Symptoms after cardiologist has halved my dose of bisoprolol. Love to hear how others felt after halving their dose .

[Westie2012]

I’ve been taking 5mg bisoprolol for over 2 years due to episodes of tachycardia , saw my cardiologist last week and he said to try taking 2.5 mg fir a week then if no symptoms (palpitations ) then stop it completely . I’ve been ok at home but when I’ve bern walking to daughters school then my heart has been going faster than usual and I’ve felt quite odd , thinking should I just carry on with the lower dose for a few more days and hope it settles . We’re going to York on Thursday for a short break (as I’ll be 50 on Friday )and I’m hoping I won’t have any issues that see me needing medical help .

[Yumz199725]

Ahh I really hope you don't have any issues on the lower dose how long do you have to wait to see if things improve? X

[Westie2012 in reply to Yumz199725]

Cardiologist said to take 2.5 for a week then if no palpitations then stop taking it , or go back up to 5mg if I needed to

[Instructor57]

Hi, No one on here can advise you what to do regarding your medication .

That really would be for your GP or Cardiologist.

I can though however tell you the symptoms I had when I was taken off Bisoprolol completely a few months ago !

I was only on 1.25mg/day but for a few days after stopping I did have a few cold sweats.

Nothing more than that .

The GP hadn't warned me but I was expecting this from my own research.

Hope it works out for you 🤞

[Westie2012 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks for your reply , I wouldn’t ask on here about changing doses of medication , just interested to hear if others had a change or return of symptoms after changing their dose of bisoprolol .

[Instructor57 in reply to Westie2012]

Sorry but this looks like a question regarding your dose as it ends with a question mark .

", should I just carry on with the lower dose for a few more days and hope it settles ?"

[Westie2012 in reply to Instructor57]

Sorry ,my bad

[Instructor57 in reply to Westie2012]

No worries 🙂

[Dogloverxthree]

Hi westie your lucky mine has just been increased to 10 mg from 2.5 due to very high and irregular heart rate plus added dijoxinAnd by the way it’s my birthday Friday and I’ll be 80 but no celebrations take care

[Westie2012 in reply to Dogloverxthree]

Thank you for your reply. Wishing you a lovely 80th birthday , have a lovely day . Here’s to both our birthdays 🎂🎁🎈🎉😘

[Bettyboo25 in reply to Dogloverxthree]

Hope you have a wonderful 80th birthday 💐💐🍰

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I take 2.5mg was lowered from 5mg

To be honest I did not feel very much different maybe less tired if just a bit and a bit less dizzy had no palpitations nothing like that

You may notice something though as you could have been on the higher dose longer than I was but hopefully it would settle down if you did

Let us know how you get on x

[Westie2012 in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you x

[BeKind28- in reply to Westie2012]

x

[Lezzers]

If you've become symptomatic, albeit slightly different symptoms than you previously had, after lowering your dose then you need to notify your cardiologist. If you're experiencing a fast HR that is making you feel a bit odd then he/she may want you to increase the dose again. But only your medical team can give you advice on this. My husband has VT's and he personally wouldn't wait it out without speaking to his medical team first. I hope you get it sorted & enjoy your birthday trip to York.

[Westie2012 in reply to Lezzers]

Thank you , cardiologist just said if I was getting palpitations then I can just up the dose to 5mg and I wouldn’t need to consult him or my gp . I’ll see how it goes the next few days

[Weetabixie]

Hi, I would speak to gp if you could speak to cardiology even better and just see what they say, especially as you're going away Thursday, if nothing else just to put your mind at ease. I'm the opposite, my bisoprolol been halved but was small dose of 2.5mg down to 1.25mg and now have less pulsating sensations (not what I'd call palpitations as none in chest area. Best of luck with it and hope you have a lovely Birthday Thursday 🙂

[Westie2012 in reply to Weetabixie]

Thank you , cardiologist said to go back to taking 5mg if I need to without asking him or a gp

[NLGA in reply to Westie2012]

My chap is happy for me to stay on 10 mg a day and go to 15mg if I need it

[Tigger_2 in reply to NLGA]

Maximum dose daily is 10-mg according to the Sandoz PIL.Ask your prescriber why you can go over the recommended dose.

