Bisopolol and vivid dreams

[Drosophila]

After collapsing and spending 2 weeks in hospital about 4 years ago I was diagnosed with a variety arrhythmias that are generally well controlled by first 1.25, then 2.5 and now 3.75mg bisopolol - with everything overseen by a loop recorder. After a stressful couple of weeks at work recently I have had a number of episodes of BCT (an upgrade on the VT I used to have !) plus the usual bradycardia, ectopics and now also some AF to add to the mix.

My cardiologist has suggested upping the Bisopolol to 2.5mg twice a day…. However while clearly warranted by the arrhythmias, I get vivid, and sometimes overwhelming ‘action’ dreams whenever I up my dose or take a dose too close to bedtime. Almost to the point of being reluctant to go to bed and then thrashing around for hours before waking up exhausted the next morning.

As such I’m a little wary of going up to 2x 2.5mg and was wondering if I could stick to a single 5mg dose in the morning. Alternatively is there some way to reduce the intensity of the dreams ? I have read that melatonin might help… does anyone with similar side effects have any experience they can share ?

Many thanks.

[Asti7]

I'm on 5mg Bisprol and take it as one dose in the morning. Never taken it in separate doses , but can't advise if this would be okay for your particular problems. No harm in asking cardiology team and look at trying. Good luck I do hope a solution is found.

[Blackcatsooty]

Dear Drosophila

I have had spells of horrific dreams, which I call nightmares and night terrors. So I decided to change my sleeping pattern. By trial and error I found that if I was ready to sleep at 10pm then it helped. I found that 7.5 hrs sleep was ideal. This was totally different from my lifetime sleep. But the dreams improved and the adequate sleep gave my health a chance. The transformation took months. Tried different blankets, different mattress and different rooms. Tried a light on. Tried TV before bed, tried reading before sleep. I bought a tinnitus relaxer which got me off to sleep.

If you can start with good sleep, then add exercise then add a reasonable diet, then add on good relaxation techniques then you can start to review medications.

I also never ever refer to Dr Google, other than NHS and BHF.

Best wishes

Sooty

[Oldteacher]

I have the same problem, but it is caused by propranolol. Sadly, I haven't found a solution.But I have read that the issue is due to the drug being somewhat lipid soluble and thus able to get into the brain. I read that there are alternatives which are less lipid soluble and less likely to cause vivid dreams. Maybe you could be given one of these instead of bisoprolol?

[Thecyclist]

I have taken as much as 10mg (5mg am and 5mg pm) and now just 5mg in the morning and I have found no difference in the frequency of vivid dreams. I still get them most nights, I don't get too phased by them now, some are enjoyable and some are awful or downright scary. But as soon as I wake they are soon forgotten.

I think it is unfortunately one side effect that is difficult to manage, some early nights and getting some exercise to sleep more soundly, I find them worse when I have lighter sleep.

I do sympathise, other than getting off them altogether which maybe unlikely, then it maybe something you get used to dealing with.

I have spoken with the doctor many times especially in the early days as prior to this I didn't remember any dreams, but they couldn't offer any help.

I'm sorry I don't have a more constructive solution, but want to let you know you are certainly not alone in the crazy dream gang!

[Gosportinfo]

I was diagnosed at 54 nearly 8 1/2 years ago bisoprolol started at 2.5 been at 6.25 for coming up to 8 years and have the dreams normally a few times a night which wake me though fall back to sleep quickly. Have 6 other types of tablets difficult to put blame on one or the other. The folder with notes given to me in hospital back then suggested the dreams and other side affects were normal so though seem to need 10 to 12 hours sleep I have not worried about it. At the beginning some were very real so difficult to work out what was a dream and what was real life. All the best.

[Drosophila]

Thank you everybody for your comments and support - its good to know that its not just me !

My understanding of the science chimes with that of Oldteacher - many beta blockers can cross the blood/brain barrier because they are lipid soluble. Once in the brain they bind to the adrenaline receptors there and so modify the balance of stimulation v relaxation pathways - so triggering these vivid dream symptoms. I've tried a number of beta blockers and they all do this to me to a greater or lesser extent.

In my case I guess that I am fortunate that they do not generally seem to be violent or disturbing dreams - just 'intense', sustained and sometimes repetitive activities. Sometimes including [like Contax] people from my life from many years ago - dont tell the wife But also often just rehashing [again and again] something I saw on TV that evening, or something I read in the news etc. I've almost completely stopped watching thrillers or crime drama's on TV as I just don't want to be re-living them all night ! Nothing but calm gentle thoughts from 8pm onwards....

What's maybe the strangest [for me] is that the dreams are actively trying to start before I drop off and trying to keep going while I'm waking up in the mornings - its almost as if my conscious mind has to actively suppress the dream centres to 'regain' waking control of my head. Very weird and a slightly disturbing feeling that there is 'something else' in my head fighting me for control of my thoughts. Maybe this is a tiny insight into what real mental illness might feel like....

Oh well... I guess this is better than the [cardiac] alternative at least !

Many thanks.