Pacemaker & Bisoprolol ?

Hi,

I have a pacemaker to deal with occasional instances of atrial flutter and presently take 2.5mg of Bisoprolol daily (recently reduced from 5mg). I have had my condition for 11 years.

For the past 10 months A have developed a wheeze, worse at night. Have recently undergone sinus surgery in the hope of relieving the condition of post nasal drip, but to no avail - wheeze still present. My doctor thinks it might be a reaction to Bisoprolol - any views on whether it is necessary to take this drug with pacemaker, my underlying natural heart rate when in sinus rhythm was always quite low, bearing in mind the drug is meant to slow the heart rate down.

4 Comments

Beta blockers

by Sue H. - 2011-04-27 05:04:24

The drug you're taking is a beta blocker and they have a side effect of asthma like symptoms which could explain your wheezing.

Check with your doctor if you can come off it for awhile and see if symptoms go away. You'll have your answer...but don't stop this drug all of a sudden without checking with your dr first as he'll probably want you to taper off slowly.

Have read so many conflicting reports on beta blockers...sometimes they help atrial flutters and atrial fibs but then sometimes they don't help at all and give some nasty side effects.

Good luck....Sue

Beta Blockers

by donb - 2011-04-28 03:04:42

Sue, Question? My wife (Cardiac nurse) has been coughing her head off for over a year now. As she's also a heart stent patient and taking beta blocker (tenormin) she's thinking this could be her problem. She's had lung xrays, and the lung breathing tests showing possible start of asthma. She's had all the differant medications including Alergy inhalers. Next she's conerned about her Tenormin. Do you know if all Beta Blockers have this cough side effect? She does need to stay on meds for blood pressure control. donb

Further to original post

by Dave Bishopstone - 2011-04-28 04:04:48

Hi,

Thanks for those who replied!

Met with my cardiologist today and he has taken me off of Bisoprolol re possibility of it causing wheeze and recommended that I take the more selective drug Nebivolol in the hope it will not affect my breathing - anyone any experience of this medication?

Update

by Dave Bishopstone - 2011-05-14 06:05:55

Well Nebivolol didn't suit, brought on AF on day one, reverted to sinus rhythm with Flecainide - day two on Nebivolol noticed an irregular heartbeat, though not AF, pacemaker cutting out when irrgegular beat detected then coming back in to pace. Discussed with doctor, and agreed to suspend Beta Blockers - wheeze starting to disappear and no AF and feeling a whole lot better!

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