pulse rate low

[Keepmewell]

Hi there does anyone’s pulse rate dip to below 50 sometimes on Bisoprolol and do u think this is ok or should I ask my gp to have the dose reduced?.

[Lezzers]

I don't know whether you should ask if your bisoprolol dose should be dropped, that'll will probably depend on why you're on it I would think. But yes, I would certainly let your go know. Do you take your pulse manually?

[Keepmewell in reply to Lezzers]

Hi there I have a finger monitor I use and a smart watch.

[Lezzers in reply to Keepmewell]

When your smart watch and/or finger monitor tell you your pulse is low always do a manual check, finger on pulse. Despite the popularity of smart watches they're not always accurate and don't pick up ectopics, missed beats.

[Keepmewell in reply to Lezzers]

Ok thank you for your comments 🤗

[StillDavid in reply to Lezzers]

Can confirm this. If heart is irregular it just gives what it thinks is the measurement.

[ChoochSiesta]

I was on Nebivol and hr dropped to about 45 at rest. I was OK with this but my GP wanted it over 50 so took me off it. Hr is still only 50.

[Keepmewell in reply to ChoochSiesta]

Thank u for your comments 🤗

[Palpman]

There are loads of members here with normal heart rates below 50 and some at low 40's as mine is sometimes.

As long as you do not feel faint then it would probably be just fine.

I tend to feel ectopic beats more during my spells of HB below 50 though.

[Keepmewell in reply to Palpman]

Thank u for your comments 🤗

[Alixia]

Hello, I think you should concentrate less on the heart rate and more on how you feel. If you feel tired, faint etc., then go back to the gp. If you feel fine, then the heart rate you’re seeing that may or may not be accurate doesn’t really matter.

[Cmonnows1 in reply to Alixia]

My resting heart rate has been between 45 and 50 for over two years now. As long as you feel ok I don’t see a problem.

[Mentdent]

Mine does but I’ve always had a low resting heart rate. It’s never bothered me. I’ m 71 and take 1.25mg of bisoprolol. I think that’s because NICE protocol says they need to give it to me and that’s the lowest dose available.

[scentedgardener]

When I had a similar issue when first on Bisoprolol I asked a GP "How low is too low." My HR was dipping to around 40. She said "How do you feel?" That is the truest guide, but your GP is the best person to speak to as everyone's medical situation is different, we can share our experiences, but our circumstances may well be different.

[scentedgardener]

When I had a similar issue when first on Bisoprolol I asked a GP "How low is too low." My HR was dipping to around 40. She said "How do you feel?" That is the truest guide, but your GP is the best person to speak to as everyone's medical situation is different, we can share our experiences, but our circumstances may well be different.

[Keepmewell in reply to scentedgardener]

Thank u for reply 🤗

[Yashen]

my Cardiologist said if my heart rate went under 30 then skip a dose of Bisoprolol. He said otherwise ignore it if I felt ok. But he said get up slowly. Of course this was an answer to me.

[Keepmewell in reply to Yashen]

Thank u for reply

[sandandkev]

Depends what heart doing,I was in af and put on bisoprolol 2.5 and went into sinus and pulse went to low 50 so it was reduced by gp to 1.25 now off it as haven't got af

[JezzaJezza]

Absolutely normal and the entire purpose of beta blockers. Your heart is now ‘beta blocked’ and as such the normal heart zones no longer apply. Your max heart rate will now be somewhere in the region 100-110. When you exercise do it until you are flushed in the face and then check your heart rate - that is your new target HR when exercising. I’ve always had a low HR and now that I’m on bisoprolol 2.5 my resting HR is circa 42 and at night I often dip to 37. I don’t have any symptoms of Bradycardia such as dizziness etc and my cardiologist is not at all concerned.

[Keepmewell in reply to JezzaJezza]

Thank u for your reply🤗

[suzeincenac in reply to JezzaJezza]

I'm on 1.25 bisoprolol and my heart rate varies between low 40s at night to high 130s when moving around and exercising. Resting rate is usually in high 50s to mid 60s. I don't feel faint except when standing for long periods and my cardiologist doesn't seem bothered by the range. So yes, I suppose it depends on how you feel.

