Stopping bisoprolol after seeing cardiologist

[Westie2012]

I had my dual chamber pm for tachbtady and heart pauses in 2020 so almost three years now., in 2021 I was started on bisoprolol as I was still getting very tachy walking uphill or rushing around which was making my feel quite unwell . My cardiologist said to halve my dose a couple of weeks ago from 5mg to 2.5 then after a week if I wasn’t getting palpitations then to stop it completely but should the palpitations start again the just start taking it again without needing to consult him or my gp. I stopped it a few days ago but the last two nights I’ve had lots of very noticeable fluttery feelings that have made me feel a bit odd so I’ve started back on 2.5 mg dose . Just wondered if anyone else has stopped taking bisoprolol and had similar symptoms , if so did you start taking the medication again or give it a bit longer without taking it and see how things went. Thanks x

[CarlGreen]

Hiya, I was on bisoprolol after having 3 stents fitted (about 3 years ago) I was only on it for 12 months, and stopped taking it (As suggested by the Doctor), I didn't cut the dosage down, as I didn't know I had to! so just stopped one day. I did feel a bit funny for about 3 to 4 weeks, but then things got back to normal (Can,t say how I felt, just wasn't right).

I would speak to the doctor or cardiac nurse if I was you, just for some reassurance if nothing else.

Hope this helps and wishing you a speedy recovery!

[Hrty]

Hi I was on 1.25mg for about 3 months aftwr my HA but it slowed my already low HR too much amd I was like a zombie. Cardiologist said I could stop it so I did. Did feel a bit odd for a week or two as the brakes had been removed but eventually it settled down.

[Blearyeyed]

My Uncle and many people I know didn't go straight down from 2.5 to zero. The withdrawal can be too much of a jump .My Uncle did alternate days of 2.5 and 1.25 for a week, then 14 days of 1.25 . Then alternate days if 1.25 and zero for two weeks. Then kept the option of a PIP for stressful days for a while.

The lowering tapering option is often ignored but is usually pretty successful.

Perhaps you could give yourself a couple of weeks back on the 2.5 dose for your symptoms to settle again , and then try the slower taper and see how it goes.

It also usually helps if you plan to have 2-3 more relaxed days for the first few days of each dose change. And not to try the taper on a stressful or very active day , during an event, or if you've got an infection or feel a little run down. All of those added pressures on your heart rate can reduce the chance of success. Drinking more water during tapers also helps .

All these options help to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal that can happen on any medication , and even supplements, that you've taken for some time.

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Blearyeyed]

I think that's really good advice, Blearyeyed. My bisoprolol dosage was raised from 2.5mg to 5mg in December and I tapered it by taking 3.75mg for a week before starting on the full 5mg. I found side-effects of tiredness etc. to be much less noticeable than with my original jump from 1.25mg up to 2.5mg.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Cee-Cee1]

If it's not an emergency medication or urgent dose treatment I think it's always sensible to build up the dose of most drugs that you take as a long term preventative or management medication.Going from zero to the dose which is ideal or the norm immediately can cause many people unnecessary side effects or strong side effects , especially if those people get symptoms or hypersensitivity to medications in general. A quick taper up can let your body become accustomed to the change more gradually, just as a taper down can reduce the chance of your body overreacting to stimulation when it is having to take over regulating body function on its own .

I learnt that lesson some years ago and being able to take new meds or change medications has been so much easier since I used this system.

[Silvertail]

Did you decrease it over a few days? It's one of the drugs you should not stop cold turkey.

[newstent]

Hi W, I stopped Bisoprolol year or so after a stent op. I was on ramipril as well and they upped the dose of that instead. I didn’t get any symptoms and actually felt better as the bisoprolol had been making me a bit sluggish. I was on it for a different reason though, best to do as he said and seek further advice from cardiologist. Good luck.

[AmatureKnitter]

I'm just doing the same thing to enable my PVCs to be captured on a monitor (otherwise they're suppressed by the meds). I've come down from 3.75 to 2.5 and now on 1.25, then I'll miss tonight's dose and see what happens. I came off from 2.5 quite quickly last time as my cardiologist said it was a low dose and people can usually stop from it; but I was quite ill - dizziness, bad palpitations, hot/cold, fatigue, memory loss. I went back on it. I'm now thinking I mistook withdrawal for worsening of my original condition. See if you can get hold of your cardiologist, and maybe call a BHF nurse, they can tell you what their experience of supporting patients coming off beta-blockers is. (Though they can't give direct advice). I've also had a good chat with my pharmacist.

[golfcity]

Yes, I stopped at the beginning of August. I consulted GP and explained a) been taking it for 2.5 years, so time to try without it and b) fed up of being cold and dreading winter (from lowered heart rate). I was on lowest dose - 1.25. GP said just stop. After 2.5 years I expected some side effects. These have been spells of dizziness, now receding and almost gone away. Heart rate went up about 5bpm - now at late 50 early 60. So far not feeling the declining temperature! No heating on yet. Mentally I'm giving it 6 months to expect to have no further effects of stopping. Had one burst of AF since stopping (about 2 hrs ~ 150 bpm). I asked the GP if I hit trouble should I restart and was told yes. I think the overall thing is to give it time rather than flip from one dosage to the other.