Hi I'm new here!!.. just recently been in A&E. They told me I have Afib..😔.I have taken my first Bisoprol this morning. Just wondering if any one can tell me what to expect on this medication? I know people react to meds differently. I really wanted to go down the root of alternative, but not sure.? Thank you in advance for any comments 😊
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Teddy999
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Hi, and Welcome! I, like you was in A&E twice last week with AFib. I was started on 1.25 mg Bisoprolol and was discharged. Within two hours of my being discharged I was back in continuous AFib. I spoke to GP and she upped my medication to 2.5 mgs. By Sunday I was begging to feel nausea and lightheaded so phoned 111, they phoned for ambulance and I was back in A&E. They upped the Bisoprolol again to 3.75 mgs. I’m still having occasional nausea and lightheaded ness and believe this is down to the medication but I can’t be certain. I’m still in continuous AFib but unless my nausea and lightheadedness gets worse I will ride it out. I have suffered AFib for many years but it’s never been continuous like it is now. I also have a long history of heart problems so I am already taking Warfarin and I have a Pacemaker.
Aww sorry to here that Rosie.. hope your doing OK.. thank you for your reply.
I started with my A Fib 4 years ago and was started on betablockers straight away. They worked really well for me until I had to stop them because of my Raynauds (I lost the feeling in my hands). Unfortunately no other med has been as effective for me. There is always a lot of anxiety in starting a new med, but everyone is an individual so although it's important to know there are side effects, it's worth giving it a go and seeing what happens. Many people have no problems at all, but don't post about not having a problem, so try to keep things in perspective when you read lots of posts about problems and remember you never see the tons of 'posts' of no problems because that's not how life happens. Good luck.
Thank you for your reply.. I will carry on taking them and see how I go.. just hate taking medication for anything. But I suppose there has to be a time to do so.Hope your ok. Thanks again
I had the nausea etc. feeling generally rotten on 2.5 mg. Reduced to 1.25mg and take it before bed so my day isn't ruined with the side effects.It may take a while for the Bisoprolol to settle things down for you. 🤞
Bisoprolol gives me a bit of a runny nose at times, but that's the only side-effect I get, and it's pretty minimal.
Oh good I could handle a runny nose😊. Do you take the apixaban aswell?
No, apixaban isn't enough for a mechanical valve so I'm on warfarin. (Though I've no side-effects from that.)
I take Edoxaban 60mg and Bisoprolol 1.25mg a d Atorvastatin 40mg. In the scheme of things I can't attribute for certain any side effects , occasional cold fingers, watery eyes, but these could equally be symptoms of decline related to the advent of heart conditions. I take it on trust the drugs are doing their job and protecting me from having further very unwelcome events!!!! I would put up with worse effects if it was keeping me safe. Getting used to the new circumstances of a heart related condition is a real challenge and it is easy to get side tracked and distracted by pharma issues. For me it feels better to reflect how I can improve my health within the confines of a new reality. I hope this helps and it felt right to jump in on your helpful comments PadThai.
Hi Teddy999, Bisoprolol is a beta blocker given to slow down your heart rate when in AFib if it is too high. The dose will be varied/adjusted as needed, some need more than others to achieve this. As to how you will feel on it is hard to quantify, some can feel very fatigued and short of breath, possibly nauseous with indigestion and maybe a runny nose while others adjust with minimum side effects. If you feel that your BPM are going too low or still too high you would need to take medical advice.
Aww thank you for your reply, really appreciate it 😊
Hi Teddy 999,Im on them for the same thing..depends what dose you're on to symptoms..was on 1.25 and they recently upt it to 5mg which made me very breathless, so I've put my self back on 1.25..each person is different so just see how it goes and tell your Dr if you have any symptoms on them 👍
Hi , I'm really not able to give much advice I can't really help myself at the moment but just wanted to say I wish you all the best I know how scary it can all be.Take care
Aww thank you Amyamy 12345I do hope your ok.. I'm sure this site seems like a lovely support group, who are there to help and listen. Thank you again. Keep well. 😊
As well as slowing your heart down (54 average for me was 74) it also brings your blood pressure down. I had a ha October 22.
Everyone reacts differently, so it really is a matter of trial and error till you find the right option for you.If you find you get a bit dizzy try this . I found I got dizzy on 1.25mg of bisoprolol until I learnt to take it after I'd eaten . So now it's taken alongside aspirin immediately after breakfast. This works for me.
