Bisoprolol and Digoxin

[Jonhel]

I’ve just been prescribed digoxin to take alongside the Bisoprolol which I’ve been taking for ten weeks months. I’ve been prescribed digoxin today because despite increasing the Bisoprolol to 12.5mg, my heart rate is still too high at 136 bpm.

I was diagnosed with AFib in July.

I’ve been reading about the dangers of digoxin which seem very scary. My GP has asked me to go into the surgery in three days time to check how I’m getting on with it but I’m still worried. Is anyone else on both Bisoprolol and Digoxin and how is it for you?

[Jonhel]

Should read ten weeks not months

[Jackiesmith7777]

My husband has just come off of them after 5 weeks on them as they gave him chronic diarrhoea , he has had his bisoprolol upped to 10mg a day and it seemed to be slowly easing . Everyone is different though .

Regards Jackie

[Jonhel in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Thanks, Jackie. That’s very helpful x

[Tob123]

I've been on both for over 2 years not had no problems

[Jonhel in reply to Tob123]

That is so good to hear. Thank you x

[Still_Breathing]

Over two years for me on both tablets. I rarely feel my afib.

[Jonhel in reply to Still_Breathing]

That’s great. So reassuring. Thank you x

[Eewee]

Hello Jonhel,

I had a very similar condition. That heart rate is unsustainable as it’s far to fast. I was diagnosed with Atrial Tachycardia and my HR was 120. I had a cardioversion to reset the rhythm which worked but I’m looking at an ablation in a couple of months. Insist on seeing a cardiologist who specialises in electrophysiology. Good luck.

[Jonhel in reply to Eewee]

Thank you. Wishing you lots of luck too x

[Silvasava]

Ive been on Digoxin for nearly 3 years, no issues at all. I was on 10 mg of Bisoprolol but that has been changed to Nebivolol at a much lower dose HTH

[Jonhel in reply to Silvasava]

That’s so good to know x

[Fullofheart]

I was on digoxin for nearly a year. No side effects. I was taking dronedarone alongside.

[Jonhel in reply to Fullofheart]

Thank you. Very reassuring x

[Fullofheart]

I couldn't tolerate bisoprolol at all. Even very low dose made me breathless and dizzy.

[devonian186]

I have looked at your bio and note this;

"I’ve gone from being busy and active to feeling ten years older and unable to contemplate normal exercise such as walking my dog. "

Has anything precipitated this change, such as new diet, stress such as moving home, retiring etc or has it been identified as definitely being a new heart problem? In which case they should be able to pinpoint what happened and treat it.

[Jonhel in reply to devonian186]

I can’t think of anything that triggered it. Before I was diagnosed with AFib, I just thought the tiredness and breathlessness was due to getting older and needing to lose a bit of weight.

I’m waiting for the results from my echocardiogram to check structures of the heart. My GP has said that the AFib seems to be permanent because of the duration to date. Main problem has been the struggle to lower my heart rate. I’m hoping that the digoxin I was prescribed on Friday morning helps. My GP rang me at twenty to seven on Friday night to ask me to go to see him on Monday to see how I’m getting on. My medical practice is great.

[devonian186 in reply to Jonhel]

Your GP phoned you? You must be a celebrity or a minor royal at least!

You used the word 'precipitated' as if it were quite sudden rather than something happening over time, like ageing. Certainly we slow down as we get older and I would put the time it becomes noticeable as 65ish.

If it were pretty sudden then it may be worth trying to identify the change which may or may not be heart related. I hope you wil keep us all up to date as to whether your GP has come up with anything new.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Jonhel]

Sounds like you have the same condition as my husband he is also in permanent AF his eco cardiogram showed left ventricle working at 33% at the moment but now his heart rate is down to 80s/90s they say it can improve in time . It’s caused by the heart beating so fast for so long apparently .

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Jonhel]

What were the results of your eco cardiogram if you don’t mind me asking. They are going to try my husband on digoxin again as his heart rate to high still , hooefully no upset stomach this time

[Jonhel in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

The results from my second cardio gram were reassuring according to my cardiologist. The impairment of systolic left ventricular function identified in the first echocardiogram was no longer apparent (probably because my heart rate was better controlled). Still got mild to moderate leaky valves. Feeling a lot better x

[Jonhel in reply to Jonhel]

Pulmonary aortic systolic pressure 30mmHG (whatever that means). I’m seeing the cardiologist in three weeks time and will discuss the high dose of bisoprolol (12.5 daily). I was on perindoporil but that’s been changed to candersartin because of cough side effect x

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Jonhel]

I’m hoping and praying thst will be the case with my husband although it’s still a bit high . The consultant it putting him back digoxin but only a small dose of digoxin as it bought his heart rate down before but upset his stomach so had to come off it . That really gives me hope as he has exactly the same problem as you on his first eco . What was the gap between your first and second one out of interest . My husbands was six months ago not long after his stroke caused by AF . Thank you .

[Jonhel in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

The first one was in mid September's and the second one was on 15th December. I am back to normal in terms of always being on the go. I still get a bit tired sometimes but I’m no longer breathless and the swelling in my ankles has gone.

Hope your husband improves soon x

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Jonhel]

Ok thanks . So only three months apart . I might ask when he is due another one when we’re at the at the heart function clinic again .

[mesally]

Hi Jonhel, I take bisoprolol 5 mg and also digoxin - no issues - the combination has worked wonders for me

[Jonhel in reply to mesally]

Thank you for this. I really appreciate you letting me know about your positive experience x

[mesally]

I take 5mg bisoprol and was put on digoxin 62.5. I was fine on this but since going up to 125 have had increasingly bad side effects. My afib has got more pronounced, wheezing, and yellow fuzzy vision. Now gone back down to 62.5 and starting to feel a bit better

[mesally]

I'm on 5mg bisoprolol and 62.5 digoxin