Ectopics and bisoprolol

[Evaluna]

Hi, I had a big increase in the number of ectopics I get last year. Also, had bigeminy and atrial tachycardia. Cardiologist suggested 1.25mg of bisoprolol which helped reduce the number for a few weeks but then they became even worse so I was advised to take 2.5mg. Same story: some improvement for a few weeks and now it's worse again. I can live with having fairly frequent ectopics (not much choice really lol) but hate the long runs of bigeminy. I wondered if the bisoprolol is actually making them worse and if anyone has experience of being better after stopping it. I've tried magnesium, deep breathing, I'm very fit and don't have caffeine alcohol etc so not sure what to do next. Any answers appreciated. Thanks

[devonian186]

Are you able to identify exactly when the number increased last year?. Can you then relate it to any changes in your life?

Lifestyle? Exercise/ Diet? Change of job? Breakdown in a relationship? Additional exposure to Electro Magnetic Radiation (phone/server etc) Change of home? New cleaning products? More traffic?

If you can narrow it down a bit it might give some clues as to what to do next.

[Evaluna in reply to devonian186]

Hi, yes I made notes so I know exactly when they became much worse and there was no apparent reason:no additional stress, change of diet etc. I have tried various changes to diet in recent months, altered exercise regime, introduced different relaxation and nothing I do makes any difference. Cardiologist said I could stop taking bisoprolol if I wanted as its to reduce symptoms not because it's a medical necessity so am thinking that's what I will do as they seem to have got worse since taking medication.Thanks for the response

[devonian186 in reply to Evaluna]

You presumably have looked at the Vagus nerve, often but not always associated with gastric problems and in turn heart conditions?

[Evaluna in reply to devonian186]

Yes, I have and tried humming etc but to no avail... it's a mystery!

[devonian186 in reply to Evaluna]

The trouble is that doctors are often dismissive of the condition, not realising the anxiety it can cause

[Langdalerunningman]

I’m not sure this will be helpful, but here goes. I have Afib (constant) and I’m taking bisoprolol 2.5 for it. It has controlled my pulse rate keeping it from going high. The higher dose really did not suit me with dizziness and feeling rotten, but 2.5 seems fine.

[Evaluna in reply to Langdalerunningman]

Thanks for the reply. Glad it's helping you... just didn't seem to be making a difference to my ectopics.

[Bunkular]

Has your doc tried you with a beta blocker? It has the effect of lowering adrenaline which in turn tends to lower the palpitations that can be very annoying when they are huge blips occurring often. I am on Metoprolol to lower my ectopics and so far it's working. It also lowers HR and BP so they have to be kept from going too low.

[Evaluna in reply to Bunkular]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Bisoprolol is a beta blocker but it doesn't work for me. It seemed to reduce the amount of ectopics initially but they then became more frequent than ever.

[Carpbait]

I have been on Bisoprolol since 2019, how ever when i was discharged from Hospital I was on 10mg per day, it was found later to be to strong a dose and was having the adverse affect on my recovery, i am now prescribe 2.5mg per day and have no side affects, it would appear this medication reacts in different ways to patients who have had problems. i hope this gives you some answers to your questions. stay safe and try to look on the bright side.

[John3333333]

If you are a suitable candidate, you should try PiP Flecainide. It works for me when I get frequent ectopics (including bigeminy).

[Evaluna in reply to John3333333]

Hi, think I would have to take it daily as I am getting bigeminy several times every day and it seems quite a heavy duty drug given my heart is otherwise healthy. Glad to hear it works well for you.Thanks for the response.

[Autumn_Leaves]

Before developing AF I had ectopics that increased in frequency over the years. Beta blockers were the only treatment offered. I didn’t feel that 2.5mg made any difference but a 24h ECG showed they had reduced. But I was having several thousand a day, so “less” didn’t mean a significant improvement in quality of life. I was taking bisoprolol for well over a year when the ectopics improved of their own accord. Everything was much calmer and then I went down with Covid and that set of the AF and also ectopics in the form of bigemeny, which I agree feels awful when it’s going on all day.

If you are having more than a few ectopics a day, chances are that you have areas of irritable cells in your heart that keep firing off these erratic beats. It’s a physical cause. Don’t beat yourself up for causing ectopics. You didn’t make them happen. I did the lot — breathing exercises, no caffeine etc and it did not make one jot of difference. I have always looked after my health to the best of my ability and on paper I was not at risk. My ectopics started with a viral illness and they went from hundreds a day to thousands a day with another viral illness a few years later.

With Flecanide, you’ll need a few tests beforehand and you’ll need to be monitored after a week or so to check you’re OK on it. I may well be trialling Flecanide for AF control. Some people with very troublesome ectopics do well on it. Ablation is also an option for ectopics.