Stomach pains Bisoprolol

[Slowsew]

Hi I've been suffering from a lot of stomach cramps recently bloating and wind. Was wondering if could be caused by Bisoprolol and whether anyone else has been having similar symptoms

[Bluecat223]

Hi yes I am 9 weeks post HA and stent i take the same it gives me trapped wind a gassy tummy and bouts of diarrhea the side effects have only really started this last week it doesn't help with the anxiety either I feel like every little twinge or ache is another HA hopefully it will settle down with time I am going to see my GP Monday and see what they say I haven't got any advice sorry

[Redfloyd]

I must admit I have become a bit windy since my op 5 months ago so it could coincide with me taking Bisoporsol, I had put it down to being less active as I'm not back to work yet.

[Piotr2025]

l started on Bisoprolol on Dec 17 and had severe stomach cramps and loose bowels.

Stopped taking it and back to normal .

[costant]

Yep I had stomach pains, muscle aches, headache and shortness of breath. I stopped taking it and symptoms went.

[Bluedolphin123]

my stomachs hasn’t been right since my July operation either, even ended up back in hospital with E Coli , such a nuciance.

[Richie34]

Since my PCI around 7 weeks ago combined with being prescribed a raft of new medication including statins/aspirin and bisoprolol and whilst my BP has come down to an accepted healthy ranges my body has never felt worse, more in pain/discomfort and I feel full of muscular tension. I can't single out bisoprolol as the root cause in itself but sometimes I feel like throwing the whole lot in the bin which I'm presuming would be stupid and very risky but honestly my body is not coping with them that well currently, they (or so I'm believing have upset my natural body's equilibrium). I do have an existing sliding hiatus hernia which is now basically triggered all the time with daily acid/heartburn and bloating which only feeds a anxiety feedback loop that tell me I'm basically unwell the whole cycle feels inescapable, I can only hope both our symptoms will settle down and personally I will grow more accepting of the fact that my life has now changed and I need to let go of the 'old me'

[MakeralVAN in reply to Richie34]

Richie, I also have the same hernia probs middle of the night are worse for me waking and feeling nausious.

[Richie34 in reply to MakeralVAN]

Yes same,can be asleep then suddenly wham some sort of stomach discomfort,waves of nausea and a panic/sense of dread grips me, alcohol and a spicy meal is something I'm learning I need to be very very wary of now post PCI. Quite honestly I'm not sure all my cardiac issues I was reporting prior to my angiogram and subsequent PCI weren't actually related to my hernia and dietary/lifestyle choices catching up on me after all these years rather than what I presumed was some form of heart/angina attack or spasm.

[MakeralVAN in reply to Richie34]

Thanks for the info, I am really struggling at the moment, waking 3 times a night nausia and panic attacks, have been to the hospital just in case, and get told heart is not the problem, I would just love to know a remedy to get an uninterrupted nights sleep.

[Eglatine in reply to Richie34]

I had loads of problems with side effects and basically feeling rubbish when I started on BP and heart drugs. Eventually I realised I had to start on half doses and ramp up (with consultant agreement), and I also take half doses of a couple of BP drugs rather than a full dose of one. Anyway the long and the short of it is that over time I’ve found the side effects went away and I can now tolerate some of the drugs and doses which originally had me feeling pretty wretched. So maybe have a chat with your gp or consultant, and definitely try not to do too much while your body adjusts. And always discuss side effects with your GP.

[Richie34 in reply to Eglatine]

Thank you it's good to know I'm not alone in experiencing similar feeling around new medication, our psychology plays a part in all this I think too. I need to develop the patience to accept the changes and in turn hopefully reduce the anxiety around wondering if this medication is causing me me harm as well has having some benefit.

[Qualipop]

Don't put up with it; there are always alternatives. talk to your GP or GP's pharmacist who should know which is most likely culprit. After my heart attack I reacted so badly I had every tablet changed.

[Richie34 in reply to Qualipop]

Good advice but I'm skeptical that a GP would 'meddle' with meds prescribed by a cardiologist despite me pointing out the side effects. Despite having had a PCI that presumably should improve heart arterial blood flow,peripherally my hands have never felt so cold and numb when doing familiar jobs like today clening/washing some garden furniture ready for the Spring. I've been doing this for years and my hands today are tinged blueish and just look different in tone and colour,so what is it ,is it the PCI the meds,both or neither. If I could even get an answer to that that would be a start

[Eeee13 in reply to Richie34]

if you have low blood pressure a lot of meds will make it lower.

I’ve always been cold all my life

Had cardio ablation April last year for AFib, Arrythmia, Tachy/Bradycardia thought I’d got a temperature or infection 2 days after. Have been warm ever since. My surgeon was suprised as this had never happened before in the 20 years he’d been doing the procedure. Hey ho we are all unique.

Beta blockers made all my symptoms worse so had to come off them

Even blood thinners screw me up.

Don’t be afraid to question or get a second opinion. I asked my Surgery for a full medical with a heart knowledgeable Gp. The Gp I saw turned out to be a gynaecologist and I came away with a nasal spray 🤣🤣🤣

[Richie34 in reply to Eeee13]

Yes the blood thinners (clopidogrel + aspirin) both cause issues most notably constipation with clopidogrel and chronic heartburn that makes my breast bone and top ribs sore,really not very pleasant at all so much so I need to speak to GP for alternatives but alas thse 2 meds are NICE guidance 'gold standard' for secondary prevention so I'm not at all confident the GP will be willing to change or recommend stopping them so it might have to be me that makes that decision ultimately and on my head so be it

[GoodTea in reply to Richie34]

Hello Richie, I've been on Clopidogrel and Aspirin since my heart operation last March. My hospital discharge notes said I was to stop Clopidogrel after one year - around 2 weeks from now. I think it's standard practice after a heart op: start off with the 2 'anti-platelets' and then, after a year, stay on the one your cardiologist thinks is most appropriate for you. Check if your discharge notes mention a stop date for Cloppy or Aspirin.

