Bisoprolol

[Rumbaba]

Hi Dr is taking me of bisoprolol 5 mg been on it for 2.5 years I have been reading about withdrawal symptoms and I'm really scared to come off them

[Yumz199725]

Cant they reduce the dose gradually? Tell your doctor that you would like to be weaned off it gradually x

[Rumbaba in reply to Yumz199725]

Hi thanks for your replyDr has tapered of 5 mg 2.5mg for 2 weeks then1.5 mg for 2 weeks then off them

Bisoprolol has been a great medication for reducing blood pressure and and anxiety and have fear of BP and anxiety going through the roof

[Yumz199725 in reply to Rumbaba]

Ah that's good that there reducing it gradually. I might be put on this medication but not sure yet. Are they putting you on another tablet?

[ForestryPine6 in reply to Rumbaba]

I was having high blood pressure and irregular heart beat the latter for 3 weeks constantly and felt on edge nervous all the time for no reason went to GP's on 2 separate occasions and was sent to A&E with medical letter and consultant changed medication to Bisoprolol 5mg per day 4 months ago and touch wood it's sorted me out a treat" I feel so much better and blood pressure normal once in a while I will get up quickly and get a little dizzy so I stand a few seconds until it passes and I start to move again, but that was mainly at beginning of taking Bisoprolol, What life changing drug this as been so much so if ever my GP wanted me to taper and stop I would argue my case with him to remain on them as still go to Gym and not fatigued like some say they are with this drug, I'm more confident out and about more without this Edgy sometimes paralysing feeling where I had terrible shakes on 2 occasions that have now left me, best medication I've had for a few different problems solved with this beta blocker, if you body don't like coming off them after a while tell your GP I would about remaining on them if that's the best course for you. All the best 👍

[Rumbaba in reply to ForestryPine6]

Hi I also had great results with bisoprolol life changing and the thought of not being on it is very scary indeed Other than low HR I have been good on it

Thank you for your reply

[fishonabike in reply to Rumbaba]

if you find that this feels too sudden after a week or two you could contact your GP and ask to taper off more slowly

[Rumbaba in reply to fishonabike]

I'm thinking of contacting Dr and asking why I've to come of them as I was stunned at the time and asked nothing took new prescription and left only to spiral into panic if I must come of them I would prefer it as you say at a slower taper problem now is getting a Dr appointment thay are like goldThank you for your reply

[fishonabike in reply to Rumbaba]

you have a right to know why your doctor is changing your prescription

you are a vital part of your own health care team, it's you and your body at the centre of it! so it is important for you to be involved in decisions and to understand what is happening - your doctor has a responsibility to help you understand if they want you to help yourself

i really think you should at least get a phone appointment and ask for an explanation which you understand🌺

[Ewloe]

When I reduced from 7.5mg to 5mg as per electrophysiologist instructions the GP was content to do it straight away in one go. So I bought a pill cutter and and very gradually reduced it over a about 3 months. I had no problems but believe it was because I did it so slowly.

When I cut them, the pieces were not always equal in parts so I was careful to take them according to size. X

[wilsond]

Dr will reduce ( titrate down) the dose gradually. It is standard practice to slowly reduce betablockers.Bisoprolol is a useful medication, however, there are significant long term effects.

There must be a reason for Dr to decide to stop it. Have you discussed this?

[wilsond]

Also 5 mg is a high dose. There are far better treatments for BP than this, more targeted . Beta blockers control heart rate not blood pressure .I'm on 1.25 mg as maintenance dose due to fast irregular heartbeat

[wischo in reply to wilsond]

Beta blockers are widely used to control blood pressure and also to regulate heart rhythm.

[wilsond in reply to wischo]

No,beta blockers control the heart rate, not rhythm. I had Atrial Flutter ( so needed the very fast rate controlled ) until my ablation which stopped it.

I also have Atrial Fibrillation, which needs a rhythm control drug ( usually flecanide)

Betablockers do not affect rhythm issues.

The use of Betablockers for hyper tension is not as common as ace inhibitors and other similar drugs. It's often given to people whose hypertension is linked with anxiety.

I notice you are on ramapril,which is the drug you have been given for hypertension .

Has your GP explained why they think you would be better off without your Betablocker ?

