I was put on Bisoprolol for 2 weeks after taking propranolol for 7 weeks prior as that didn't suit me and taken beta blockers for now the past 8 weeks been getting eptoptic beats (there horrible)
Long story short my GP has said because I was taking such a small dose of bisoprolol 2.5mg that it wouldn't be a problem stopping them anyways as after all they prescribed beta blockers to help my anxiety & eptopic beats when required they said.
I find the eptoptic beats come and go more when I'm anxious about them otherwise I don't get them.
I've had really bad sleep with bisoprolol after only being on it for not even a full 2 week but everything else was fine.
Has anybody else experienced this before? Is this withdrawal systems coming off them? Does your sleep ever start to get better?
Written by
AWhittaker
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I was on 2.5mg bisoprolol for AF,but it made my pulse go too low,so split in into 2 does am and pm,pulse still low so went to 1 25mg once a day,then I halved those for 4 days and as ok I stopped them,they didn't suit me either
Iv been told of my GP that because it's such a small dose and that I'm having a echocardiogram & 48hr monitor to come off the bisoprolol as its such a small dose anyways. Everything is so conflicting with some GP's but mainly most of mine say it's fine to just stop it being a low dose.Have you found slowly coming off it any side affects like affecting you not sleeping well? Iv read a few comments on here about the adrenaline rush comes back maybe that's what's stopping me from sleeping at night.
You can break the 2 5mg in half as they have a centre line on them,you could do split times with 1.25 twice a day then cut one tab out see how you feel
Thanks sandabdkev for you advise. Maybe everyone is different to reacting to the tablets. I'm going to see how I get on whilst I'm waiting for this echocardiogram & 48hr monitor ECG just so I get. True reflection on what's happening with my heart and then I guess the cardiology person will tell me from there.
It sounds like your GP is primarily treating the symptoms, not the cause. Your anxiety causes the ectopic beats, so surely your anxiety needs to be treated rather than the ectopic beats. I appreciate your GP thinks that a beta blocker will achieve this, but now is saying you can come off the beta blocker. He / she should make his / her mind up.
Maybe a different approach is required, for example a medication specifically to target your anxiety or you may benefit from some form of relaxation therapy to help you chill out and not think about getting ectopic beats. I think a frank discussion with your GP is required.
I think your right. I haven't as well been diagnosed with a heart condition either as all the relevant tests show everything is fine but I do get these Eptopic beats I swear it but can't say for certain these deba blockers coursed them!?!But I think your right when I'm not anxious or thinking about these Eptopic beats I don't notice them at all till night time.
I was told to come off the beta blockers as I am having a echocardiogram & 48hr monitor so that will give a true reflection how many Eptopic beats I'm getting I suppose but maybe me having beta blockers have done my body more harm than good as I don't up to now have a heart condition part from theses Eptopic beats.
Thank for you reply Gerald it really helps any experience of thoughts
It's good that you are booked in for tests and a monitor. Hopefully that will shed more light on the situation. Obviously if you are getting the ectopics at night time something is happening and the monitor hopefully will show the reason what and why.
My thoughts come from experience of my GP doing what he thought was right, but he did not see the bigger picture. I had high blood pressure for many years and all my GP did was prescribe more and more medication. In the end it all came to a head when I had a heart attack caused by a blood clot. I ended up being blue-lighted to the local cath lab, the clot removed and quickly stented. Thankfully minimal damage done. I went on to have a triple bypass the following year to reduce the risks of me having further heart attacks. I was so fortunate to have forward thinking doctors and surgeons involved on my case. My surgeon said that me having the bypass would save the NHS thousands over the years as I would more than likely be fine and not require further intervention... and indeed so far I have been fine. I still climb mountains aged 72.
After my heart attack I was put on certain medication. I did not see eye to eye with my GP over the doseage of Bisoprolol and we had words over the phone. Thankfully he side-stepped the issue by passing me onto the practice pharmacist who was willing to sit down and discuss things. The result is that I am on a mix of medication that suits me. I take it all with my breakfast and then get on with my day. I am very fortunate, I know that, but I also feel that being pro-active in respect of my on-going health has helped along the way. Keeping positive has been and continues to be essential, so please keep a positive and open frame of mind and certainly don't be scared of questioning things if you feel unhappy or not suitably informed.
