How long should I give beta blockers to 'settle in'?

[celticlady]

Sorry to pester again. Been on bisoprolol for 3 weeks on Sunday. Undiagnosed as yet awaiting tests. Had palpitations/s o.b/dizziness a few weeks ago and GP prescribed them. Fatigue sleep problems very low mood light headed breathless at times. some days better than others. Had lots of people saying they couldn't tolerate them. Just wondered -i have to renew my prescription next week +would I be complicating things by changing to eg neviprolol instead? Or should I stick it out a bit longer? Many thanks to all .

[ChoochSiesta]

I couldn't stay on Bisoprolol, felt dizzy.Been on 2.5 Nebivolol now for over 3 weeks with no problems.

[celticlady in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Thank you ..how long did you suffer with the bisoprolol before you changed? And was it a straigjtforward swap i.e one day Biso next neviprolol? I need to feel better as losing work and I'm freelance so need to get sorted soon.

[ChoochSiesta in reply to celticlady]

It was a few weeks that I persevered on Bisoprolol, and also 6 years ago when I came off all beta blockers.Following my CABG3, last month I was put on Nebivolol.

[Giorgos1973 in reply to celticlady]

καλησπέρα το έκανα εγώ μετά από συμβολή γιατρού από 05.02 bisoprolol την ημέρα πήγα αμέσως στο 1.4 nebivolol την επόμενη μέρα μου είπε να ξεκινήσω με χαμηλή δόση και μετά να πάω στα 2.5 nebivolol στο οποίο εμένα για ένα χρόνο, τώρα είμαι ενα χρόνο 25 atenolol

[Giorgos1973 in reply to Giorgos1973]

sorry for the misspellings 2.5 bisoprolol i meant

[celticlady in reply to Giorgos1973]

Sorry I'm in UK can't understand!

[celticlady in reply to Giorgos1973]

Can't understand georgios, I'm in UK.

[celticlady in reply to Giorgos1973]

I'm on UK please translate

[Hidden]

I was prescribed bisoprolol 2.5 following an isolated episode of AF. told to take it in the morning-but it slowed me down so now take at night with BP meds and Edoxaban. much better-I sleep really well, feel rested and no side effects.

[Taichid]

I should wait a little longer. I have has problems with Bisoprolol and just reduced to 3.75 after 5. Neviprolol has the same side effects but would say 3 weeks is such a short time

[celticlady in reply to Taichid]

Interesting...thank you. What sort of problems were you having? Just wondered if you had the dizzy light headed stuff that I find the worst along with the lack of good quality sleep.

[Taichid in reply to celticlady]

I had every side effect in the book.but now gradually disappearing.been on them for 6 weeks. Light headed and off balance appeared 2 hrs after taking them but now switching to evening and ok. Might be as well to check whether low sugar symptoms are also having an effect. I believe every beta blocker has the same symptoms just a have to find one suited to you. Discuss with your dr

[celticlady in reply to Taichid]

Will do. Thanks for this info it really helps to know all this personal experience especially the time frame. Got cardio phone appt today so will ask his opinion. Best wishes.

[Taichid]

Let me know how you get on

[celticlady in reply to Taichid]

Will do. I know what you mean about low sugar ...I have to be careful and have food at set times or can get hypoglycemia. It does exacerbate symptoms. Low appetite at the mo probs anxiety related.

[Yellow26]

I’m on the same beta blocker; It certainly took me about a month or so to get used to them. Now it’s been 2years and no problems with any side effects, My opinion you must give time to any medication unless it’s something you can’t handle, Good luck and hopefully no more side effects

[celticlady in reply to Yellow26]

Thank you

[Qualipop]

I survived just 3 weeks on them. Felt like a zombie so they we re stopped and changed but the alternative was no better.

[celticlady in reply to Qualipop]

Which did you change to? What are you taking now. Many thanks.

[Qualipop]

Doc changed me to candesartan; not a beta blocker but stopped it after 2 weeks. I take nothing now. Just apsirin, statin and half a diuretic

[Petercat1]

Hi.

Can I just say I am taking 5mg Bisoprolol in the morning and 2.5mg in the evening (this was 5mg but I got it reduced). Mine were for palpitation attacks and were given in the hospital the week after my emergency aortic dissection open heart op. That was 5 years ago next April 25th but I still get feeling off balance and also light headed, visual disturbance, my hair is thinning and I have put on a lot of weight - I am also on Losartan 100mg to keep my BP down, so I can't say if its the bisoprolol or the losartan or both. I have also developed quite a lot of arthritis too, is this the medication or just my age (72 this year).

Sorry if that isn't much help - I've learned to live with it all.

Best wishes

Denise

[celticlady in reply to Petercat1]

Thank you Denise. Just spoken to my cardiologist and he said some folks take alternate days but until properly diagnosed will take daily. He said it was a good idea to transfer to neviprolol if Biso was causing probs. An interesting reply I had on here was a lady whose cardiac nurse said they give us bisoprolol as cheaper even though side effects well known. Neviprolol more expensive. My pharmacist said they cost the same. Good that things have settled for you-maybe us women are good at learning to live with things and maybe we should question more. Take care

[GCWhits]

I lasted just 2 weeks on 1.25mg of Bisoprolol. I was permanently dizzy, lightheaded and nauseous. Also had diarrhoea, but that was temporary. My GP said to stop taking them and only have one if got palpitations, so that’s what I plan to do. I know I was on the lowest dose possible, but I really couldn’t tolerate it.

[celticlady in reply to GCWhits]

Thank you. I wish my GP had told me to use them like that. Just wondered if there will be withdrawal symptoms after all that adrenaline is unleashed. Let me know how you get on with this. Did you have palpitations before starting them?

[GCWhits in reply to celticlady]

Yes, palpitations - infrequent, but pretty full on. 170 bpm sitting down.

[DaveSpice]

I started them a few weeks ago too and I thought those symptoms were all side effects of the drug. I have all of them now and didn't before, maybe the sleep wasn't that good before, but dizziness, well I almost fell over in the toilet this morning and never had that before.

[celticlady in reply to DaveSpice]

Are you on bisoprolol? I'm on my 3rd week...just over and have ask ed for a swap to nebivolol ...might not be any different but folks have said they reduced dizziness and fatigue. Still feeling down with weird spacey head stuff. Got ultrasound next Thursday and then Holt er monitor which involves coming off BBs for a while but some have reported withdrawal as adrenaline unleashed . Take good care and keep us updated with your progress.

[DaveSpice in reply to celticlady]

How bad is the fatigue and dizziness?

[celticlady in reply to DaveSpice]

Fluctuate s daily. Got zoom tuition 5pm and have to be lively etc ..it's hard as could just lie down and sleep. Light headed most days and now with tree pollen I get wheezy so feel s.o.b . Frustrating as can cause s panic feeling. Thought nebivolol might ease this sob as more lung friendly. Hard to get good advice even from cardio. Pharmacist didn't know about this, hence using this forum.

[DanniC88]

Im 34 and ive been taking bisoprolol for 3 years now. I remember when I first started taking them. I felt tired, lethargic and felt like I was walking through treacle. I persevered and the side effects eased after a month. I would say its up to you but 3 weeks is still early days yet. Good luck and stay safe.

[celticlady in reply to DanniC88]

Thank you Danni that is encouraging and will persevere....might try nebivolol as get s o b and react to pollen. Any other anecdotal experience very welcome, did you get the dizzy/light headed stuff.?

[DanniC88]

Not really dizzy just tired and slow. Felt off for about a month but now its fine.