They must have a reason? Worth discussing?

Best wishes

[wischo in reply to wilsond]

The Beta blocker is for paroxysmal Afib which has almost completely stopped it at this stage so when I was put on the Bisoprolol my Ramipril was reduced from 7.5mg to 5mg to prevent low blood pressure. My heart rate is and always has been on the low side 48-58bpm at rest with or without the beta blocker. I do not have any reactions to beta blockers although I am only on 2.5mg daily. I would prefer not to be on an antiarrythmic med if possible as the more meds they add the more adverse effects you have so trying to cut out those only that I need. All my research points to beta blockers as a safe treatment for arrhytmias.

[Leonardo1]

I stopped 5mg and no withdrawal symptoms at all - but lots of positives- no more swollen ankles and no more optical migraine .

Good luck

[Rumbaba in reply to Leonardo1]

Hi was the bisoprolol tapered down good to hear you had no withdrawal symptoms

[Leonardo1 in reply to Rumbaba]

I just stopped it - and no withdrawal or effects at all . I did speak to the Gp and told them why and what I was doing and they spirited . It wasn’t right for me and now I look and feel loads better since .

try and speak with your GP not every drug suits everyone we are all unique - I can’t tolerate Asprin at all and I think the Bisoprolol wasn’t right for me either .

Sadly one size does not fit all !

Good luck

[Maninthemirtor]

I was of the opinion you can never come off Bisropolol, but my friend was also taken off them. I am looking to stop mine and only just started taking them despite being prescribed in March. I feel they are prescribed too readily.

[dikda]

From my experience, you are right to be aware. My response to withdrawal of this which was prescribed byKings following a quad by-pass 8 years previously was extremely unpleasant. I would claim to be a 'bit of a hard man' both mentally and physically but my experience frightened the hell out of me! Firstly, I had a compacted bowel which I had never experienced previously (cured by lavatives), followed 2 days later by being woken at 4 am with the worst stomach pain I have ever known - nothing eased it. Suddenly my body temperature crashed with shivering and shaking all over and no control over my limbs - my mouth was locked in a gape with my teeth chattering uncontrollably and I was on my own! I suspect that for a period I was semi-conscious. I crawled backwards down the stairs to find the bisoprolol and 3 hours later all symptons abated. I am sure that my experience was extremely unusual but I was on the verge of phoning for an ambulance and THAT is not something that I do lightly. Take care!

[Rumbaba in reply to dikda]

Wow that is pretty scary stuff I have read it can be a very unpleasant experience hence my fear of coming off it I hope you are doing well thank you for replying

[Hidden in reply to dikda]

Terrifying ! Did things settle down eventually after that and are you ok now, did you get off the biso or still taking it Best wishes

[dikda in reply to Hidden]

Firstly, apart from being furiously angry at finding that I needed a quad by-pass in the first place as I have spent much of my life being 'superfit' , I was able to view the surgery and recovery as a 'non-event' and the team at King's College were excellent - I would recommend it to anyone who wants an interesting time and a bit of rest!!! The bisoprolol had been prescribed as a 'maintenance' med following the surgery and I had no probs with it at all until a 'pro-active' GP believing that my 'normal' 45 pulse rate was too low - despite the fact that it was an 'engineered' pulse rate as I had trained for 'free diving' some 60 years previously - decided to withdraw it. I gently queried it at the time but in ignorance had no idea of the possible effects, so acquiesced. Without any exaggeration, I have never felt so ill in all my life!!! Another GP in the practice later told me that it was probable that I would not be able to stop taking it. My current dose is 1.25 mg and normality reigns supreme.

[Hidden in reply to dikda]

Im glad yr ok nowYou do sound superfit, ive always been the tortoise and hopeless at most physical things but now here we are, 67 yrs later they've finally discovered why, and my AVR surgery is in 12 days

Id been on propanolol 40 yrs for anxiety with palpitations but no one checked heart fully just ecgs occasionally

On recent admission changed me to bisoprolol and its taken since August to get used to, 3.75 am 2.5 pm

Anxiety is not as well controlled as on propanolol but hope postop that will sort itself out and I can get my life back

Got 4 grandchildren clamouring for Christmas hugs

So onward and forward for us all

Take care😀