.
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Alcohol while on Beta blockers..?
beta blockers 
Why beta-blockers in my case?
Beta Blockers
