Slow heart rate

[SouthernRoadRunner]

Hi, I am new on here and have dizzy spells associated with a drop in my heart rate, which in turn results in my blood pressure dropping. I have been diagnosed with mild bradycardia by my GP after an intiall ECG. I have been referred to the hospital get a heart monitor fitted to monitor my heart over a few days. Unfortunately in my post code it can take up to 17 weeks to get an appointment, which worries me... any one else had bradycardia

[RF260]

Hi, I had a low resting heart rate during the summer in the 40's during the day and high 30's overnight (I blamed bisoprolol which was prescribed after heart attack in April). GP referred me mid September, had monitor fitted end of October so only about 6 weeks despite my NHS app saying 18 weeks wait (in fact the app says I'm still waiting). The outcome was they agreed my rate was "on the low side" so I've come off the bisoprolol and now around 50 at night and 60 in the day and up to 120 when moderately exercising.Hopefully the wait will be less than you currently fear and you get sorted.

[Heartmum56 in reply to RF260]

Hi, am exactly the same and have been told I can come off it. Have read some withdrawal horror stories though. We're you ok and how did you do it?

[RF260 in reply to Heartmum56]

Hi, I was on 2.5mg once daily, was given the go ahead mid December to wean off, so I went to 1.25mg daily for 3 weeks then stopped completely. I have been very anxious over past few months but that started before I weaned off the bisoprolol although I think did get worse during January but I sense is settling a bit. I was also started on Amiodarone early Jan and just the thought of taking that stresses me out though it has put be back into normal sinus rhythm. I think the upside to being off bisoprolol is added energy and better breathing when I exercise so my view would be to get off it but maybe wean off over a slightly longer period than I did. Lots of posts on here about people's withdrawal experiences. Good luck x

[SouthernRoadRunner in reply to RF260]

Thanks RF260, for the tip will discuss this with GP as a possible resolution as she has asked me to half my dose, from 5mg to 2.5mg to see how I get on while waiting for the heart monitor to be fitted at the hospital.

[RF260 in reply to SouthernRoadRunner]

Yes I had a 24 hour monitor while on it and next week having one again to see how I've changed now off it to ensure all good.

[SouthernRoadRunner in reply to RF260]

Thanks for the reply Heartmum56, interesting. I am also on bisoprolol to control my heart murmur, (my twin sister also has a heart murmur, but is on different medication). My GP asked me to half my dose to see how I get on. Its been approximately two weeks on half does, it seems to have inproved abit, but I still get a low heart rate about every 2 to 3 days

[The_stormfisherman]

Hi Trevor

Like you i was diagnosied with Bradycardia back in August last year Lovely Birthday present.

I Live in Porstmouth area and was referred to cadriology at QA . My First appoitmnet was in November so 2 months after the refferal went in 2nd appoiment was an Echocadigram in December and i just had my 3 rd on Thursday, where the consultant has told me that i have 2 things Wrong with the heart low pumping blood volume to be controlled with the drugs and the slow hear rate i will be fitted a with a bi-ventricular pacemaker and possibly with a di-fib function aswell not 100% confirmed on the di-fib side. I would suspect that things will start moving after the first consultation, as i was also told that it could be upto ave 18 weeks.

[Cabgx2]

I have had bradycardia my whole life. I just measured my pulse rate while resting in bed and it's 40bpm and my bp is 115/75. I don't worry about it as I was always told its associated with being active. I did have high BP but that was associated with 2 blocked arteries in my heart. After my CABGx2 I have come off Amlodopine, Atoravastatin, Bisoporal, Lanzoporale, Clopidogrel and Senna.. the only medication I take now is low dose asprin.

[Engineer46]

Hi SRR, Welcome to the forum.

To get the best responses it would be helpful if you put in your bio the heart conditions you suffer from, and the medications you take for them and any other general information that you are happy to share. The most active forum members will usually look at a new member's bio before replying to a post.

A heart murmur isn't a medical condition but can be an indication of an underlying issue which may be benign or which may need treatment. Many people have murmurs all their lives without it having any effect on their lifestyle.

You say that you have been prescribed Bisoprolol (a beta blocker) which may indicate that your GP feels that your blood pressure is too high or that your heart rate is too high (or both!) although it is also prescribed for other conditions. Given that you were taking 2.5mg/day (a relatively small dose, the range is usually 1.25 - 10mg/day) and that your HR is now low, it suggests that the Bisoprolol was given to reduce BP rather than HR.

Even if given to reduce BP, the Bisoprolol will also reduce your HR, so your experience of Bradycardia could be an effect of the drug rather than an underlying heart problem. Do you know what your HR was before starting on Bisoprolol?

One final note. Although Bradycardia is defined by the NHS as a resting heart rate lower than 60 bpm, many people function well with a resting heart rate in the 50-60bpm range and some (such as athletes) have resting rates lower than 50 bpm.

I hope that this is of some help.

Best wishes,

Paul

[SouthernRoadRunner in reply to Engineer46]

Thanks I have updated my profile.. been a type2 diabetic since 2004, also have an enlarged heart, which has not changed for years.. now aged 70, both conditions have been under control for years via medication, exercise and a low carb diet.. My BP is also under control at avg. approx 120/69.. but recently noticed it drops as low as 110/60 with a heart rate under 49.. . As I have been monitoring my BP for the past few week, when I wake up.. I have always stayed relatively fit, done a lot of sport mainly cross-country running. I was diagnosed with type2 diabetes after contracting a nasty virus which affected my liver.. I was diagnosed with a abnormal heart murmur approx 2020 and was put on bisoprolol. My twin sister has been diagnosed with the same condition but is on different medication for it.

[rehana01]

Sounds like your meds are pushing your BP too low? Are you monitoring your BP daily? You'll to do this for awhile so that you can report back to your GP

[SouthernRoadRunner in reply to rehana01]

Yes every day, especially when I wake up in the morning, as thats when I feel strange the most, both my BP and heart beat drop the most.. been keeping records for the last 3 weeks

It has also happend a few times in the last month when out shopping, which is why I went to see my GP, who suggested I halved my Bisoprolol from 5mg to 2.5mg.

I am also taking Amlodipine 2 x 5mg tablets at breakfast

[Deerhoundlover]

Yes, 12 beats per minute. Very lucky to survive, now have a crt-p pacemaker