Bisoprolol dose

[Heartmum56]

Totally unexpected HA 4 weeks ago age 56, non smoker, not overweight etc etc. Struggling to get used to the drug cocktail. They want my resting HR at under 65. I am on 3.75 Bisopropol and was achieving that quite nicely, usually 57-64 and felt ok. Last few days have woken with pins and needles in my hands and yesterday HR seemed to drop to more like 48-54 and felt rubbish. GP suggests dropping to 2.5 but wondering if I shd change so soon or stick with it for a while yet until I see the cardiologist in 3 weeks? Anxiety about changing seems to have put my HR back up now. BP was well under control but worrying about this has pushed it up a bit so that also makes me anxious about changing. Any wisdom out there?

[Tos92]

Hi Heartmum56

I’m sorry to hear of your recent heart attack.

From personal experience with meds, I would recommend maybe giving it a while longer. When I initially started a heart med called Verapamil, I would experience bradycardia on it. After some time, my heart rate reverted back to normal. I appreciate the worry it’s causing you, but I wonder if you are on the correct dosage as it was helping in the beginning.

If you feel even worse on it, at least you have the new lowered dosage which perhaps means you can switch and use that any point. This does not replace your cardiologist’s advice however. So whatever you decide to do, make sure you’ve informed your cardiologist also.

Best of luck.

Tos x

[Ewloe]

I can relate to how you’re feeling. It will take your mind and body time to adjust. This early after a heart attack I would try giving it a bit longer before changing medication and I certainly would rather the cardiologist make any changes than the gp. Good luck.

[scentedgardener]

I'm on 2.5 mg Bisoprolol, initially it dropped my resting HR to anything between 48 and 52. Nearly 2 years later my body is used to it and HR rarely drops below 60.One way round it , if your doctor agrees, is to take 2.5 mg in the morning, then if needed, 1 25 mg at tea time.

I routinely have mý 2.5 mg, but use 1.25 mg as a PIP (for atrial fibrillation). They first said to take an extra 2.5 mg as PIP but it used to drop HR too much so I suggested 1.25 mg and they agreed.

Always check with your doctor first as they know us as individuals, and what suits one person may not be appropriate for another.

[Desktop54]

You could talk to your doctor about splitting when you take them. My hubby now takes half in the morning and half in the evening and he feels much better for it. Good luck.

[Dkhanka]

hey , read your note . I would say go with the GP advice. To low HR is a risk too. Brady cardia. I am sure you might be feeling a bit dizzy some times . 3.5 to 2.5 mg not a big difference .

I can only image what is your HB when you are sleeping . I don’t think you want it in your 40’s at rest .

[Furryears]

I get that Heartmum56 I’ve had a few problems after my HA and Bypass, I now have erosive gastritis and the surgery I see want to take me off one of my meds and I’m not over happy about this, so they are writing to the consultant I see to take his advice, I too have been fretting a bit over this

Good luck I hope you get sorted x

[Hare123]

Hi. I’m sorry to hear of your heart attack. This is very similar to my husband, and must be such a shock for you. My husband also struggled with bisoporal. After much discussion between gp and cardio rehab they reduced the dose, but not until 4 months after the heart attack. I would recommend speaking to your cardio rehab team as they are brilliant at advising on things like this (or at least they are in my area)

[Adhtz21]

Morning, I would wait to see your Cardiologist in a few weeks. I self reduced miy dosage from 2.5mg to 1.25mg. This was due to grade 1 heart block shown on ECG and my pulse rate often being in the 40’s during the day and fatigue. My GP did not agree although my Cardiologist did. I also got an additional tablet called Doxazosin which reduces my BP and raises my pulse rate.

Take care, Andy

[49reasons]

I can identify with what you’re going through. My heart attack in January came as quite a shock. I’m 73, but didn’t consider myself, otherwise, as a candidate for a heart attack. It has been hard coming to terms with it. I’ve never smoked, don’t drink, have eaten a low fat diet for years, not overweight and my mobility is pretty good. I saw others my age using walking aids, very overweight, smoking, drinking and eating full English breakfasts or cake. It seemed so unfair that I’d had a heart attack and I’d thought I was doing ok for my age. In retrospect, my mother (smoker) had angina from her early 40s and, like most people my age, I inhaled the smoke of others at work and, in fact, everywhere. It’s so good that workplaces, restaurants and pubs are smoke free nowadays. The only medication I took was an inhaler for mild asthma so getting used to all the medication has been hard. I’ve had a lot of problems with bruising due to aspirin, but I have been advised to persevere. Your heart attack is more recent, so I think it advisable to persevere as others have already advised.

[doktordru]

Similar circumstances to myself last July. I was on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol after discharge following a HA out of the blue and stuck with that dosage for about 6 months until I had a meds review with my practice pharmacist. By this point I'd collected lots of evidence about my resting heart rate - which was falling to sub 40 during early evening and while asleep. I was worried that halving. the dose might see my HR zoom ahead - but no - the lift has been marginal at mid 40's when resting. I'd go wit the experts and if they suggest a change try it and monitor the results..Wishing you will.

[56dick19]

Hi stick with it and hopefully it well in prove I’m on 10mg per day.the side effect I get is getting tired. I was on 12.5 but had to go on amiodarone as the Bisoprolol wasn’t keeping my heart under control any more hope it goes well for you

[Douglas91]

bisoprolol is a heart specific medication essentially it directly works on the heart quite dramatically. It helps the heart to pump blood around the body with less stress and therefore makes it more efficient. However it can have some side effects of dropping heart rates very substantially. It’s a balancing act to try to get the heart beating as normally as possible with fewer side effects. It takes time to get the medication dosage correct as everyone is different. Your GP will be watching out for any problems and I’d take his advice. However you could ring up your cardiac nurse. You should have received their name on discharge from hospital. They are a font of knowledge and their experience is often better informed than your GP who has knowledge of cardiac problems but obviously isn’t a specialist. Good luck I’m sure things will improve shortly. X