I've been taking meds since I had a mild heart attack two years ago. Had two stents in the same valve. Lately I'm having the odd lightheadedness - feeling I'm going to pass out but actually don't - this seems to be when Im very relaxed rather than busy doing something or actively walking.
Wondering if anyone is just taking Aspirin, Bisoprolol and a statin like me (all one a day for heart) also an Omeprazole capsule, but has starting having faint floaty feelings. But thinking do I need a Bisoprolol at all now if my heart valve is fine with the stents? My heart rate sometimes when relaxed goes as low 40 bpm. Otherwise I usually feel pretty good and fit.
Thanks R
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Giraffe54
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before I deal with your specific question, can I make a comment. This is what the BHF says in their introduction to heart valves: “Your blood flows around your heart and the rest of your body in one direction, like a one-way traffic system.
Your heart valves control the direction of your blood flow. They have very small flaps of skin (called leaflets or cusps) that open and close like doors with every heartbeat. They stop the blood flowing backwards.”
you would have had stents in the arteries that bring oxygen and food to the heart muscle, rather than in the valves.
To deal with your question, you might be right but it’s not advisable to change medication without a discussion with a medical professional. the medication is working on the whole cardiovascular system, by slowing the heart rate and relaxing your blood vessels to produce a better blood flow. So, a discussion with the pharmacist employed by your doctor’s group of surgeries might be the first step.
Yes exactly the same. Two years post nstemi and heart rate v low 40s when relaxed and often only mid 50s when busy. I feel absolutely fine doing normal activities and brisk walks, but relaxing in the evening makes me feel pretty weird as you describe. GP and cardiologist say I can come off the bisoprolol 1.25 but at the moment am too nervous given all the withdrawal horror stories. Would be interested to hear what you decide to do.
Hi and thanks for your reply. Ideally I’d like a thorough check over my heart and meds but not easy to get done of course? Seems you have a similar experience to me…. This has only recently started to happen in the odd evening when I seem very relaxed but also today out driving which was worrying! Have you been ok up to post 2 years approx or have you had this for some time?
I had problems after CABG. They didn’t put me on Bisoprolol after surgery due to low heart rate. However GP subsequently decided to put me on it. In the weeks and months afterwards I didn’t feel to be recovering as I expected and asked to come off Bisoprolol. After various tests at the heart institute the specialist finally decided I could come off it and I felt the benefit almost immediately. Finally able to walk up stairs without getting out of breath. No adverse effects.
Glad to hear your much improved after that. I don’t actually get out of breath, when say walking quite fast, just started these floaty lightheaded feelings when I’m relaxed only! And watch very often now tells me I’ve gone below 40bpm for 10 minutes! I’m sure it’s the Bisoprolol that I don’t need, but have to wait ages to be checked out for the meds situation or seeing a GP, thanks for the reply.
Mate talk to your medical team before changing meds, they know your history and why you are on these meds. Statins can cause brain fog as your brain needs cholesterol to function.
Also a low resting pulse can make you dizzy as you might be getting enough oxygen to your brain
Firstly, I suggest you discuss this with your GP. Especially if these are new symptoms.
Yes, exactly the same here, but from only 2 months of taking bisoprolol. And a word of caution as I have Microvascular Angina and good coronary arteries, good BP and low cholesterol, and am very sensitive to small doses of these drugs. (I show moderate to severe calcification on scans.) I have just swapped from bisoprolol to ranolazine. Too early to tell if it’s working yet, but I felt no lightheadedness yesterday and more energy and my heart rate jumped up - that’s the effect of removing the bisoprolol, I’ve yet to see how I get on with ranolazine as it builds on my system.
Hi, can I ask how you were diagnosed with microvascular angina. This has been mentioned to me a few times and I was treated for a mild heart attack in Dec. When I had a normal angiogram in Jan my main arteries were clear so I asked the dr if this mean’t I’d not had a heart attack and she said no we are still treating you for one as we can’t see the small arteries. But no follow up has been booked but statin was increased and Bisoprolol started and also on dual platelet therapy for another 3 months before reverting back to just one thinner. So I’ve no idea where I go as no reason been given for heart attack other than troponin levels raised and checks for other things like pulmonary embolism been done and fine. 4 drs and 2 cardiac rehab physios mentioned microvascular angina.
Hi, there are specific tests to diagnose Microvascular angina and I have requested that because they’ve made the diagnosis based on ruling out other things. So you might like to request a specific test, also referral to a cardiologist who works a lot with this.
Did you have any of the risk factors prior to your heart attack? My only risks were my weight and familial ones. I’ve changed my diets and am shedding weight slowly.
Look out for a reply from Milkfairy, she seems to really know about this!
Wishing you well! Also, I was told that ranolazine is specifically a good drug for Microvascular angina so it may be worth your asking about that.
The cold weather seems to really cause me problems.
The BB is part of your medical management after having had a heart event , prevention of further events. If you believe symptoms are medication related speak to GP as can have alternative BB prescribed if your not tolerating the current one. Always speak to professional before stopping any medication.
V similar to you , I’m on 1.25mg bisoprolol, half a 1.25mg tablet of rampiril ( currently on 1.25 as there are no tablets available to cut in half and only caplets being dispensed 🤦🏼) pantsprazole , aspirin and Rosuvastatin. Post nstemi and quadruple bypass July 2023. I occasionally feel a little dizzy after resting and standing up. Blood pressure drops . Consultant said I could try stopping bisoprolol as my resting heart rate is now in low 40s . I can still get working heart rate into 160s when exercising running/cycling /swimming. I did act risk stop but didn’t feel right . I’m happy to keep taking the 1.25 at the moment.
