Bisoprolol for heart palpitations

[Friends31]

Hi has the beta blocker bisoprolol worked to heal anyones heart palpitations. I am living with heart palpitations that are setting of my anxiety and have been prescribed these but scared to take more meds if they aren’t going to work. I don’t get palpitations always but when I do they set me way back.

[10gingercats]

I find Bisoprolol very helpful in alleviating afib palpitations. They are now overtly absent.But it does not help everyone so wait for others to reply. Not sure you will get a definative answer as people respond differently to medication.

[Friends31 in reply to 10gingercats]

Did it work first time taking it or can i take it as and when?

[10gingercats in reply to Friends31]

You need to take it as prescribed.

[Griff-64]

They worked for me, I haven't suffered for years.Some people don't get on with bisoprolol, some do. As with most meds, it's trial and error.

I was getting palpitations almost daily until I started taking them and I still take them now.

Talk to your doctor if you get problems 👍

[Friends31 in reply to Griff-64]

Thank you. Just took my first dose of 1.5mg today to test it. My heart rate is gone slightly lower but will see how I get on. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to take them every to work but looks like I might as my palpitations occur randomly. Like today I got a really bad one after weeks and it set me back on my anxiety healing journey where I thought I was making progress

[Griff-64 in reply to Friends31]

You ARE making progress, you've made the decision to try them🙂I've learned over the years that doctors have a set routine of issuing meds at a low dosage and waiting for us to get back to them if it's not working or nasty side effects, then they try the next strength or a different med. They can be very much influenced by what we tell them.

[tapfoot in reply to Friends31]

Hi Friends31, Please talk to your pharmacist as a matter of urgency. As I understand it, Bisoprolol is not an 'as and when' drug. It needs to be taken regularly and also withdrawn slowly. Check with your pharmacist or GP to be sure how often you should take it. I have taken it for almost 2 years following heart surgery and have been lucky to have no side-effects. You don't say which other drugs you need to take, but many people find beta-blockers very helpful. I wish you luck and good health.

[Hidden in reply to tapfoot]

As you say, medication should always be taken in accordance with prescribed medical directions, so if in doubt, advice should be sought. However, just to clarify, bisoprolol definitely can be used as a ‘pill in pocket’ option where that’s appropriate and has been agreed with a medical professional. This is where people don’t take it on a regular, daily but instead use it for rate control as and when when symptoms flare.

[tapfoot in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, Charlie-G, that’s really useful to know.

[Dralex in reply to Hidden]

I am in the same situation as you Charlie_G. My cardiologist started me on a daily dose of 1.25 bisoprolol, but when I found this intolerable, he instructed me to follow the "pill in pocket" routine, as and when necessary. Fortunately I have only ever needed this treatment 2 or 3 times, but when used has always worked quickly and successfully.

[marypw]

I take 2.5 mg bisoprolol dally and it has almost completely stopped my ectopics, with no side effects either. Recommend!

[Friends31]

How long did it take to start working for you?

[Xtorti0n]

Hi,I'm on Bisoprolol 1.25mg. It has settled that racy feeling for me. You must take them as prescribed (daily I'd expect).

After my angiograph and being given an assessment of certain things cardio-wise coupled with what can seem like clinically harsh wording it raised my anxiety a lot and, for a time, coloured my view of my health and the times ahead. It can take a while to put it into perspective. I get the odd palp/fluttery moment but deal with it ok now. I think we hearties become acutely tuned to things and manage to amplify them too much ending with our minds in thoughts that others won't understand. Talk to your GP. Get on with living your life to the max with family and friends

😀 Sam.

[Horse6]

Hi, I take 1.25 mg Bisoprolol every day bit Iam still having palpitations, I have had a reveal loop fitted to see what my heart is doing and Iam waiting for an appointment for a angiogram. Think the answer is if you aren’t happy go back and see your doctor for further tests. Good luck.

[Jetcat]

Hi 31, palps and ectopics can be really worrying and set the anxiety levels on a high.!!This in turn can aggravate them even more unfortunately. Try not to worry too much about them (easier said than done I know)

Iv suffered with them for 30 years on and off and still get them now.😡

They won’t kill you. Give the meds a try and see how you get on. I’m now on 10 mg daily and it’s made things a lot better, not perfect but a lot better.👍 my anxiety levels are way down compared to before too so that improves how I feel too.

If you feel you need any dosage alterations in the future always consult with your GP first.

I’m sure you’ll be fine 31, take it easy. Best wishes.Ron.x

[Hidden]

I have AFIB and take Bisoprolol . When I take my BP it always registers Arrhythmia detected . I never feel it tho !