Yeah hoping the echocardiogram & ECG monitor will pick up on things.
Ohh gosh I'm so sorry you went through all of that. I'm glad you didn't listen to the GP beause you know your own body to when something doesn't feel right.
It's nice to hear you 72 years of age and your still climbing mountains that's amazing and after everything you've gotten through, keep going and push your self to healthy I do believe that helps alot. Not always for everyone but at least just cut out things change your life style to eliminate what it can be.
I'm only 33 and it all started with heart palpitations in the night woke me up I use ally out it down to being hungover having alcohol, I have been overweight for a whole also so I am shorting my shit out there but my health I know I haven't felt the fitness over the past fair few years probably since 2021. And this is where I am now with Eptopic beats and on medication to see if there is anything else part from anxiety that's coursing me to worry about It all.
I am a big believer in your brain/mind is a strong thing and can influence a lot of stuff in your body on how you feel so that could be a factor for sure.
I guess we just have to keep pushing on with it all but also keep chasing and telling doctors what's happening to us.
I hope you all the best for your health and happiness moving forward, thanks for sharing your story with me.
I think you may be one of the lucky ones with it. I'm dreading going back on it if my results tell me anything alarming with my heart.I suppose we're all different with medication and how our bodies handle it.
Hi Yes this is not uncommon with Bisoprolol, I had severe insomnia and other side effects and had to stop it. I generally sleep well now, and did soon after stopping, you will find your sleep does return to normal. I now take it as needed, and whenever I have a dose can be sure that night I won't sleep well, but then am ok again the next night.
I think your right. Last night from not taking bisoprolol since last Tuesday I finally slept like a baby it was bliss. Thanks for your experience. I believe that's what Ive been told my GP take it as and when it's needed for these Eptopic beats and also to claim my heart rate down but up to now I haven't been to bad I felt a few eptopic beats since not taking bisoprolol but iv been for the echocardiogram now yesterday and also wearimg as we speak this ECG monitor now so hoping by another week I'll have the results I need to move forward in whatever direction it is.
Thanks for your reply, I am glad to hear that. Remember ultimately that it is up to you what you decide to take, I decided quality of life and sleep matter to me and my health too much. I am supersensitive to medications unfortunately. Others take bisoprolol or other beta blockers with no problems at all (I tried them all!). I even had terribly congested ears taking it as well as total insomnia, and odd pains in my torso. My GP and cardiologist said to use it a a 'pill in your pocket' ie take as and when required, so if I get a bad bout of atrial fibrillation I always have it on me to take. Sometimes I halve the tablet with a pill cutter too. My doctors were quite happy with me trying lower doses as well. I also keep magnesium on me as it is really good for the heart (eg magnesium bisglycinate or taurate are good, but any magnesium as this top cardiologist talks about here: youtube.com/results?search_...
Arhh yeah I think I am the same super sensitive to medication I take taking it in all honesty even when I have a headache I sort of try to ride it out where I can.Has bisoprolol helped in anyway with the artial fibrillation? Oh iv heard about halfing the pills which I think maybe an idea for me. I think I'm going to wait till iv got my results back from the echocardiogram & this ECG monitor and see what they suggest with my GP. I think in some cases taking medication can had bad side pain effects for people and could possibly make the situation worst unless you have of courses been diagnosed with a heart condition then I totally understand to why people take beta blockers.
Thanks for the tip on the magnesium and taurates iv heard for some people they help with the Eptopic beats which after all some Eptopic beats have been linked to a low or high electrolytes in your body.
You're welcome, I hope you find the right solution for you. Well yes the bisoprolol does help if I have a bad AF bout, so I just take one tablet and it calms it down.
Hi I’ve been on bisoprolol 1.25 mg for 5 weeks now - I also have ectopic beats. Saw a cardiologist last Tuesday and he’s requested an echocardiogram to have a closer look at my cardiac function. I found the bisoprolol gave me quite a few side effects initially - sleep disturbance being one of them . I recently got home from visiting California and had bought some melatonin to help me get over jet lag. It turns out bisoprolol can reduce your melatonin production causing poor sleep! Anyway I take a melatonin tablet before bedtime a couple of nights a week and I get a good nights sleep so maybe ask your GP for a prescription for melatonin to help you? The bisoprolol hasn’t stopped my ectopic beats but it’s made my heart much quieter which has helped me. I have scope to increase my dose but I’m reluctant to do that just now. I’m cutting down everything that exacerbates my condition eg reducing diet pop, sugar free sweets, alcohol, spicey food, caffeine.- Chocolate is a definite trigger! Google Dr Sanjay Gupta Cardiologist he is an expert in ectopics and his information is very good!
