I've just been prescribed Bisoprolol 1.25 mg for irregular heart beat, to take one tablet if required. My cardiologist said it's a very low dose so it's safe. But when I read the information leaflet, it lists so many side effects that it really put me off taking it. My blood pressure is normal, pulse rate somewhat fast. My left ventricle is mildly enlarged. For those of you who've had any experience with Bisoprolol for similar symptoms - what would your advice be: to take it or not to take it? Almost a Shakespearean dilemma...
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ula1run
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With the caveat that I’m not medically qualified. If you read the leaflet for normal saline, so literally sterile salt water used to make up injections, with a salt content lower than human blood, it lists over a dozen side effects. This is because all listed side effects include any symptom ever reported by any patient taking a drug: the list is purely correlative, not causative. In reality, no one would ever take any medication ever if they paid attention to the side effects listed for quite literally every medication known to man.
In terms of bisoprolol specifically, I took this for many years without major issues, and also stopped taking it without any difficulty. I did find dose increases made me a little bit more tired, but given time, my experience with the vast majority of medications has been that any side effects tend to ease with time and my body adjusting. Very interestingly, though, and in keeping with existing research on the nocebo effect, is that I now get far less side effects having stopped reading the side effect lists in patient information leaflets. I read the headline ‘act immediately if…’ section, but nothing more than that. I would routinely have at least a couple of side effects per drug previously, but now rarely experience anything at all - I have numerous long term conditions and my meds have been altered a lot this last year, but only had side effects with one out of 5 new meds. If I do get something unusual, I then check it against the list. I started doing this after realising that my teen daughter, who takes 15 medications a day as standard, very rarely gets side effects: she doesn’t read the leaflet, I do, but I also don’t tell her what the side effects are. She knows about anaphylaxis having experienced a severe allergic reaction once before, so otherwise I wait for her to tell me if there’s anything unusual occurring. Most of the time, there isn’t.
Charlie_G, thank you for your extensive reply. I like your approach - not reading about possible side effects is quite sensible. Yes, one can get influenced by such information overload. I have a feeling I might be one of those people who develop certain symptoms by just reading about them. Your teenage daughter sounds like a very mature person! Thanks again.
Oh how I wish I could just take bisoprolol as I used to but I have to take it now with other heart meds. I have never had a problem with it. Everyone is different of course but any time I get a new med I just note the major symptoms. They have to list everything imaginable now on information because we have become such a 'compensation' society lol. If you experience anything you are unsure of just try to ask a professional to be safe . If you hav been advised to take it, personally I would take it as directed but we all have our own choices. Good luck with it and enjoy the rest of your weekend x
I’m on 2.5 mg of Bisoprolol daily after a double bypass in May. Apart from tiredness which I can’t in all honesty pin down to the Bisoprolol, it could be one of the other 5 meds I’m on? Everything is ok. Personally I’d take it, 1.25 is a low dose, trust the medical profession.
Yes, you are right. It's just I've always been reluctant to take any medication, after a very unpleasant reaction to an antibiotic when I was a child. Now sometimes just reading about certain symptoms, makes me feel like I'm getting them. Weird, I know.
I was on bisoprolol for 3 years low dose had tiredness/ breathless when walking did not think I was that bad until I stopped taking it what a difference feel so much better plenty of energy don't have the tiredness wish I had stopped sooner . Gp told me to stop it . Cardiologists said I should take amlodipine instead . My Gp said no as my blood pressure is normal or even on the low side. Tested it twice a day for a week. So think he knows me better.Hope this helps
hi I take bisoprolol for about 7 years now for irregular heartbeat was started on 5mg and but it wasn’t enough so gradually moved up to 12.5 per day. The side affect I get is getting very tired. Then that was unable to keep my heart rate regular. The gardiologist said as a last result I would need to go on amiodarone as well which has effected my eyes and my skin. I would do as they suggest and see how you get on with it
I was on I,25 of Bisoprolol for around a year and had lots of tests on my heart where apart from a irregular heartbeat now and then nothing else. I now have a loop implant to record my heartbeat. I asked my cardiologist if I could come off Bisoprolol and he said as it was such a low dose that was ok. I came off it and I feel much better and my heart seems to have settled down See how you get oo and then ask if it’s really necessary. I don’t like taking medication unless it’s really necessary. Good luck.
I tend not to read the side effects to begin with-I do read contraindications as we see different gp’s -if any-and they don’t always read our notes before prescribing! Take the meds then if you do experience SE read it then. I take 1.5 biso with no problems at all-it was prescribed for a but it did slow me down so I take it at night now. no probs!
I'm on 1.25mg. The only issue I get is the occasional light-headedness when I stand up after being sat for a while. It does a good job of lowering my heart rate which usually sits around 55 when at rest.
As someone who has reactions to so many medications I'm always apprehensive when taking a new one. I was prescribed several all in one go which was even worse. Bisoprolol was the one I was most anxious about. However the only issue I have is colder hands and feet and a runny nose. The benefit outweighs that. 1.25 mg is a very small dose, I take 2.5 mg.
Thank you. I did tell the cardiologist I was very reluctant to take any tablets, he reassured me that it was the smallest of doses so I'd be ok. I guess I need to trust him.
I must admit I question a lot of things. I take 2.5 mg daily, and can take up to the same again as PIP for atrial fibrillation. I asked for 1.25 mg to take as PIP as initially it dropped my heart rate, not too low but I was wary of taking much. I've been taking it for 16 months now and it's very useful.The only way to find out is to try it. If it doesn't suit you then you can ask to try something else. Give it a couple of weeks to let your body adjust if necessary.
After I had an MI I was on 2.5mg per day. Any exercise was like wading through treacle. After a year the dose was reduced to 1.25. I really don't notice it. I did actually stop it for a few months but my rhr went to 85 at 1.25 my heart rate is 60-75 which is ok. I do have intermittent palpitations though
hi. I have bicuspid aortic valve and mild root dilation. I had an episode of fast heart rate and was awful. I am on 1.25 of bisoprolol and I’ve never felt better. For me they have been the best thing.
Hi I have been taking Bisoprolol now for over 12 months with no side effects. it was prescribed by the cardiologist for my random rapid heart rate. (would zoom from 70 to 150 for no reason and then back down to 80/90 over the space of 5 to 10 mins, this could happen a few times a day or not for a couple of days. As I say Random .) I was previously taking 20mg Quinapril and now take 10 mg quinapril and 2.5 mg bisoprolol.
Sounds like SVT, which is what I have. My hb can go from 67 to 185 from sitting down, crouching down, but not from exercise! ECG, CT with contrast, echogram, TripleX, show heart is fine. Holter caught one SVT but many ectopics. I took 1.25 for a year and then the cardio said I could stop. One year later, I am back on it as I have been having many palpitations and SVT runs. As well as a high resting heart rate compared to what it used to be. Hoping things calm down again and think this is a permanent med I will be taking.
Diagnosed with mild AF in August. Usually when under stress. E.g when a medic wants to take my Blood pressure ! No side effects whatsoever so I would recommend that you go ahead.
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