Reminds me of my problem which was originally regurgitation through a leaky valve big then progressed to stenosis. The constriction and hardening in the valve wasn't an issue when I was active as the blood pressure forced blood through the valve . When I relaxed however the blood couldn't get through resulting in symptoms very similar to yours
Hello Giraffe 54, I understand exactly how you feel as regards faint floaty feeling. This has to do with a drop in blood pressure and heart rate.
I was taking propranolol 20mg a day for Sinus Tachycardia and started experiencing light headedness and faint feeling. When I reduced dosage the light headedness went away.
I am now down to 2.5mg a day.
Doctor has advised me to skip the medication whenever I feel very faint and lightheaded. I try to jog or keep busy once the faint feeling starts and I drink plenty of water to raise my blood pressure.
So sorry about what you are experiencing. You will be fine with time.
I am on Aspirin, Bisoprolol 2.5mg and Atorvastatin plus other bits inc Entresto. I have the floaty feelings at times and if I bend down and stand up I need a few seconds to get back to normal ..I'll be interested if you have replies to this ..otherwise we will be thr only 2 with it!! X
Hi. I used to take omeprazole when i needed it before my cabg operation. After that they changed it Lanzoprazole because of the blood thinners i am taking.
I think your medication definitely needs review with such a low resting heart rate. I had similar symptoms which have stopped when dropped an additional med to lower bp ( Losartan) . Have stayed on the same meds you are on with no ill effects.
I was taking 1.25mg if bisoprolol after a CABAG op, at my first 12 month review, doc said dose was so small probably not doing anything, so came of it. I was really pleased, one less drug
I was given the same after a HA. Ny GP stopped the bisopralol because it was dropping my heart rate and BP far too low. I had no energy, just wanted to sleep, felt faint when i moved. Have you checked your BP and pulse?
Bang on glad you posted I had AVR 8 years ago I'm on exactly the same as you and I get exactly the same dizzy spells I mentioned it to my Consultant and now they have put a ILR in my chest to try and catch them as they only last 5-10 seconds at most.I requested last year to come of Bisoprolol however my heart started pounding at night so started taking it again I'm currently waiting to see if any readings show anything
I take atorvastatin, Edoxaban, and bisoprolol 1.25 mg. Ideally I would be on a higher dose of bisoprolol but bradycardia means my already low resting heart rate can trip alarms if dose any higher. The purpose for me of having the bisoprolol is to reduce the likelihood of high and sustained left ventricular tachycardia. Bisoprolol also reduces blood pressure.I have been taking these meds for a year now with some side effects but for me it's a price worth paying. However, if I developed a new symptom now I wouldn't be assuming it's suddenly developed as a consequence of the drugs I have been taking for some time.
But if something were impacting your blood pressure and was say postural, I would first be thinking about hydration and would immediately drink some water and think about whether I might inadvertently be dehydrated through lack of drinking. I would also be thinking about any links with say a large meal which might also impact on BP.
BUT if these couldn't explain it, and I would always monitor myself at home with BP readings ready to talk to a GP, then you should get yourself checked out.
I wouldn't be changing my medication regime as an experiment. What if that was the one thing stopping your symptoms actually being more critical?
Hi, I was prescribed Bisoprolol after a second heart attack and stenting in 2016. Because I was getting episodes of light-headedness, the dosage was gradually reduced to 1.25 mg. Then my consultant stopped it completely , satisfied that my BP was low enough. Since stopping I've had no side effects.
Hi and thanks for the reply. Ideally I think I need to come off the Bisoprolol? I started on 2.5 but the doc reduced it to 1.25 over a year ago. Before the heart attack I had a medium to slow bpm anyway, so now it seems when Im relaxing and unstressed the bpm can occasionally go below 40bmp (of course can be dangerous if driving) .......so presuming the statin I take every night is helping the heart as well, Im sure its the Bisoprolol I could stop? Currently waiting for an ECG and blood test first and to actually see a doctor where I am is painfully useless. Glad to hear uv been able to stop it completely and have no side effects. Do you know when your relaxed what the bpm goes down to now?
Before I stopped the Bisoprolol it often went as low as 38. But Before all my cardiac issues my resting hert heart rate was mid fifties anyway. I was never asked this and I always found it strange that I was medicated to reduce my heart rate when it was naturally slow anyway. Nowadays it's between 58/64. Apologies, in my previous post I should have said the consultant stopped the Bisoprolol because of low heart rate not low BP.GOOD LUCK.
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate the comment and this seems what I need to say to the GP. Seems as long as your breathing there’s no hurry for the doctors to see it as urgent nowadays?? Take care and thanks again.
With the information you have given you sound like a carbon copy on me. I stopped the Bisoprolol 1.25mg for a heart MRI and never had to go back on it. Prior to that I had low BP, palpitations, aches and pains. I feel perfectly healthy now, Heart rate is normal BP normal, can exercise well. and feeling 50 years younger (I'm 70 in May). The Bisoprolol just drops heart function off too much for some people. Work with your doctor. Excise and eat well and be happy.
Hi James - thanks for the reply, and yes sounds very similar to me. Ive recently changed GP practice closer to where I live, so hoping the docs will seriously look at the low dose of Bisoprolol and either change it or stop it? Best wishes, Roger
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