Thanks spainelrunner for your experience on bisoprolol. I'm glad you got a echocardiogram done I got mine done yesterday. Waiting on the results and got my ECG holter monitor thing on as we speak.Are you still waiting on your echocardiogram results? I think everyone must have bad experience with bisoprolol with sleeping because last night since not taking it from Tuesday I have slept like a baby it's been nice still get the Eptopic beat but mines normally when Iv eaten something they come on or if I am tired of stressed, anxious or worried I get more but normally they don't just happen for no reason do you find that?
It sounds like your doing everything like me to change what it could be for them beause I know there so worriesome
I have checked him out he's got a few YouTube videos about them and it's been interesting to learn about what they are and how they happen. Scary but Its for me nice to know what Eptopic beats are. Thanks again for your story I hope you can get the piece of mind like me on what the next step is.
I have been on 2.5 mg of bisoprolol every morning for 2 years 5 months. It was initially for tachcardia and ectopic beats. It has made my pulse much more regular and slower. Like other people replying I have to watch certain foods and drinks. The only side effect that I have definitely noticed is feeling the cold more than I used to. Sleep if anything is better.
Arhh yeah, I think I may have a fast heart rate (tachycardia) but every doctor and GP keep telling me that it's fine aslong as your doing walking or some sort of experience weather that been small to high intense then it's okay sometimes for your heart rate to be above 100bpm it's only concerning if it's above when at rest so I'm taking it as I'm okay if Im walking round the house doing house work that my heart rate is a little elevated. I am about a stone and half over weight so that might contemplate to why my heart has to work a little harder for the extra weight so I am doing something about that.
It's good your changing things I think it's good to eliminate everything it could be to help reduce them or even for some maybe taim or get ride of them maybe. Who knows.
It's interesting you've slept I slept well on them for about maybe 1 week then insomnia just hit me and that's not like me at all Iv ever not been able to asleep so that's been a massive struggle. Thanks for your story it's nice to wear everybody's experiences on bisoprolol. I also was the same cold all the time it's been nice since having some hot weather iv not actually felt the heat probs beause I was feeling so cold on bisoprolol who knows haha
hi, this med, 2.5, made me very light headed etc. Heartrate would even go below 50. Then started 1/2 tab didn’t seem to change. I notice when I’ve come off of it I get a drawing ache around front of my neck.. however better off than on it.
How strange, I'm the same when I was taking it. Been off it nearly 1 week now.Did you get withdrawal systems? How long was you on it for?
Is the ache around the front of your neck the only issue?
I'm finding I'm getting a few issues but I'm putting it down to withdrawals but it's much better than being on it as it affected my sleep mostly being on bisoprolol. Thanks for you story.
I take bisoprolol too and it affects my sleep. I constantly get ectopics so don’t really have the option of stopping them at the moment. I would tell your Dr that it’s having a detrimental effect on your sleep and he may be able to prescribe you melatonin. Melatonin helps jet lag too. The bisoprolol reduces your body’s production of this hormone that initiates sleep so replacing it will fix your sleep problem. I take the melatonin for my sleep and it really does help. You are simply replacing the hormone that your body is depleted in. In the USA you can buy it over the counter as they label it as a health supplement - in the UK it’s considered a medicine so you need a prescription
Thanks Spanielrunner for your reply.Do you find bisoprolol helps with Eptopic beats?
I find my eptopic beats come on when I'm overwhelmed or stressed otherwise I don't feel them or know there happening. I found bisoprolol and also propranolol brought them on more but I cant say for cartain.
I am waiting for my results to come back from the ECG & echocardiogram anyways so wish me luck I could and may have to take Beta blockers permanently moving forward.
Iv heard about the melatonin supplements, my partners managed to get hold of some that he takes but most GPs or pharmacy in the UK keep telling me they can't advise me on weather to take melatonin with beta blockers and to try and find an alternative option which I think is mad.