[mobyfool]

High I m on 1.25 bisoprolol, my pulse rate keeps going low down to low 40,s then it goes up to 70,s,can tell when it's low get feelings in chest,I suffer with tinnitus and when I,ve got low pulse rate the tinnitus in my ear goes to a slow whirling beat as same as the heart, gp said he rather i had a lower pulse rate then too high,waiting to see cardiologist ,I take medication because I get At fibrillation.

[Lexi72]

Hi my resting heart rate has always been low. High 40s before biospropol and low 40s on biospropol dropping into high 30s overnight In my case my cardiologist was not worried if I had no symptoms dizziness fainting etc. I don’t think this is uncommon as there is a lot of variation in heart rates. I would mention it to your doctor and see what they think best wishes Lexi71

[Smitty1956]

Hi, Keepmewell,

That is a good question to ask, and I imagine that most of us have wondered about it now and again.

Like you, I have an Apple Watch that tracks my heart rate. I am not glued to the data, but I do like to look at my heart rate over night while I sleep and , in general, over the course of the day. Sometimes, while sleeping, my heart rate goes down to 48 bpm, but it generally stays at 52-55 bpm. That is just average.

I would definitely discuss your concerns with your doctor. Perhaps, you could collect your heart rate data over a two-week period (for example) and share that data with your GP. If nothing else, this data might prompt your doctor to order additional testing to be sure that all is well.

Best wishes in getting it sorted! ❤️

I forgot to mention that I take 75 mg daily of Metoprolol (beta-blocker). My heart tends to beat too rapidly.

[Keepmewell in reply to Smitty1956]

Thank u for your comments 🤗

[T666]

in short, seek medical advise. My rate dropped to 29-36 and I ended up blue lighted to hospital

Four days in and they stopped bisoprolol and digoxin

I’ve been absolutely fine ever since (July 2024)

One nurse suggested I just take my watch off, presumably she then went back to washing her clothes in a brook, by candlelight…. The cardiologist/ consultant was very grateful for the info. My watch also does blood oxygen and a basic ECG all of which can be taken at random times

Any information is ‘some information ‘ can see you are using a finger reader too

A doctor will consider all the facts juxtaposed with your full medical history… and years of medical training; either way definitely get it checked out

[Kbkk]

Hi, when I was on Bisoprolol my pulse rate was regularly low 30’s. After four days of it dropping to 31 along with a lot of ectopics I went to A & E (advised by 111). The doctor said as long as I wasn’t feeling unwell, dizzy spells or passing out then not to worry but if it continued see cardiologist about reducing dose. Cardiologist said same as doctor re feeling unwell etc but I swapped to Nebevilol and it was then around 50. I wouldn’t change your dose without taking medical advice but for me no one seemed concerned it was in the 30’s!

[wilberwoo]

I was having dizzy spells after a number of years on bisoprolol. A 24 hour tape found my heart rate was too low, dropping as low as 30 over night, so I was taken off them. I am now back on them though as I have since had an icd fitted which paces my heart rate if it drops too low.

[Keepmewell in reply to wilberwoo]

Thank u for your comments 🤗

[Survivor1952]

My GP wanted to increase my dose and when they found out my HR was dropping into the 40’s overnight they added a calcium channel blocker instead.

I’ve since had issues with dry eye as a side effect of Bisoprolol and I’m now on a different beta blocker.

[Keepmewell in reply to Survivor1952]

Thank u for your comments 🤗

[Hartingdon]

I am on 1.25 mg Bisoprolol and my bpm is usually around about 45 to 50. I feel okay at this level but used to feel 'dizzy' etc. at 35 to 38 which have not dropped to since Amiodarone was stopped. My oximeter beeps in alarm!.....but I don't 😊

[Keepmewell in reply to Hartingdon]

Thank u for comments 🤗

[Henry20]

I used to use a smart watch. It made my worry about every blip in the readings it gave. I couldn't escape its data. In the end, it went into a box and there it's stayed. I now just measure BP and heart rate when I feel I need to or when I'm asked to by my GP.

I feel so much better.

Henry

[Keepmewell in reply to Henry20]

Thank u for comments 🤗

[valstuart1964]

Hi Same problem after triple bypass and aortic valve replacement 4 months ago was taking 2 x 1.25 mg bisoprolol now taking one tablet but my pulse is in the low 50s seeing my go today to see if I can come off them and only take my 5mg of amoldipilin will post back with his recommendation.

