Hi, I'm new here and to Paroxysmal af. not diagnosed yet. I have taken bisoprolol 2.5mg for 5 days and feel awful how do others feel.

[JoyV]

I have a heart murmur due to rheumatic fever aged 7. I had 2 episodes of palpitations several years ago but nothing was found (put down to stress) and had nothing since. I have been very fit, active and well, working full time until a year ago, on no prescribed medication but take some supplements, so this episode and its implications has been a shock to the system, I am not sure how long symptoms last or if my dizziness and lightheadedness is due to the meds. I also have no appetite and am losing weight due to digestive discomfort. My twice daily home checks show normal BP, pulse rate and rhythm. I guess I'm looking for some reassurance. I have not had the oportunity to talk about this. I'm now awaiting monitor and scan.

[RogersBuck]

Hi JoyV,

I'm also taking Bisoprolol, one tablet a day along with 8 or 9 others I get all sorts of conditions breathless, dizzyness, drousy & constant headaches. I have been like this for near enough a year. Not a clue what's causing it all, however I am told the meds are keeping me alive. I have actually put on so much weight, I'm the heavyness I have ever been.

What I am trying to say is it effects due all differently just try & work through it. If your not happy with meds ask for 2nd opinion I don't really know how you do this but I'm sure there should be something at your hospital & GP's that can help.

Keep battling, you can beat this whatever you have, but that's what they have to find out WHAT YOUR CONDITION is.

Regards Buck

[JoyV in reply to RogersBuck]

Hi Buck,

Thanks so much for your post, it is difficult when you have no-one to talk to, my family are great but hard for them to understand the feelings these issues provoke. I have taken 1.25mgs but lightheadedness still a problem. I am so sorry that you have so many meds and so many issues to deal with but your positivity is so encouraging, and yes I will be proactive. Not heard anything regarding diagnostic tests yet.

[RogersBuck in reply to JoyV]

Hi JoyV,

Your suffering from spasms & seizures, I just looked it up, Bisoprolol is a beta blocker, there must be other beta blockers you could try?? I think you would have talk to both your GP & consultant, good luck......

Regards Buck......

[JoyV in reply to RogersBuck]

Thanks Buck,

I had to stop the bisoprolol and had palpitations this morning, I'm trying magnesium and hopefully get some help down the natural route until diagnosis. Will look up what you have posted. Thanks so much for your support.

Cheers, Joy

[wal4d]

Hi

I have complex arrhythmia - tacky/bradycardia - brief bursts of very fast rhythm followed by sudden drops to very slow eg 30bpm amongst other symptoms. I was put on Bisoprolol at first because the original diagnosis was just tachycardia. The problem was that the drug was dropping my bpm to 30s and so I had the awful effects that go with slow rhythm. I could not cope with it and had to stop them - I also tried other drugs but they all failed in my case so I do not have any medication at present. I have had 4 attempted ablations - 2 of which were partially successful. I cannot suggest you do the same as I did as every condition is different and in your case stopping the drug could be dangerous. You do need to be persistent with your cardiologist and say just how bad they are making you feel - it took some time to convince mine what was happening and I did have to get a second opinion before my condition was fully diagnosed. At present I am doing fine and managing the condition without the need for drugs but that is not the answer for everybody. I do still feel rough at times but my condition is not life threatening - the heart and tubes are working perfectly its just the electrics are unreliable - so I can manage. I certainly have far less dizzy spells etc.

All the best

[DCCa in reply to wal4d]

Hi Wal & Joy

I have been taking Bisoprolol for just over 2 years having been diagnosed with SVT. I had ablation in May which was unsuccessful. I started on 5mg of an older form of Bisoprolol but then it was changed to a newer version which was slightly better. Then because I was so tired & felt like I was walking through treacle every day they lowered my dose to 2.5mg. After the ablation I was told not to take it and see how I went. But I had a bad SVT attack which confirmed that the ablation had not been successful. So I went back on a daily dose of 2.5mg. However about 3 weeks ago I had to stop taking the tablets so that I could have a heart monitor for the week. I did have quite s few episodes of racing heartbeat but nothing that lasted too long as my episodes usually last for 30 mins to 2.5 hours (I’ve never gone to A & E but have now been told to go if it lasts longer than 30 mins). Anyway I’ve decided that I feel so good after stopping the tablets that I’m going to try and carry on without them. Since taking the tablets I’ve put a stone & half on in weight, I get breathless and can’t concentrate - which is not great when you’re a teacher. So I’ve been off the tablets for about 2 weeks now & I can’t believe how well I feel - my sense of humour & zest for life has returned & happily the weight is slowly staring to come down. I’m still waiting for the hospital to get back to me about the results of the heart monitor so will discuss all of this with them - I’ve found that my heart rate goes up to 120 bpm but then will drop to 30bpm so I’m wondering if I’ve also got bachycardia as well as tachycardia now - we shall see. I’ve also suffered from itching & raised red rashes which I never linked to the tabs but who knows what they’re doing?