I did accidentally take 20-mg on one occasion without ill effects.

[NLGA in reply to Tigger_2]

No it’s not 20mg is max checked it many many times

Was in 15 at one point for weeks / months

[Tigger_2 in reply to NLGA]

OK.I have the Sandoz Bisoprolol Fumarate 5 and 10 mg film coated Patient Information Leaflet in front of me.

Quote

"Maximum dose is once daily 10-mg"

Good luck.

[NLGA in reply to Tigger_2]

That’s good for you

I have 2 cardio doctors advice one just this September and a 11 day stay in hospital , so I think I will go with that advice or the nhs advice in general

[Tigger_2 in reply to NLGA]

Manufacturer and licence holder Sandoz wrong, everyone else rightIt's your choice, but you should at least be questioning it.

[NLGA in reply to Tigger_2]

Do you not think I have ? I’m not sure why you can’t just believe me 😂

Surely you have better things to do surely I should listen to my two cardio doctors rather than someone called tigger on a forum

[Tigger_2 in reply to NLGA]

Don't start getting personal or you'll end up being reported.

[NLGA in reply to Tigger_2]

I can’t say that scares me , why not just take a hint I have made it clear I am taking my cardio doctors advice and prefer to do that than that of a cartoon character

[APC65]

So I have been weening myself off bisoprodol since mid July! Cardiologist said I could come off it (was on 1 25) and just stop which I tried but like you I found the extra heart beat on exercise ( walking) disconcerting. I was due to go away to Italy for summer so chose to stay on the1.25 until I returned and then try again. On return after consultation with pharmacist I started to cut 1.25 in half. For about a week I experienced faster heart rate which was stubborn to settle back down, however after about 3 weeks I felt I had so much more energy. I decided to stay on that dose for few weeks and now plan to get off the other half when I know I have a period few quiet weeks. I have discussed with cardiologist and he is happy for me to manage reduction at ' my pace'. Different people respond differently to these drugs, find ' your pace'.

[Westie2012 in reply to APC65]

Thank you , this is really helpful x

[NLGA]

Unfortunately for me when mine was halved my heartbeat went over a 120 and my breathing difficulties started walking up inclines was difficult

I hope it works for you

[DWizza]

Hi Westie, I’m on Bisoprolol following Nstemi heart attack , quadruple bypass surgery July 25th this year. Started on 3.75mg , then reduced to to 1.25 which I thought was too much of a reduction , noticed my heart rate /BP creeping back up . Was out on 2.5 , and now I’m trying 1.25 for the next week to see how things have settled down. I think we have quite a bit of patient autonomy and I found that my GP and medical team are open to my reporting (monitoring BP/HR) and suggestions. I have read that changing doses of bisoprolol can take a week or so to take effect. If it’s peace of mind for that week , I’d take the lower dose, it’s only a week. You could also confirm this with your medical team ? Do what’s best for you’re peace of mind for a week and enjoy your trip . 👍

[Blackknight57]

What is your heart rate whole walking. If its not below 80 or above 145 nothing to worry about. Absolute max is 170bpm. And don’t rely on smart watches over short periods. Found i could raise the reading by loosening yhe strap and moving arm quick

[Ewloe]

I reduced my bisoprolol from 7.5 to 5mg daily. I crept it down over a couple of months as I’d heard that it can cause issues by reducing it to quickly. I used a pill cutter to do it. I haven’t had any problems and settled onto the lower dose. Good luck

[Brht]

I'd continue on the lower amount and document any side effects or changes you feel. You could take extra medication with you in case you feel you need to go back. I have had to alter my doses of bisoprolol and others too. Bearing in mind I'm speaking as a layman. If you are really concerned consult your Dr.