If it works for people in the US surely they can make it ligal in the UK!?
I'm glad you can take the melatonin to help with the sleep and you can actually take it. Thanks for your story.
Hi.I only had one bout of SVT, just before last Christmas. Ended up in A&E, to calm it down. From there they gave me a script for 5mg Bisoprolol. I've historically had a slow HR and the meds made it even slower. Felt awful. Strong ectopic beats quite regularly. My GP cut the dose to 1.25mg, but even this only gave a slight improvement. So I decided to buy a pill splitter off Amazon and halved the dose again, myself. This seemed to make a bigger difference. Anyway, three weeks ago, I stopped taking the bisoprolol completely and it's the best I've felt for months. To be fair, the GP did mention I could probably do without it.
Regarding ectopic beats, they haven't stopped completely but that's quite normal. Neaaly everybody has them, it's just some people notice them more than others. Anxiety does play a large part too.
If you have access to YouTube, try looking at York Cardiology. Dr Sanjay Gupta. He's a consultant cardiologist in the city of York, UK.
He is extremely informative and explains everything in an easy to understand language. It helped me understand about my ectopic beats and how natural they are.
Im sorry you ended up in A&E. Did they just put it down to Eptopic beats?
Ive heard about halfing the bisoprolol pills I may consider doing this. I was told to come off them for me to have this 48hr ECG monitor on so it gives a true reflection of how many I get. Still waiting on rwsukts coming back from that my echocardiogram came back fine which is good that my plumbing side of my heart is functioning good but it's my electric side I'm concerned about.
The feeling of the skipped beats is horrible sometimes sometimes I got hours on end without noticing of feeling them but other times I feel them it's horrible. Did you find the lower dose helped with skipped eptopic beats? Have you noticed since coming off bisoprolol you get more or less? I think I get less but then I'm tempted to go back onto bisoprolol when I get a bad episode of skipped beats I find myself worrying I don't want to die.
They didn't put the SVT down to anything really. Just put me on the bisoprolol to prevent another episode.I don't think bisoprolol has any affect on preventing ectopic beats, it's main function is to keep the HR from going into fast tachycardia. So it slows yourHR down
From what I understand, you're more prone to ectopic beats if your resting HRis quite slow. That's why a lot of people feel them in bed at night. Or when they relax.
Bisoprolol can effectively increase the chance of ectopic. Because the slower yourHR, the more of a chance an ectopic has to step in.
So my resting HR on bisoprolol was between 43 and 50 bpm. I got a lot of ectopics. Now I'm off them it's between 55 and 65 and have much fewer. And when I do, I just try to ignore it and not worry about it. If you've had an echo and the heart function is normal, ectopic beats are harmless and very common. So you're unlikely to die from ectopic beats, as unpleasant as they sometimes feel.
I'm wondering weather my ECG might come back with SVT as I'm like you my heart rate will shoot above 100bpm if I'm just washing the pots or having a shower or going up the stairs I'm never tired or out of breath from it but I just keep looking at my heart rate on my smart watch, do you do the same?Oh iv never heard of Eptopic beats coming on from a low heart rate but that completely makes sense. I used to take propranolol before bisoprolol and I swear I got Eptopic beats more from being on beta blockers or maybe I always had them but just never noticed them till my heart rate is low but when you mean low I get eptopic beats even at resting heart rate at 60/70.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who got a resting heart rate of below 50 I used to always worry about that after being on beta blockers.
Iv heard aslong as you dont feel dizzy lightheaded then your okay with heart rate below 50 just aslong as it doesn't drop into the under 40's which happened when I took beta blockers.
How interesting you say this beause I think your right, I kept telling my GP I get ectopic beats when my heart rate is low or low ish so who knows beta blockers could have been the course.
I'm not in the green light just yet anyways still waiting on this ECG result I'll let you know what they say but thank you for sharing your story it's nice to know alot of people get these Eptopic beats and have experienced them for years.
Iv been reading up how to make sure my electrolytes are balanced out as I believe these bring on Eptopic beats in some people.
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.
I'm glad you didn't listen to the GP beause you know your own body to when something doesn't feel right. 
Coming off bisoprolol
Coming off Bisoprolol
Off the bisoprolol 🥳 
Yet another one coming off Bisoprolol 