I think this is because it can drop your blood sugar a little for a short period. As a migraine sufferer I know I'm sensitive to changes on blood sugar levels. ( NB I'm not diabetic)
Did they not give you anything in a&e? What was your heart rate?
No didn't give me anything in A&E? Heart rate was 160 but it was bouncing around?
Blimey,I went from a&e to emergency acute care and given bisoprolol and not allowed out til heart rate down mine was 155
I can only speak from experience...I couldn't tolerate bisoprolol as it made me dizzy, tired and breathless (all quite common) but some people get on really well with it, and it is an effective medication in taking care of the heart. It seems to be the first drug of choice for GPS and A and E but they have other drugs they can prescribe and once you see a cardiologist (if you need to) they have many other options they can discuss with you. Its early days.I'm assuming the heart rate has come down a bit if they let you out of hospital with a prescription of bisoprolol... they will want the HR to be under 110, 100 ideally. The bisoprolol usually works well for that job.
If your heart rate isn't too high then you have the option to discuss with your GP alternatives to taking the medication. The BHF helpline can be another good source of support.
As you don't say your symptoms without the meds and you have only just taken it so not having any side effects, we can't really second guess the outcome. But hope things settle for you.
I get confused with it because I was prescribed bisoperol because I was dizzy tired and breathless
I went up to 10 mg but I’m now on 2.5 and seem absolutely fine on it, as you say everyone is different.
Hope your doing OK, my Husband is on Bisoprolol has been now for 5 years . It took about 4 days for his body to get used to it . But he has never looked back . Hope you get to feel good soon x
You only hear about the small number of folks who suffer some side effects of bisoprolol and never the vast majority who get on very well with the drug.
Firstly a beta blocker is not an anti arrhythmia drug - some of the most effective arrhythmia drugs (such as Class III) can only be prescribed by an EP or cardiologist.
Beta blockers have a long and established safety and have been used for decades. They take at least 4 days to reach full effect and in layman’s terms they reduce the rate the heart beats at. This means that when your heart is beta blocked it will be at circa 50-60 bpm. A side effect is that BBs reduce blood pressure but there are better drugs for managing BP.
I have SVT, controlled with Dronedarone and palpitations controlled with bisop 2.5. My resting heart rate is 40-42 but my cardiologist has no concerns because I do not have any symptoms of bradycardia (low heart rate).
Some side effects I experience are sluggishness first thing in the morning, feeling the cold and difficulty raising my heart rate. I overcome these by allowing myself longer to come to in the morning, wearing more tops. For exercise the traditional heart rate zones no longer apply. My HR is now essentially capped at circa 110 and so I no longer do high intensity exercises. Instead I do steady state power walking 4 times a week of 9K and a pace of 8:25 per km (fast marching pace). This gets my HR up to 105 and I’m flushed and a sweat on but still able to talk. Those are the indicators I’m safely exercising and benefiting my heart but not stressing it.
I posted a much longer article on here about beta blockers and you should be able to search for it.
It is a very safe and effective drug.
Hope this helps.
Jezza
I'm on 5mg bisoprolol. No side effects for me and I know it protects my heart.
hello I hope your feeling better.
I also have AFib and have been on up to 10mg of Bisoperol, I’m now on 2.5 and have had absolutely no problems. Some friends have said I’m much less stressed and calmer these days which I do feel so perhaps an added bonus 😊
Hi Teddy,
Despite the numerous posts on here, I have no problems with it. I am on a low 1.25 dose/day and in combination with Flecaenide, x2/day.
Feel tired sometimes, but don’t put that down to the Bisoprolol.
However, we all react in our own way 😉
HI TEDDY. IHAD A FIB FOR YEARS. NEVER ANY SYMPTOMS. ONLY SHOWED UP ON ECGs. WENT IN TO HOSPITAL TO HAVE BLADDER STONES REMOVED AND WAS TOLD BY A CARDIOLOGIST TO STOP TAKING BETA BLOCKER FOR HIGH BP BECAUSE THEY COULD CAUSE AFIB!! STOPPED TAKING THEM YEARS AGO BASED ON WHAT THE CARDIO SAID AND I'M STILL HERE IN MY 80th YEAR.. BISOPROL IS A BETA BLOCKER!!I
Anxiety about Biso causes more problems than the medication , it’s my lifesaver I have taken 10 msg daily for 17 yrs , I am now over 80 and still leading a full life , off to Los Angeles in Jan . So relax in the knowledge that Bisopropol will have a highly beneficial effect on your heart.
