apixaban and Bisoprolol Side effects

[Ashleigh32]

I have now been on these two drugs for 3 months following diagnosis of AF. Although it took a couple of weeks to adjust to meds I have settled down and seem to be coping well. Over the pass month though my insomnia which has been bad for several years has got much worse and some night it’s 4 or 5am before I get to sleep. Also my feet have got very dry and cracked skin, never suffered from thus before. Are the side effects from these drugs or just isolated problems totally unconnected with the meds.

Any advice gratefully received, just trying to settle into this new health problem which really took me by surprise. I am a 66 year old female prone to health anxiety issues

[Vegannia]

I’m really sorry to hear of your problems with insomnia and the dry cracked skin.

I’ve not had these issues with Bisoprolol or Apixaban. They may be due to the drugs but I have a history of both and found a good vitamin b supplement helped with dry skin and magnesium for insomnia. I also have anxiety issues. Both those supplements I have found to help.

I hope this helps you and your sleep pattern settles down. 🤗

[Happyrosie]

it might be worth having a chat with the pharmacist employed by your doctor’s group of surgeries. Failing that, your dispensing pharmacist.

[Kmm53]

Worth looking at your medication with the doctor, I had to switch off of bisiporol because of the bad dreams it gave me, was getting a lot of what I would call anxiety dreams rather than nightmares. Is a known side effect

[Patsy99]

Hi Ashleigh, unfortunately there can be many and varied side effects associated with the taking of Bisoprolol and as a result I had to stop taking them. However most people seem to tolerate them with no side effects! I have no experience of Apixaban.

Difficult to know which of the 2 drugs are causing your issues if either of them. Try speaking to a pharmacist. I hope it all works out for you.

[Ben72914]

Hi Ashleigh, sorry to hear of the bother you are having with Bisoprolol.

I have been taking Bisoprolol for 6 months now albeit I have recently had the dosage halved and I can vouch for the impact it has had on my sleep. I cannot stay asleep for long periods of time at night.

I have also noticed that just recently the medicine really appears to have got into my system if you know what I mean. I now experience regular muscle cramps which can be quite painful. I notice that 2 hours after I take bisoprolol my heart is thumping but in a regular pattern.

I have mentioned all of this to my gp however they insist I remain on a 2.5 mg dose along with edoxaban.

Try to not let it worry you too much, I tell myself that I'm lucky to have had Afib detected and be medicated against it.

Look after yourself.

[Ashleigh32 in reply to Ben72914]

thanks, that reassuring

[boldold]

My experience of Bisopropol is that I was on it (together with Isodur) for some months, then I was taken off it for very low blood pressure issues, now put back on Bisop. because without it I did have strong palpitations ans arrythmia.

So when I was on it the first time, I did have sleep issues, not getting to sleep, (although tired), waking up too early if I did get to sleep, so then tired next day, brain fog! But no palpitations. When I was off bisop. sleep issues resolved, 7-8 hours good sleep, healthy me! but had palpitations!

so back on it now, and sleep issues starting again after being back on it for two weeks. However palpitations have stopped. For me it's a trade off, I would rather have Bisopropol and no plapitations and thumping in my chest area, which for me, with tortuous LAD, were a bit scary.

So am just having to work on sleep issues, (no daytime naps, push through tiredness, big drop in caffeine intake, breathing exercises in bed, which I find helps, also counting backwards slowly from 100!!)