Continuous Ectopic heartbeats

[Spanielrunner]

just to let those of you know that after 9 months of continuous flip flopping, fluttering, palpitations and skipped heartbeats I started a low dose of bisoprolol four months ago and my ectopics have all but stopped. I avoid all the trigger foods with only an occasional glass of beer and the side effects from the medication have pretty much settled too. I realise I’m lucky but just wanted to let other people suffering the same thing know that there is hope and things can get better! Hope it lasts.

[Crossworder]

Great to hear! Thank you. Heartening to know there is hope

[Grannypat65]

That's really good news... what did you find were your trigger foods..

[Spanielrunner in reply to Grannypat65]

Hot ribena, tea, spicey food, chocolate, more than one caffeinated coffee, alcohol although one glass of lager is ok, high sugar content foods. All the nice things 🙄 I also avoid diet pop.

[Thesnowman51]

yes would also like to know your trigger foods. Glad to hear the meds have worked

[Spanielrunner in reply to Thesnowman51]

Hot ribena, tea, spicey food, chocolate, more than one caffeinated coffee, alcohol although one glass of lager is ok, high sugar content foods. All the nice things 🙄

[marypw]

Yes, worked for me as well.

[DippyDingDong]

Worked for me after 6 months, I avoid caffeine and only have one alcoholic drink on the odd occasion.

[MikeThePike]

My understanding is that bisoprolol simply reduces the contractility of the heart and slows it down so that when the ectopics occur you don't feel them. Not sure that is really a good thing but if it makes you feel better then i'm happy for you.

[Spanielrunner in reply to MikeThePike]

Well all I can tell you is that my recent holster check shows the ectopics have settled

[Clarijohn]

Glad to hear bisoprolol has settled things down. What dose are you on? I’ve been on 2.5mg for 19 years and apart from feeling cold when weather is still warm to others no problems. Best wishes.

[Spanielrunner in reply to Clarijohn]

1.25 mg - they wanted to start me on higher but I wanted to start low and only increase if necessary. Happily the lower dose has worked for me

[Larivee]

bisoprolol makes me tired. But keeps my BP and heart rate in check. I don’t know what feeling normal is anymore. I am more in a daze. 😵‍💫🫣

[Nugen]

Never heard of a claim that bisoprolol reduces erratic beats. Certainly didn't make any difference to mine. Consultant's opinion was that ectopics are a fairly normal consequence of valve surgery. He predicted it would settle within 3 to 4 months and right on cue it has. Heard of some claims that all alcohol may interfere but as for food stuffs .that's quite a claim . More likely to be affecting blood pressure ?

[Spanielrunner in reply to Nugen]

Do a little research and you’ll find lots of reports of triggers for ectopic beats. Dr Sanjay Gupta Cardiologist is especially informative

[BEATbump]

Great news glad you're feeling better. I to take bisoprolol for ectopic beats and have done for 30 years. No side effects as such just cold hands and nose in the winter but otherwise all good. Enjoy your occasional beer ☺ best wishes Tracey.

[Sailing63]

Similar story regards ectopic developing 18 months ago. BNP blood test 2 x ECG and 2 Holter show no concerns although I do gave cardiologist appt in 2 weeks to discuss 2nd ecg/holter. Have been on and off bisoprolol 2.5mg for 8 month. I want to be sure of diagnosis before I let meds mask an underlying issue. I am a usually very active and fit 60 year old but have stopped doing the things I enjoy such as golf as it seems to bring on occasional flutters which scare me. I won't return until cardiologist meeting clears this.My question is did the tiredness subside and if so after how long . I am 3 weeks into bisoprolol and feel 60% of my normal vitality. Will this return?

[Spanielrunner in reply to Sailing63]

I can only tell you that for me the fatigue has diminished a lot. It’s taken about 3 months - I felt dreadful at first and really thought I wouldn’t be able to stay on bisoprolol and it affected my sleep which added to the fatigue. One of the side effects is that it reduces your natural production of melatonin so after a visit to the USA I bought some and find that if I take a small dose 2/3 times a week it rectifies this deficit and I’m now sleeping really well. Not everyone will get this side effect but I did and taking the melatonin has helped a huge amount. I’m a very fit 67 yr old and I’m back to doing body pump 3 x week and I walk my dog for at least 1.5 hrs every day. I feel like that for the moment I’ve got my life back

[Clarkee73]

After my second ablation and coming off the amiodorone back on to the bisoprolol at 3.75 it was imcreased to 2.75 3 times a day and i have been getting exactly the same regarding continuous ectopic beats palpatations fluttering etc sunce thenand have spoken to cardiac nurses and only keep being told i notice my heart more than others because of my condition but i also have atrial fibrillation so bisoprolol is meant to keep high heart rate in check so knowing this that you have explained is quite helpful so thanks for uodate.What i did notice after an admission to hospital and having my warfarin stopped for 4 days is that i had noticed a significant drop to nearly nothing in my ectopic beats etc..

[Noviceartist]

Great to hear Bisoprolol is working out for you. I started on the same dose 1.25mg a couple of years ago due to ectopic beats and pesky palpitations and it has helped a lot although I do have an underlying mitral valve problem which needs monitoring, at the moment on a yearly basis. As others have said, initially it created feelings of tiredness and weird dizzy sensations but not currently so pretty good overall. Hoping not to have surgery or increased medication. Thanks for sharing a good news story.

[Spanielrunner in reply to Noviceartist]

Thankfully my ECHO showed a structurally normal heart so no heart disease causing the ectopics- just one of those things due to ageing 🙄

[Appleloveme]

Hello I also have had Ectopics but on and off for over 20 years. I have never been offered any medication. I am 68 now still have check ups, when the episodes are bad. I avoid caffiene and alcohol, anything else that may have caffeine in it. I was also diagnosed with a heart murmur over 20 years ago. It was likely there at birth. Awaiting results of having a Holder on for 24 hours. Hopefully all is well, they always seem worse at night, everything is quieter then and you are more aware of it. Does the medication give you any side effects. Take care.

[Spanielrunner in reply to Appleloveme]

Yes initially I had a few side effects but they’ve settled down now for the most part. I saw a cardiologist and he put me on bisoprolol - I feel much better taking it than not taking it