I was also put on medication to suppress my acid production (Lansoprazole). Are you not on something similar to suppress your stomach acid? If not, I would definitely mention that to your GP.

Best wishes

[Richie34 in reply to GoodTea]

Yes sounds near identical to my discharge regime, the clopidogrel does have a stop date (January 2026) which is 12 months after the op (although the dozy practice pharmacist inputted "stop January 2025" which it took me to spot and quite an effort to get amended so it read correctly 🤔. Pretty sure the aspirin is for life and for which I have also been prescribed lansoprazole but along with my pre existing hiatus hernia (previously prescribed omeprazole for that 40mg daily) the lansoprazole not quite covering it especially if I have a glass of white wine or a couple of cups of coffee but my health anxiety since all this is definitely a big causative factor, increasing my gastric secretion so I need to find a way to get that under control as a priority . Thank you for your reply 🙏🙏

[Qualipop in reply to Richie34]

Whenever my GP didn't want to mess with my meds, he would always email the cardiologist for advice. He could get hold of him far better than I could. I can't even guess at your hands but your GP might get a better answer than you could. With what you have, your peripheral blood supply ought to be better not worse. Mind you I've never got an answer to why I have nerve damage down my shins, ankles and feet. I'm pretty sure I know but no one will say.

[Richie34 in reply to Qualipop]

It was colder than it looked today whilst outside and was out for about 3 hours ,the bisoprolol and blood thinners have definitely had an effect/side effect on my extremities' blood supply effectively 'pulling' blood supply back from the peripheries to the vital organs/heart. It's disconcerting to witness these brand new and unexpected/unexplained signs and symptoms. I thin I need to insist the bisoprolol is reviewed as most days my pulse is only around 55bpm before I take them.

[Qualipop in reply to Richie34]

When I was on Bisopralol it was summer so I didn't notice problems but I had to come off it very soon because it dropped my heart rate and my BP far too low. I spent almost all day asleep- no energy at all. Horrible stuff. Didn't matter what time of day I took it.

[Richie34 in reply to Qualipop]

Interesting, thank you for your feedback on your experience and thinking about it my energy levels have dropped significantly since starting this beta blocker, sleeping later in the mornings (sleep disturbed during the night though-vivid dreams) and really tired after my evening meal and not the 'energy' in my legs when doing my normal pre PCI exercises.🧐

[Slowsew in reply to Richie34]

I agree have the vivid nightmare like dreams and also the evening tiredness. Also the coldness in my fingers and once they went completely numb. I also have had the feeling of waking with a sense of dread.

[Eeee13 in reply to Slowsew]

Yes I had the same cold / numbness. Fall asleep at any time, I wake up with anxiety. I woke up early one morning last November and the whole of my left side head to toe was cold. Initially thought I’d had a stroke. I got up to call 999 and it all came back. Hospital could give no explanation all blood tests came back normal. My blood goes round in waves so cold is my norm especially my nose and fingers.

[Eeee13 in reply to Richie34]

Beta blockers and blood thinners generally work well for people with high blood pressure.

If you have low blood pressure like me it will lower it more. I only had to walk through the cold isle in the supermarket and I would go cold, while on beta blockers now tried 5 different types all did the same. Since I’ve come off them my Bp although low it’s not as bad. Heart rate had been as low as 23bpm. Currently drops to 42 while asleep. Sadly no meds have ever worked in any qty. so having to rely on surgery. Blood thinners do their job but the side effects do me more harm than good.

I currently have a wireless cardiac monitor injected into my chest linked via phone app to my hospital 25/7 . Parameters set for alarms to go off when it goes below 40 or above 150. As my heart is so screwed up and keeps evolving.

Currently heart bangs away above 150 all day while awake. Urgently waiting for my 5th surgical procedure. To be expedited urgently. I’m now classed as a complex case.

I’m currently on Degoxin I feel more normal it’s not a beta blocker but a heart suppressant so does not effect my Bp. It makes my heart best stronger. Sadly it’s does not suppress my heart rate but does make my heart beat stronger. But it means blood gets to my vital organs. Having to live with it for now as they don’t have any alternative. Have had to change my diet as it did make me constipated. Lots of fruit and fibre. 2 pints fruit juice / fruit smoothies aday stops the problem.

you have to talk to your health providers make sure they listen.

Good luck

[Jedi14]

My experience of bisoprolol has been mainly positive. Lot of wind but not sure if it's the other meds?

[JK5AEO]

I'm only taking 1.25mg of Bisoprolol daily, yet it has a hugely detrimental effect on my IBS-d symptoms. The GP says tells me there is 'no alternative' and it's a choice between 'heart attack or diarrhoea', which seems a slightly lazy clinical approach!

[Slowsew in reply to JK5AEO]

I'm not medically qualified but understand there are lots of alternatives to Bisoprolol. Do you have a cardiologist ?

[JK5AEO in reply to Slowsew]

No, my appointment was postponed for three years and has now simply been cancelled. I try to research my condition and keep on top of things. This forum is helpful.