Switching from Bisoprolol to Carvedilol - side affects, time to adjust?

[kitenski]

Afternoon all,

Background is I had 2 ablations in 2019 but Afib started coming back in 2021 so I was put onto flecainide and bisoprolol. The flec ended up causing more issues but since stopping flecainide and staying on bisoprolol I've been doing pretty well. I was on a very low does of 1.25mg daily, I had an occasional bout of Afib, (usually post exercise) which a second dose seemed to settle very quickly.

However I just couldn't cope with cold fingers and toes, tried all sorts including heated socks/gloves, wearing 5 layers and everything in between!

So I am trying carvedilol, I started on 3.125 on Saturday, but I am seeing daily very short A-Fib episodes. All seem exercise triggered, I had one on Sunday after simply walking the dog. They seem to settle of their own accord 10 minutes or so after stopping even basic slow and steady jogging. I'm also feeling a tiny bit spaced out and a feeling a bit like I have mild indigestion which I assume will pass with time?

I was wondering if after taking bisoprolol for almost 3 years that my body might need a bit of time to adjust to carvedilol, or wether I can say this early (5 days since trying it) since swopping that it's not really working?

I do note the NHS says this for carvedilol - It usually starts to work after about 1 hour. But it will take days or weeks for it to reach its full effect.

I know @mjames1 will suggest I need monitoring via ECGs when changing drugs but I'm in the UK NHS system so this simply won't happen! I have emailed the arrhythmia nurses but was wondering what this forum thought?

Background reading on stopping flec

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[kitenski]

Well talking to myself but in case anyone else searches for this, the arrhythmia nurses suggested 3 weeks on Carvedilol to see how I get on with it.