Beta Blocker Withdrawal

[celticlady]

I was on bisoprolol for 2 months and after many side effects came off them, my cardio wanted me off them for the holter monitor so just came off-when gastro intestinal issues started while on them I'd had enough. Gastro probs disappeared overnight, sleep great-good deep sleep. Some sob/surges/ raised BP/ but nothing alarming. 3 weeks in I feel very tired with sob occasionally-I'm allergic to tree pollen this can also cause light headedness/sob. I had my 2 week holter check, all was fine, my cardiac nurse said there was evidence of medication in the readings even after stopping the bisoprolol so it does linger for a while. Have almost completed another 2 weeks and have had no tachycardia so would assume this will be normal also.

Just wondered how anyone who has come off BBs coped with withdrawal-I heard it can take quite a while for things to settle down but would appreciate any anecdotal experiences. many thanks in advance.

[kizzie105]

Hi Celtic lady, I was really interested in your post and would like to know how the cardiac nurse could tell there was evidence of bisoprolol in your holter readings. I am still suffering with symptoms such as you describe and many more 8 months after stopping bisoprolol. My GP and EP are adamant that bisoprolol is out of your system within 2 days and cannot be the cause of my symptoms, though they have offered no other explanation as to what is causing them. Best wishes to you K

[celticlady in reply to kizzie105]

Hi Kizzie, thanks for your reply. She said the readings or heart movement on the screen would only be as they looked if on meds. Didn't go into detail but I was surprised that it was the most recent readings whilst I was off the. Came off on 9th and holter 2 week reading was on 19th April so with other low BP/pulse I suspected some was still in my system. Have you looked at patient.info site as lots of interesting info esp from guy called Bob who says it can take months for some folk to clear symptoms. Slow metabolizer s esp. how long were you on bisoprolol what strength?

[kizzie105 in reply to celticlady]

Hi, thank you for replying. I was prescribed 1.25mg in Jan 2020 but reduced that to about 3/4 of a pill after 8 months due to side effects. Came off last august, tapered dose over 3 weeks but all symptoms you describe are still with me along with weak / wobbly feeling in legs, a tremor which gets worse on any type of exertion such as housework , awful fatigue, like I’m dragging a lead weight around with me. I’m 61 but feel 20 years older. My GP hasn’t a clue so I asked to be referred to a neurologist but it’s taking so long I’m seeing one privately this week. I’ve read many posts on patient info , as you said but can’t find anyone out there quite like me! Please don’t let this worry you though, I think I’m in a small majority, if indeed the symptoms are med related. I very much think they are but my theory is totally dismissed by all medics I have seen so far. My very best wishes to you K

[celticlady in reply to kizzie105]

Think I spoke too soon Kizzie, last night couldn't sleep kept getting weird head surges that also made me gag/felt in throat. Read another comment where someone described this happening to them after 20 days off biso- I've been off 3weeks so wondering if adrenals now unleashing and more to come. Oh the joys! X

[kizzie105 in reply to celticlady]

Hi, I’m so sorry that you are experiencing all this, it’s horrible and I really feel for you. I expect you’ve read Bobs posts on patient info where he says that you often don’t get symptoms all at the same time but at different stages of withdrawal. I really hope it won’t last too long. Keep me posted! X

[celticlady in reply to kizzie105]

Will do, take care x

[Isly in reply to kizzie105]

kizzie, do you have the link to Bob's post? I went there but I don't think I found it. THanks

[kizzie105 in reply to Isly]

Hi Isley, I don’t have a link but if you Google Bisoprolol withdrawal forum, you should find it there. I know there are lots of threads but hopefully with a bit of scrolling you should find them. Good luck x

[dicynth in reply to kizzie105]

Hello kizzie105 and Celticlady. I have stopped Bisoprolol for 3 months now after being on it for 4&1/2 months. While on this medication I developed overwhelming fatigue, tinnitus, back pain (which I have never had) and a steep increase in ectopic beats. ( PVCs). On stopping the drug, my fatigue and back pain quickly receded and I am now back exercising daily as I used to. The ectopic beats are still present, but greatly reduced. The tinnitus is still present, but does seem less. I was on this med for blood pressure control. I remain on Telmisartan, but after much reading, have doubled my magnesium and added Coq10 to my vitamin supplements. I have seen many comments on bisoprolol withdrawal. One GP commented that it would take at least 3 months for the side effects to wear off. Good luck to you both!

[ChoochSiesta]

Have just come off 2.5mg beta blockers 2 days ago. Just drunk 2 mugs of double strength coffee. The general view would be a heart rate of 100+. It is in fact...... 48. Go figure 🤔.

[celticlady]

It would have killed me!! Yes it lingers I our systems...my BP still coming in lower than normal.

[ChoochSiesta]

I have been on Ramipril for years with no problems. Beta blockers totally destroy my ability to exercise, I have tried twice to stay on them but can't.

[Prada47]

Just looking at my stats 98/61 HR 58 and that is on 7.5mg Bisoprolol. When I was on 10mg HR fell to 33 and I started to have pauses of up to 3 seconds so Cardio said he thought I was a tad over Beat Blocked reduced to the 7.5mg and no problems. I do think the condition of your Heart has a Major Major impact on how Bisoprolol works and how you Tolerate the Bisoprolol !!!

Regards

[ChoochSiesta in reply to Prada47]

I was on 2.5mg Nebivolol. My bp was 100/57, with heart rate 57. Incidentally, these figures were the same before I was put on Nebivolol. So, Nebivolol does not change my blood pressure or heart rate. It just destroys my exercise abilty 😬.