Bisoprolol

[E16Pat]

Hi all, has anyone changed there Bisoprolol for something else, I really getting fed up with the fatigue this medication gives me, thinking of trying to see my GP mind you that not going to be easy.

Take care everyone

Pat🙏

[Hidden]

Hello

I do not like been on this med either Pat but somehow I have stuck with it even though at one stage I nearly went on something else instead but my Surgeon said no she wanted me to stay on it

But as hard as I know it is get onto the Doctors and see if you can get an appointment as there have been lot's of members gone on something different because they can't tolerate it x

[Heather1957]

I too am interested in this, I have been on bisoprolol for over 6 years initially 2.5 mgs then it was upped by the cardiac nurse back in 2021 to 5 mgs.

It has taken some time but I always feel exhausted. It is a mixture of medication I am taking for my diabetes which means I have to go to the loo every 2/3 hrs which at night really wears me out plus the Bisoprolol.

I'd like to know some options too TIA.

[fishonabike in reply to Heather1957]

i hope your Cardiac Nurse took into account the effect of beta-blockers on blood-glucose control when your dosage was altered

[Heather1957 in reply to fishonabike]

It was never mentioned. I am going for my yearly review (6 months late) in April so I will raise it with my nurse practitioner. My heart rate hasn't really changed since upping the dose so maybe I can go back to 2.5 for now.

[annpavitt250448]

I had the same and my heart rate was really low on it. I was changed to amlodipine and seem ok on that. Was a bit light headed to start with but stick with it and am ok now

[Heyjude31]

Hi E16Pat, I could not tolerate bisoprolol as it made me nauseaus/sick. I was put onto Nebivolol which was much better but gave me a hoarse throat. I am now taking Rampiril. They all have various.side effects, I guess it’s a case of finding one which we can best tolerate. I do hope you find something else which is better for you. Take care, Judi

[RufusScamp]

Is it the Bisoprolol, or the condition you are taking it for? Worth a chat with your GP anyway, if you can manage it!

[Captain_Birdseye]

Any change in medication will need to be run past your GP as it might not be the medication (,you know that anyway) - but if you're thinking if alternatives have you considered having a chat with your local pharmacist? They are specialists in medicines and might be able to at least let you know what's available - and that's something you can take to a GP (and let them know you'll see a doctor, you just need information).

Personally I was switched from bisoprolol to propranolol - but this was to help with chronic migraines as well as heart rate.

[deniseinmilden]

Good point! 🙄

[NLGA]

I had terrible fatigue now I take both my tablets at night about a hour or so before bed

[SLK-14]

Hello E16Pat...I couldn't tolerate Bisoprolol either, my Consultant put me on Nebivolol and I've not had any problems..Good luck 😊

[Suzyh]

Yes my cardiologist changed me to amlodipine

[gixxerboy]

I used to be on Bisoprolol and was changed over to Nebivolol , apparently l was told Nebivolol is more expensive so they might hmmm and haaaa but if you want to change go for it....😀

[Mtk1]

Hi , I was changed from bisoprolol to diltiazem and feel a lot better, but obviously this has to be done with your consultant or doctor. Good luck.

Dave.

[Cat04 in reply to Mtk1]

Same here, now on Tildiem 300LA (diltiazem)

[Sunshinebrew]

I was changed from bisopradol to diliatem on the advice of my cardiologist and this suited me much better but I think this is because of my condition

[Cat04]

Same here now on Tildiem 300 L.A. ( diltiazem)

[Doublef]

The cardiac surgeon wanted to double my bisoprolol from 5mg to 10mg, it completely knocked me off my legs and my BP nose dived. The cardiac nurse has now reduced it to 6.25mg but was offered no alternative.

[jerry12953]

There are alternatives to Bisoprolol which has all sorts of unpleasant side-effects - although not everyone gets them, of course. I suspect it is the cheapest medication of its type and health professionals prescribe it first for that reason. They know it has unpleasant side-effects and if people don't complain they will continue to prescribe it.

My side-effects included dizziness on and off and my GP moved me over to amlodipine when I told him. A friend of mine immediately started having suicidal thoughts when he started on it so stopped taking it.

I'm on diltiazem (zemtard) now (300 mg) which does seem to have reduced the angina I had been suffering from.

[Mumtochd]

I couldn’t cope with bisoprolol side effects, GP eventually gave me nebivilol which I have had no issues with.

