Side effects with Bisoprolol

[Fuchsia23]

Hi all, I was put on bisoprolol a week ago and I'm having some side effects. The pain from my spinal stenosis, arthritis and fybromyalgia has got a lot worse, I've even less energy than before, I'm more breathless and just feeling really rubbish. Has anyone else had this problem with them and did it get better with time?

[Wooodsie]

Hello Fuchsia23, in a word, yes. After 2 ½ years, I am stopping them. Already have better breathing, surprisingly less aches and an overall feeling of being better. BUT, there's always a but, they say you should be on them for at least 12 months, they haven't put you on them for no reason, so maybe the downside is worth the upside. However, they are the Dr's first port of call, if they don't suit you, ask the prescriber to change them. But a week is very early to give up 😊 Hope this helps.

[Fuchsia23 in reply to Wooodsie]

I saw the heart nurse this morning, she said my blood pressure was too low and reduced the dosage to 2.5mg in the evenings only. I'm hoping this will help, if not she said they might have to try me with a different type of beta blocker.

[Wooodsie in reply to Fuchsia23]

I think mine was /is 1.25mg. can't see the point at that low a dosage. Nobody has ever questioned it (apart from me if course). It's sole purpose is to lower your BP, so as you already have a low BP, maybe not required? I'm no doctor though, so don't listen to me 😂

[Fuchsia23 in reply to Wooodsie]

Nurse said it helps heart failure

[andreasuperstar in reply to Fuchsia23]

It is prescribed to lower hr and as maintenance for heart failure. I was started in 2.5 but it was too much and do I’m now on 1.25 which is much better as I have naturally low bp but occasional tachycardia and SVT . My sister had heart failure and is also on 1.25 daily . We find it helpful . It’s meant to be a very good drug .

[JHutton1994]

I was on them for 4 weeks. Wreaked havoc on my circulatory system that's still not resolved after not taking them for four weeks. Caused me pain in my legs and arms that's still there. Been a lot more short of breath lately as well. It says on the NHS website that if side effects bother you or last longer than a few days to discuss with GP so that's what I suggest you do.

[Fuchsia23 in reply to JHutton1994]

Thanks for your reply. I'm seeing heart nurse this morning and have decided ask her to take me off them.

[Fuchsia23 in reply to JHutton1994]

I saw the heart nurse this morning, she's reduced the dosage to 2.5mg once a day, if it doesn't help she said they might have to change me to a different drug.

[Cricket23]

I used to take Bisoprolol and I used to get pretty tired. I changed to Sotalol and I've been fine. I would go back to see your cardiologist.

[Fuchsia23 in reply to Cricket23]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I'm seeing heart nurse this morning and am going to ask her to take me off them.

[Cricket23 in reply to Fuchsia23]

All the best. Hope it goes well.

[spudspud]

I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and was prescribed a whole load of tablets, soon after I started to get very severe brain fog every now and again, it also felt like a squeezing at the front of my head, this used to come on randomly but only during the morning hours from around 8 - 12 (I take my medication at around 7am) I would sometimes feel this for 7 consecutive days (morning only) and then it would disappear for weeks or months at a time. I put this down to having heart failure and just accepted it but around a year ago my Bisoprolol was changed to Sotalol and I have not had an episode since.

[Fuchsia23 in reply to spudspud]

Thanks for your reply. The heart nurse has halved my dose, she said it was making my blood pressure too low. It's good to know there are other drugs out there that might suit better if a change of dose doesn't help.

[NeilStrid]

"I've even less energy than before, I'm more breathless and just feeling really rubbish. "

Yep, been there. At one point they doubled the dose thinking I needed more and I could barely function. After 3 days I just couldn't take it and stopped them and within 24hrs felt a million times better.

[Fuchsia23 in reply to NeilStrid]

They've halved my dose, hoping that works. If it doesn't she said they might change the drug. I can understand why you stopped taking it, it can make you feel so ill. Can they give you a different version of beta blocker.

[Hephzibar]

Yes, definitely!

Tiredness kicked in after a couple of weeks and it was terrible! I stuck with it and eventually it does feel better, but have gained weight since starting it 😱 My diet/life style has not changed at all so it is not that - only change has been taking Bisoprolol since January!

Was put on Bisoprolol to calm down my tachycardia, which it has done, so am in a quandary as I don’t want the tachycardia back!!

[Fuchsia23 in reply to Hephzibar]

I saw the heart nurse this morning and she halved the dosage and said if this didn't work out for me they might change me onto a different drug. Maybe a chat with your heart nurse/Dr. would be worthwhile to see if there's another drug that would help your tachycardia without side effects.

[cappachina]

Yes plus a upset stomach I had to stop them after 4 weeks

[clifetta]

I too have fibromyalgia, arthritis. lots of issues with my spine and periphal neuropathy. When I was started on bisoprolol it made my pain so much worse. I felt so ill on them,gained a stone in 3 weeks with fluid retention and had no energy whatsoever.. I told my gp I would not take them anymore as I felt like the walking dead. so I stopped and felt so much better, They only lowered my heart rate by 5 beats a minute anyway. I have permanent af with leaky valves but luckily dont have many symptons, only breathlessness.. I have now lost the weight I put on with them but still remember just how awful I felt while taking them. Nothing will induce me to take them again. They work very well for most people it seems. Maybe your doctor could give you something different. I do wonderif they reacted with the other medication I was on for my other health issues. Coud that be the case with you? Hope you can get it sorted, good luck