I hope you all find a solution to your probs but after 2 years on Bisoprolol I’m now enjoying not taking them - but we’ll see what the doc says when I get my results!!

Best wishes to you all

Debbie

[JoyV in reply to DCCa]

Hi Debbie

Thanks so much for your post and I am so pleased that you are feeling better. I only took the bisoprolol for a week stopped taking it altogether yesterday but have had palpitations this morning after eating breakfast. Don't know what to think but will try without meds til next GP visit on Thursday and hopefully just stick with heart healthy diet, magnesium and have now bought hawthorn and ordered motherwort. If they don't find a serious heart condition after tests, will stick with the natural route. Thanks again and appreciation to everyone who contributes to this supportive site.

Joy

[DCCa in reply to JoyV]

Hi Joy

I had flutters and mini- episodes at different times throughout the day virtually every day for the first week that I stopped the tablets but they seem to have settled down now. I find I get them if I eat a big meal; run upstairs; carry too many heavy bags at once or if I’m stressed & rushing around. So it’s easier said than done but I try to avoid these things but some I can’t with the job I do I’m always stressed & I live in a 3 storey house - so lots of stairs!!

I hope you a feeling well and find a solution - I think I’m going to look up about taking magnesium etc as I’ve heard about this but haven’t looked into it yet. I think I’m also going to look into a more heart healthy diet as currently I don’t do any of that.

Best wishes

Debbie

[JoyV in reply to wal4d]

Hi Wal

Thanks for your support. I am pleased to hear that it is possible in some cases to be without meds altogether and that you have a much better quality of life.

I have stopped the meds yesterday as my BP was lower on standing so GP instruction to stop if that happened. Had palpitations after breakfast this morning so am trying magnesium and just bought hawthorn and ordered motherwort to try. Have to wait for a diagnosis but this will hopefully help in the meantime. If not a serious problem then I will try this route.

Cheers, Joy

[Ann2703]

Hi all,

I am a newbie here and am interested to hear how you are getting on with/without the Bisoprolol?

Just been prescribed this drug for atrial and ventricular ectopics and terrifying palpitations. I'm not very excited about the possible side effects either......

Ann

[JoyV in reply to Ann2703]

Hi Ann,

I am no longer taking bisoprolol or any other medication.

The sudden and severe onside of these attacks is very scary, but my episodes have gradually diminished and I am much better at the moment. I visited my chiropractor and talked through my symptoms which included severe digestive problems, light and noise sensitivity and feeling 'on edge' a lot of the time. In fact all signs of my sympathetic nervous system running on high. He suggested trying an HRV monitor. This whole episode started after stress due to a health problem of my husband's. This too is improving now so stress has subsided and I now monitor my heart rate variability, this is a guide to my autonomic nervous system, it tells me when I need to do more relaxation practices and I have found Qi Gong very helpful. I am due a loop monitor in Feb to see if there is an underlying arrhythmia problem. Hope this is helpful and good luck with sorting your problems. A happy and healthy new year to all.

Joy

[Ann2703 in reply to JoyV]

Thank you Joy, I have just invested in a fairly cheap heart rate monitor / pedometer so will be using this to tune in to my rhythm .

I am interested in finding some more ways to relax ( apart from the obvious hot bath, candles, a good book) as stress does make my Arythmia symptoms worse.

I would be interested to hear more about Qi Gong and what others do to make time for relaxation?

Ann

[2468abcmuk in reply to Ann2703]

Have been put in this drug since July and

Stopped my ectopic beats completely

Until a couple of weeks ago , have increased to 7.5 when I first started was on 5mg and felt washed out & very dizzy but it was worth it as ectopics were all day

Every day ! After around 3 /4 weeks side effects disappear well for me they did cardiologist said it was normal to get breakthroughs of ectopics occasionally!!

Last few months been bliss with out a bumping skipping thudding heart for hours at a time omg I hate them I also have svt which verapamil successfully controlled for over 40 years