I have never felt the Arrhythmia only when I am really anxious about something it almost takes my breath away .

[talipia]

Hi I ve had them in phases for 20yrs. Beta blockers seem to work to some extent, but when I take Mg and Co Q10, walk 10000 plus a day and be more diligent about hydration I get long periods when they vanish.

[Farmer87]

I actually made a thread on here about being to scared to start the Bisop, I actually cut a 1.25mg tablet in half and had the smallest dose imaginable 😂 then worked myself up to my full daily dose of 2.5mg. I have been on that dose for about a year now I think?

And.. I'm still here, I do know why I made such a big deal over it but looking back I shouldn't have but that's what anxiety and over thinking does, the tablets really do help! It's always scary when something new and life changing comes in to your life and if it weren't for them tablets my heart would be as erratic as ever! I couldn't lay down without having extra beats and my heart being played like a mad man on a bongo.

I know when I went from 1.25mg to 2.5mg I did feel funny for a few days but that's because the tablets have to get in your system and your body needs to adjust

[Jacey15]

Hi. I have postural tachycardia syndrome and take 10mg bisoprolol daily and can't function without it. It worked within a couple of hours of taking my first one.

[momander]

Hi Friends 31,I take 5mg bisoprolol as part of my cocktail of heart medication. It has worked really well for me.I was on 2.5mg to start with but had a few " episodes" so my GP increased the dose to 5mg and that has done the trick. meds work differently with all of us so always best to consult with your GP as none of us on here are allowed to give you advice. good luck, i am sure you will be absolutely fine

[Friends31 in reply to momander]

Thanks for your reply. What do you mean by a few episodes? I am just nervous to start any medication that might make make my palpitations worse.

[momander in reply to Friends31]

Hi, nothing to worry about!! Just a few times I had to have some meds adjusted. They are all individual o the person and so please do not take anything written here as gospel, as you might not have the same experience

[Cigarboxblues]

Welcome to the forum.

As said already beta blockers (bb’s) of what ever type are for ever because they need time to work and help the heart clock tick.

Although initially I was told that I could increase then as an event happened I haven’t done this.

The reason is simple. The heart rate slows with the bb’s and my heart rate is already way low (average around 50 BPM) so I have no latitude for increasing the pill. The side effect is your whole life is slower and with the anticoagulants (I take every day) the blood pressure takes the brunt of the pills side effect and lowers too.

Don’t do anything you see or read hear without first talking over the issue with your GP or healthcare professionals, we are knowledgeable and caring but do not know better than the professionals.

So ask questions.

Keep reading.

Become aware of the dangers and benefits of our modern pharmaceutical era and communication hotlines.

Listen to your heart but don’t wait for it to beat. Anxiety especially a panic attack feels very similar but isn’t AFib.

Good luck

[Afibflipper]

I’ve taken Bisoprolol for many years, had the doses increased over time.1.5 increased to 7.5 which stabilised me until about 3years ago when increased to 12.5 was again controlled until about a month ago during which my AF really started behaving like a wild child.

It increased to 15 but had no effect and now at 17.5 feel pretty good (although I’m awaiting cardioversion and possible addition of Flecainide or similar to control the rate)

Keep taking your medication as directed (you may be reticent to take more ) but possibly that may be out of your hands and need to let your Drs diagnose and treat (obviously discuss your feelings/fears with them.)

In the meantime some relaxation methods such as the app Headspace or listen to Reiki music whilst trying to consciously slow your breathing when you feel anxious. It’s helped me enormously as exercise has been off the agenda last few weeks so a little cabin fever anxiety creeps in

Before AF diagnosis some 20years ago my intermittent (paroxysmal) palpitations were put down to that I was anxious and stressed because it didn’t pick up in tests - eventually AF was found.

I don’t always feel the AF palpitations in my chest but other than a feeling of anxiety or the need to take deep breaths and a racing pulse which in itself makes you feel anxious - catch22

[Hidden]

Hi, it seems that everyone is different with it. I began taking it at 1.25mg and found it immediately helpful without any troubling side effects.

Before a year was up , it felt that either my symptoms were worse or the medication wasn’t working.

Around a month ago , my dose was increased to 2.5mg and again I felt an immediate relief.

I think it’s possible that for me it’s going to take a while to find the right (increased from 2.5mg ) dose to manage symptoms which hopefully doesn’t take too long.

I hope that if you decide to take it, it’s helpful. If you don’t feel comfortable to take it then I hope there’s something else that you find to help with the palpitations.

N 🙂