I have been taking Bisoprolo for 6 years with no discernible side effects. Try to focus on the positive effects of your meds rather than the less likely negative effects. We are fortunate to have these options.
Am now taking 2.5mg Bisoprolol but still having ectopic beats near to 300 hundred a day. Its really pulling my moral and positivity right down going. Going to have a heart recorder fitted on 24 Dec but wonder what the outcome will be once it has been captured on the monitor? Are there any alternate meds for this condition?
Wow! That's a lot of heart beats!!
Calcium channel blockers can also be used to treat ectopics. But before that they might increase your beta blocker (2.5mg bisoprolol is a pretty low dose).
Your ectopics also might be caused by something else that they can treat.
So lots of options. Just keep at them till they find one that works for you.
I had to stop Bisoprol as it gave me a nasty reaction. They gave me Clopidogrol instead
I have been on Bisoprolol for 2 months after being diagnosed with AFib. I am having awful side effects, they really don’t suit me. Just waiting to see doctor for an alternative.
Can you describe what were the side effects you experienced.
Best wishes
I have been taking Bisoprolol for 2yrs+ and it’s slowed my heart rate to 53/58 and a runny nose now and again with cold feet and hands but generally it’s not caused any real problems.
Hi Teddy999. Welcome to the club!
I was started in Bisoprolol 1.25mg when first diagnosed and it didn’t work for me. Gave me brain fog, severe fatigue and breathlessness. If I stood up in anything other than ultra slow motion, I got dizzy and sometimes passed out.
Doc’s originally questioned if this was possible with such a low dose, but within days of coming off it, onto Adizem, all those side effects disappeared and I’ve not looked back.
You may be fine on these. But one thing I will say is you should go with some meds rather than nothing at all. It’s not like hypertension or diabetes where lifestyle changes can fix it.
Hi GrmdwnsthMany thank 😊
Hope your well? Yes I though they should have given me something before I went home.. maybe it wasn't that bad? they could have administered a tablet for me there and then if it was ?🤔
I’ve been on 2.5mg Bisoprolol for years. 1.25mg is the lowest dose. It can make me a bit light headed as I have naturally low blood pressure. Make sure you eat regularly and keep well hydrated to keep these symptoms at bay.
hi teddy, bisoprolol can make some people feel less energetic? Iv been taking it a long time now but I’m on a fairly decent daily dose but still manage to work full time etc without any great problems.👍 but it can make some feel tired sometimes unfortunately.! See how you go and if by any chance you have any real tiredness problems just let your GP know and they may be able to try you on something else👍
Hi Teddy, my understanding is that bosoprolol is more for rate control and that its rythym control properties are quite limited.The 'standard' approach for AF is to prescribe bisoprolol to calm things down, so to speak, and something like Flecainide for rythym control, often as a PIP (pill in pocket) taken at the onset of an episode, rather than regular dose.
I personally have not heard of bisoprolol being used on its own for someone in AF, but I will stand corrected.
My advice is that you need an appointment with a cardiologist to get a proper assessment and treatment plan. I realise that may be easier said than done on the NHS, but a private consultation is not expensive in the great scheme of things, and it will give you some direction and peace of mind.
I hope this brief reply helps.
Peter
Hi Thank you for your reply.
Hopefully I will get to see my gp at some point. I was given Bisoprol and Apixaban but have not taken the Apixaban. My BP has been normal all day which I've monitored, and I've not had bisoprol either today. Do you know if AF's are random? I just assumed that it's there all the time? As it wasn't fully explained to me by the doctor in A&E.? Just a bit unsure of it all.
But thank you. 😊
AFib can be random (paroxysmal) or persistent.
But either way the irregular beats can cause blood to pool in the atrium, which can then lead to clots forming, which can then lead to stroke. The apixaban is to prevent this, rather than to treat the afib itself.
It’s similar with my mechanical aortic valve — clots can form on it, so I’m on anticoagulants for life.
I can add that my experience with Bisoprol, was runny nose and cold hands and feet. Nothing else.Thankfully now a thing of the past following a successful ablation about 18 months ago. 🤞
Hey Teddy999 - that must have been a huge shock to you, hoping you are coping OK with this new diagnosis. It is very common, but, like everything, it's a matter of degree/severity.
