AFIB/Chest Oain

[Dudleycat]

Following a diagnosis of paroxysmal AFib in June I have gone from typical AFib symptoms to having chest discomfort which wakes me around 3am-5am most nights. I was prescribed Bisoprolol and Edoxaban but the Bisoprolol made me feel dreadful so switched to Metoprolol. These night time episodes are very debilitating and I have chest pain the next day. I went to A&E on one occasion because it was so scary but ECG, Troponin and D-Dimer were all fine. I have seen a cardiologist who did an echo which was okay and all blood test by my GP were fine. I am at the end of my tether as gone from feeling absolutely fine, going to the gym etc to having no energy. Has anyone else been through this?

[Dudleycat]

Thank you 🙏 I think I am struggling to come to terms with being completely fine one week and feeling so rubbish the next. It is also the weirdness of the regular early morning pain that is getting to me. I am seeing the cardiologist later this week and hopefully will get some answers . Thanks again

[whiteblackblue]

So sorry to hear that. I found that I cannot take Beta blockers period. I have been on most of them including Metoprolol, this was the worst one ever for me, no energy, very tired all the time, wasn’t able to do much. I weaned myself off very slowly while increasing my potassium levels, took me two months, however I did not have rebound hypertension, which usually happens if weaned off too fast. I am doing research to find something to help myself, I put a pinch of Cayenne pepper in my tea to help with circulation and a few other things… not suggesting that anyone else do this, blessings.

[Dudleycat in reply to whiteblackblue]

Thanks. I am tolerating the Metoprolol better than the Bisoprolol but still not my normal self. I guess I have to get used to the new normal if it is keeping me safe, but it is miserable. I don’t feel at the moment that I can come off them. How did you increase your potassium?

[Delphiniumsblue]

Hi Dudleycat!

I’m sorry to hear of your heart and medication troubles .

I have written on here before about my own struggles with beta blockers. Since then though I have found a new normal and find I tolerate the metoprolol a lot better than when I started back on a higher dose.

Back history- I started with Bisoprolol back in 2011 and it was not great with hallucinations and fatigue.

Then I had a period of going off Bbs (and other heart medications ) altogether as I was young and not interested in being a heart patient !

Unfortunately my heart health declined when I did that and I reluctantly went back onto bbs- metoprolol seems to be the one out of four -that were suitable for me to try- that gives me the smallest issue.

Having said that I really struggled with the side effects - hallucinations, fatigue , bad sleep and even depression.

Due to my recent current condition of being pregnant (16 weeks )I have had to up the dose from 12.5mg to 75mg. I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy , the higher dose or my adaption to the side effects (since I have now been on the higher dose for some months )but I can tolerate the metoprolol better than when I started.

I no longer get hallucinations and I feel much more well rested when waking in the morning.

I wonder if it takes some months to get over the hump of the body getting used to the new chemicals in the body ?

If the metoprolol isn’t causing you any serious health problems I suggest staying on it for a few more months and trying to push through.

Keep busy , if not doing gym, doing other less high intensity exercise.

You may find you feel a new kind of better in the end.

Good Luck -I feel your struggle !

[Dudleycat in reply to Delphiniumsblue]

Thank you for your very helpful and supportive reply. A week in, I find Metoprolol is definitely more tolerable than Bisoprolol. I have been trying to do a few long walks and am counting my blessings if I sleep through the night! The cardiologist has put me on the waiting list for a perfusion scan so will hopefully get some answers about the night time discomfort. If all is fine and no ischaemia, he has suggested I switch to Flecainide, so watch this space. Very best wishes for your new arrival.