[AnxiousGuy23]

I'm currently on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol as I was having Tachycardic episodes. My Cardiologist said to me that when I look to come off it we would taper down very very slowly as you can have a rebound reaction (blood pressure, heart rate, sweats, sickness). She was talking about taking 2.5 then 1.25 on alternate days, then tapering to 1.25 every day then eventually going to 6/7 days, 5/7 days etc until I'm off it (if I don't become symptomatic again).

[Weetabixie]

NLGA,

Tigger_2,

Re maximum dosage I've seen where it says max dose is 10mg and also another place saying 20mg. Hope you are both ok.

[richard_jw]

Reducing Bisoprolol from 5mg to 2.5mg will result in your resting heart rate increasing. That's the purpose of Beta Blockers. They reduce the effect of hormones like adrenaline on the heart. making is beat slower and therefore protect it.

I stopped taking 2.5mg Bisoprolol at the cardiologist's suggestion. I did it on 2 stages, because going cold turkey does apparently produce withdrawal symptoms.

The difference between 2.5 and none resulted in my RHR increasing from 65 to 75-80. I certainly did feel different initially.

I was told that this level of increase of RHR is normal. It's for your doctor to advise if the symptoms you are getting are OK.

[Qualipop]

Your GP has given you permission to increase it again if you need to so why not just do that while you are away then start again with the reduction afterwards?

[Jetcat]

I’d see how you go westie and take some spare bisoprolol with you just in case.? You can always jump back onto 5mg then make another appointment and explain why your back on 5.??

[Anon2023]

hi. My gp recently lowered my bisoprolol from 10mg to 5mg. I was very tired and was concerned that it was a side effect of my meds. Bisoprolol was the only medication that my GP was prepared to alter. Before starting the new dose I spoke with the cardiology team who suggested lowering it to 7.5mg at first and then to 5mg. Two weeks ago I started taking 7.5mg. The first thing I noticed was a surge in my energy levels I felt a bit wired for a couple of days but it soon subsided. From what I understand bisoprolol blocks Adrenalin so perhaps the reduction in dosage meant my adrenalin levels spiked I also noticed an increase in my resting heart rate from around 60bpm to 75bpm. After a couple of weeks it’s settled at 65bpm. I’ve been very conscious of the increase in my heart rate and I suspect that if I’d dropped down to 5mg straight away it would have been much higher. I’m about to start my 5mg dose next week and I’m a bit apprehensive but, if after a couple of weeks, I don’t feel ok then I’ll be speaking to my gp to raise it to 7.5mg again. I do feel that since reducing my bisoprolol I do have a little more energy but I know that I’m going to be on beta blockers for the rest of my life and have to balance the positive impact of this medication against my quality of life. X

[Osman123 in reply to Anon2023]

Hope it works for you, my husband just got his bisoprolol lowered from 5 to 1.25 due to sinus bradycardia, his RHR was 42-49, he'd been on the 5mg for nearly 2 years. Had to go to Emergency department for chest pain which luckily they said was muscular pain but they kept him overnight for his HR being so low, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Xx

[Westie2012 in reply to Osman123]

That’s a very low HR, hope the hospital did tests before your hubby was discharged ? Did they mention any follow up tests or appointments ? have a pacemaker for bradycardia and heart pauses, I had to wear a 7 day holter monitor that diagnosed the heart problems and a few months later was fitted with a pacemaker for the pauses and bradycardia , the bisoprolol was to slow my heart as I was having episodes of tachycardia which made he felt quite unwell . If your hubby keeps getting chest pain then he should get medical advice . It took me many gp appointments and trips to A&E before I was taken seriously , I was told repeatedly my symptoms were stress and anxiety . Eventually one dr arranged the heart monitor test that finally led to getting a diagnosis and help .

[Osman123 in reply to Westie2012]

They did an ECG, ultrasound scan, Xray and bloods. Bloods suggested it wasn't cardiac related as troponin wasn't raised, ultrasound showed no further heart damage.Just reduced bisoprolol and got sent home.

[Westie2012 in reply to Osman123]

Was he kept on a heart monitor while he was in hospital ?

[Osman123 in reply to Westie2012]

Yes he was

[Osman123]

All the best @Westie2012

[Westie2012 in reply to Osman123]

Thank you x