I stared bisoprolol 2.5mg 5 weeks ago for palpitations with no diagnosed heart conditions. Since then I have developed cold hands and feet with numbness, tingling, pain in feet and legs, coldness in legs and occasional blue toes. Doctor told me to immediately discontinue the medication last week. Been off it for 8 days. Starting to get a bit worried. Ended up in A & E last night when my calf turned white. Cleared then of an ischaemic leg. Just really worried about what this pills done to me. Has anyone else had an experience like mine?
PS they said I don’t have PAD because all my pulses feel strong.
Written by
Granolylover
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Have they discussed with you the possibility of Drug Induced Raynaud's Syndrome?It's not common to get it severely but a reduction of circulation in the periphery can cause some people to begin to suffer Raynaud's symptoms or for people whom already had Raynaud's Syndrome to suffer worse symptoms, especially in cold or damp weather. Your pulse is commonly still strong with the condition , in fact sometimes it's very strong because your body is trying to get warmth back to the digits .
Raynaud's Syndrome is a condition which causes poor blood oxygen flow and temperature control and an extreme reaction to even a mild drop or rise in temperature in the toes, fingers , feet, hands , nose and ears.
Symptoms include sudden change of colour to white or purple/blue, numbness, extreme cold, sudden swelling, sometimes burning and red colouration, throbbing and tingling , increase in things like chilblains and dry or flaky skin.
One of the groups of drugs that is linked to this phenomena are blood pressure medications , particularly beta blockers.
If they didn't suggest it perhaps you could ask about it yourself. Have they given you a different medication in the meantime to do the job that the bisoprolol was doing?
I do have Raynaud's Syndrome and since having heart problems it is worse . It can be managed by using compression gloves and socks , moisturising , keeping the body parts at a steady warm temperature, keeping the legs raised. But it is a pain in the neck , especially in winter or if it causes chilblains. My family can judge how close it is to sunset if we are on the beach by whether my fingers have gone white and numb or not even if I have my gloves on.
Then it's home in the car and then slowly thawing them out by exercising them in warm water.
Beta blockers didn't suit me in general and so I didn't get chance to note if that particular drug specifically makes my Raynaud's worse . But some of my medications did affect my circulation and so it is harder for me to control my Raynaud's now.
I know some people whom still use beta blockers because they don't have other choices whom also have Raynaud's and they have noticed their symptoms became worse on them and they need to take extra precautions, and in some cases medication to deal with the problem.
Please keep us posted about how you get on and I hope you feel better soon , take care , Bee
Hi, I was put on bisoprolol 1.25mg pd when my AF was first diagnosed. I was only on it for 2 weeks because even at that very lowest dose, I was so I’ll on it. It affected my liver, I got tingling hands etc, I felt exhausted.
After I came off it, it took a long time to get my body back to normal…many weeks. Hopefully your doctor will sort it all out for you. Good luck.
Very interested to hear that biso affected your liver. I developed excruciating pain through my liver after being on biso for about 3 weeks. Went to A&E but they found no cause. I stopped taking it and pain went within 2 days but doctors said its not possible as biso "is heart specific". Obviously not for all of us!
Wow thats fascinating to know. In my case the biso caused the gamma GT levels in my liver to go from 27 to 145 v quickly. They thought i had a fatty liver and put me on the waiting list for a liver scan! When i came off biso, it took weeks to get back to normal gamma GT levels.
I don't know if they ever tested my gamma GT levels. Just had ultrasound and some blood tests but I've no idea what was tested. They had thought it was gall stones but found none. I did have a dull ache for several months afterwards which sometimes still occurs if I stress my body too much. If I ever go back to Dr's I will ask if these were tested. Thanks for your reply.
I also have raised GGT, though not as high (70s). It went up on dronedarone, then back to normal, but has gone up again since I’ve been on Bisoprolol. They don’t seem to be worried about it.
Hi, I’m on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol currently, reduced from 3.75 post Nstemi heart attack in July. The larger dose spaced me out too much. I do get cold hands , toes and nose. My consultant has prescribed coming off bisoprolol in the future and going on to rampiril, he believes that is the “gold standard” in combination with my other meds.
I know all of the meds have a number of side effects 🤦🏼
As has been said, Bisoprolol and Reynauds don't mix. I tolerate 1.25mg of Bisoprolol, but my Raynauds (which is genetic) has slowly been getting worse. I take Nifedipine to counteract the effect, but still get cold toes and fingers, though they no longer go white. It looks like I may need to stop taking Bisoprolol at some point.
I'm on 5mg Biso. twice a day and have been for the past 10 years, also take Warfarin, Ramipril and Doxazosin and yes I feel the cold. Especially hands, feet and legs, but generally all over. Wear thermal underwear most of the year. Hurrah for Damart!! Watch TV with a blanket wrapped round my legs. Gloves for driving. etc. etc. It's a known problem with some meds especially anticoagulant but your symptoms do sound a bit extreme, hope there is an improvement now you have stopped the bisoprolol.
I have been on the same drug and dosage and have no side affects that I am now aware of. I did have some dizzy episodes initially, but that seems to have passed.
I was on 2.5mg and it was increased to 10mg a few months ago. I have not yet experience any of those condition. However, the heart doctor wants this to be increase. I have read the next dosage can be 20mg. A bit concerns as it does mentioned those systoms for which you have described.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Bisoprolol
Bisoprolol 
Bisoprolol
Bisoprolol 
Bisoprolol