I had it all my life (ie born with it) and was only diagnosed in my late 30's when I started to nearly pass out. My family life was one of naturopathy medicine, no orthodox medicine and therefore no visits to the GP etc. We weren't allowed to talk about health, which was very difficult as I was a bit of a poorly child!
Anyway, I didn't go onto meds after my diagnosis at 38 (also had leaky aortic valve, both congenital) until I really needed to, so then was put on 75mg aspirin and Bisoprolol. I too, with the help of the cardiologists, had to find the right amount as it was making me nearly pass out if too high - I was carted off to A&E one day from work as was found to have bradycardia - so my prescription was lessened and I felt tons better! I still had very bad AF though and was taken to A&E by ambulance a couple of times....so I was then given ablation (they go up your leg into your heart and freeze away the areas in your heart that are misfiring - or something!), which really helped, but only after about 6mths. I know that the one thing that really makes a difference is stress levels - if I am stressed at all, or overtired, I go into AF. Working in Social Work was not helpful with that!
These days it is so mild and only happens for a couple of seconds off and on through the day, post ablation, and I was retired (at 56) from the extremely demanding, stressful job 6yrs ago, as my numerous other nasty conditions made it impossible to carry on. Rest and mild exercise (walking, yoga breathing and stretching etc) and an extremely good diet full of fruit, veg, wholegrains (brown sourdough, wholegrain basmati rice, baked potatoes, nothing white ie white bread, white rice, pasta), nuts and fish rather than lots of meat, and 3 litres of water a day, plus magnesium, Omega 3, B complex, multi vitamin and mineral supplement, Saffron, bone broth (you can buy it you don't have to make it!), apple cider vinegar (with The Mother) which I add to my home made easy peasy veg stews, and no coffee(the worst thing for my heart - it's instant and long term until it leaves my system with prolonged af attacks!!) - and pacing exertion ie housework, socialising (not much at all these days as I have a lot of other health conditions that make me very fatigued), all of this is my way of trying to limit arrythmia and exhaustion.. oh, and a lot of sleep.. although it's quite difficult due to my other conditions.
I do hope this has helped, and let me know if you have any questions about the ablation - which was in 2017 and still so much better since, however I am doing all the rest I mentioned above, so I doubt it would be as good without it!
All the best
D
Hi DJK99Thank you for you reply.. I can't believe that I was just sat in the hair dressers get my hair cut.. and out of the blue an AFib attack.. didn't have my phone on me and can't remember any family phone numbers. I had to leave my car and get a taxi to get home! My BP has been low all day!! And it flew up to 150! I had my oximeter in my bag. So I could check it!. Horrible feeling. So I have taken bisoprol straight away.. I know it takes a couple of hour to settle things down. Can't believe it!
Poor you... Ah - are you taking the Bisaprolol every day anyway? And this was a dose on top?
It sounds like your Afib is like mine was... I can only describe it as follows.... BANG! (like an explosion in my chest)... nothing... stutter stutter stutter stutter (ie going like the clappers) then... nothing.. then BANG.. etc... and so it goes on... very very upsetting I know. Or does yours go into straight tachycardia? Ah you said your BP.. yes I don't usually take it at the same time (I have an Apple 8 watch that does both)..
Oh dear.. How are you doing now? So sorry you are going through this.. but you will get used to how to handle it.. and can you (apologies if this is not needed) get a family member to get you a mobile phone with all their (and friends if required as family not available) numbers on so you can contact them as and when you need them?
I would say that 150 whilst not ideal, I have off and on even higher sometimes, but if it continues like that every day say, you'll need to have another chat with your GP and cardiologist. Have you one?
My attacks would go on for over 9hours... and into exhausted sleep if I was lucky... I didn't know I needed to get the ablation until it happened so badly I had to call an ambulance and into A&E for hours.. and then I got urgently referred.. It's not huge fun having it done, as you are only sedated (and I was very aware for a lot of the op - 4hrs for me, as I went into AF whilst they were operating and had to wait for it to go back into sinus!), and there are a lot of people working in the room as it's done by catheter and TV and all sorts... but I've had much worse things done and if it works, it's such a relief.
Get an appt with a cardiologist I say, and have a chat... Have you had the monitor test yet (can be 7 days or 3 days or even 24hrs..)? You wear it and then give it back and they can see what your heart's been up to during that time...
Hoping you are OK?
D
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