[Keepmewell in reply to valstuart1964]

Thank for that 🤗

[valstuart1964 in reply to valstuart1964]

Hi just come back from GP re low pulse rate he wasn’t concerned regarding a 54/56 bpm said 50 bpm would require monitoring but keep taking the bisoprolol as this slows the heart to improve pumping .

Told to take regular BP readings to check all stays stable.

[Keepmewell in reply to valstuart1964]

Thank u for your comments 🤗

[Jedi14]

Well, what is your dose? My pharmacist told me before I got px, that Bisoprolol would bring my BP and HR down. So he advised me to stop my other BP medication and monitor just how low it did go down. So it turned out that I did not have to restart my BP medication as the Bisoprolol was working out just fine.

[Keepmewell in reply to Jedi14]

My dose is 3.75

[Jedi14 in reply to Keepmewell]

My dose has always been 1.25. Initially my HR went from 50-30s, then 3 months later went up (by itself) to 60s and is stable. My BP 140s/80s and is now 120s/80s.

[StillDavid]

Hi! I'm also on Bisoprolol at 1.25mg and have Bradycardia because of either the meds or the heart condition or both! I stopped taking bisop and the cardiologist said I have to take it. Good news is that you do get used to it and it's now 3 years on and even though my HR is about 52-56 at rest and lower below 50 asleep, I am used to it.

.do you get tiredness too though as that is something it has given me !

[Keepmewell in reply to StillDavid]

Thank you for your comments can’t say I get particularly tired no .

[Chinkoflight]

Hi Keepmewell, you've had a lot of replies sorry if I repeat anything. You didn't mention what dose of bisoprolol you are on. You are prescribed bisoprolol for what purpose? I assume you have been on an ECG at sometime including before you were prescribed bisoprolol. I have bradycardia with ectopics beats for some time and my resting heart rate is typically in the range 39-41, sometimes lower. This was normal and untreated for years.

I have more recently had discovered paroxysmal Atrial fibrillation and left ventricular tachycardia. For this I am prescribed Edoxaban anticoagulant (60mg) and bisoprolol 1.25mg. The bisoprolol is to reduce the risk of dangerous high heart arythmias. It is set at 1.25mg because of my low heart rate.

I also have an implanted cardioverter defibrillator which can control heart pacing. On fitting the consultant wanted to control the low heart rate so set pacing at 60bpm. This seemed very uncomfortable and following some issues with the implant when this was resolved they decided to leave my low heart rate alone, other than to set a safety bottom limit of 33. I have no symptoms associated with the low heart rate.

So I raised some questions for you. I would expect that your Doctor/cardiologist has ECG readings before and after you were prescribed bisoprolol. IE the dose was calculated to meet your circumstances. If they can dose at a higher level of 10mg they sometimes will to increase protection from dangerous arythmias but it is also used for blood pressure issues too I believe. If the reduction on bottom end heart rate is too much it can be reduced. Balance of risks.

Your heart rate of 50 is only problematic I suggest if you can associate it with other symptoms. Nevertheless the only place to go is too see your prescriber for definitive reassurance. I hope this is helpful and may provide a summary for all the advice and opinion offered.

[Keepmewell in reply to Chinkoflight]

Thank u for all of your comments I am on 3.75mg Bisoprolol which was prescribed after my HA last year.

[Chinkoflight in reply to Keepmewell]

So that's a relatively low dose, which maybe reflects their understanding of your general heart rate. As I said, in my case , although the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm is real, I had a sudden cardiac arrest while running a parkrun, because of my bradycardia my bisoprolol is 1.25 mg. In hospital, I was in for 6 weeks, when bisoprolol was started, one night I was violently woken up by a nurse shaking me, as my HR had dipped below 30 and set the alarm off. On my ECG monitor, and all monitors in CCU the lower limit is set at 50 for the alarm. As mine was constantly going off they switched off the normal audible alarm from the machine but monitored me at the base station! Apart from the damage done to my hearts left ventricle from whatever has caused my problems, my heart and vascular health is good. So your initial question is definitely a valid question, but I do think you should run it past your cardiologist. While my hospital on the face of it is quite hard to access I did find the hospital had a list of cardiologists, and their secretaries contact details. I did find I could send in questions by email and receive a reply this way.