[talipia]

Hi Pat, on Bis 2.5mg and definitely harder to get moving/stop feeling cranky in the morning, but once I start to move or the dog drags me out I generally feel fine,it's just the early morning crankiness which I put up with, but the drug is suppressing my ectopic load so worth every penny. I also have found that taking all my tablets meds or supplements, always with food seems to be kinder on my old carcass. Stay well.

[Cricket23]

Hi,

I was on Bisoprolol, and had symptoms of fatigue for about 18 mths. I've changed to Sotolol and things are ok now.

Hope you and others can chg, but it does seem that the medical profession are reluctant to change for some reason. Maybe cost as someone has suggested.

[Redwing30]

Hi ,I switched to Tildiem LA 500mg and do feel less tired .Good luck with what you decide.

[Qualipop]

Changing meds is a decision for your GP or c ardiologist. If the surgery has a pharmacist you could ring them and explain then they could speak to your GP. That may be easier than getting an appointment. Obviously any change will depend on your condition. After my HA I was given bisopralol. I was like a zombie sleeping almost 20 hours a day. I easily got it changed but what was right for me likely wouldn't be right for you

[Hilianna]

Hi Pat When I was first diagnosed with a fib I was prescribed bisopropol but could not tolerate it. My blood pressure dropped and I fainted. I have tried other betablockers but they make me feel exhausted. Now just take edoxoban and waiting for an ablation. I think if your blood pressure is normal the betablockers, in dropping your heart rate, drop the blood pressure as well. Best of luck. x

[Suziib]

I am also on Bisopropol.. this is the drug that makes my fingers and toes so white in the cold and the chilly mornings of the summer as it slows down my heart rate, this is a side effect listed. . I was on Ramipril for my BP but due to the Ramipril cough was changed to amolopidine. Do the alternative medicines to bisopropol stop this whiteness??

[isobelhannah18]

I changed to Ivabradine for 18 months but it made absolutely no difference to the fatigue or the dizzy spells. It's very expensive so I'm back on Bisoprolol now.

[dikda]

What follows is not a reply but a general comment about Bisoprolol and my experience of it as an 86 year old. It was originally prescribed by Kings College following a quad bypass almost 10 years ago. I was extremely fortunate and able to literally view the surgery and recovery as a non-event, with excellent treatment and care by the 'team'! I am on 1.25 mg of both Bisoprolol and Ramipril as 'maintenace meds' with NO adverse effects that I can recognise except when my GP attempted to withdraw the Biso. I am continually amazed at the enormous range of responses to Biso. that are reported here. It is incredible that a med can be so unpredictable in regard to the acceptability to the patient of this 'stuff' and raises some very fundamental questions about its 'prescribeability'. Now, I will claim to be 'a bit of a hard-man' and not easily fazed by illness, but my experience of the withdrawal symptons from this med scared the s... out of me and made me more unwell than I have ever experienced in my life, so be aware that the withdrawal of Bisoprolol can be truly frightening in some instances.

Best wishes to all.

[Hrty in reply to dikda]

I was on 1.25mg of Bisoprolol post HA. Stuck at it for just over 3 months but it was making be exhausted, dizzy and with a very low HR. Came off it just over 3 weeks ago, the withdrawal has been "interesting" at times.

[Chantelle9788 in reply to Hrty]

I’m trying to taper off 1.25 and struggling, what did you experience?

[Hrty in reply to Chantelle9788]

Hi, I didn't taper and just stopped taking it after discussing with my Cardiac Dr at the Hospital. I had some increased anxiety and fluttery sensations in the chest area. Hard to explain but they felt a bit "odd". A bit like when you are bit "afraid" of something bit can't quite put your finger on why. After a couple of weeks it settled down and my resting heart rate is averaging around 50 and no longer dropping into low 30s. I have loads more energy and no longer feel like a zombie.

[Chantelle9788 in reply to Hrty]

glad your ok now and off it, for me it’s the anxiety and chest pain that comes with tapering off, I’m going to try again and do it very slow

[Yumz199725]

Just saw your post might be switched on to bisoprol dosent sound very good 😕. Hope you was able to see your gp about changing it to something better.

[MONIREN]

I was on Bisoprolol 10mg for a year, hated it, gp refused to change it, had to wait for yearly review with cardiologist. I used to be on Metopolol 40mg for 12yrs, no worries. After last stent, cardiologist changed it to Bisoprolol. Everyone is different, my main problem was having feet and hands like ice, plus not sleeping. Here in Australia, we just finished summer, even in heat, I had to wrap blanket around my feet. Couldn't bear another winter, just changed a couple of days ago. Now back on Metopolol, I'm hoping I can get my life back. Just be aware some gp can't change cardiologist meds. All the best! Moni