Bisoprolol

Hi everyone,

I had a 24 hour monitor about 3 weeks ago, because I have been having episodes of tachycardia. Then when I went to see my GP about something different on Thursday, he told me that my cardiologist had sent him a letter asking him to prescribe me bisoprolol. Stupidly, because my mind was occupied with the other matter, I didn't ask to think WHY I'd been prescribed it - when I got home and read the leaflet it said it's for heart failure and angina, but I'm pretty sure I don't have either of those! I also looked it up on the internet but I can't find any information about other conditions it's prescribed for.

Also, since I started taking it, I've felt really strange - light-headed, sick, dry eyes, a runny nose and I'm absolutely exhausted during the day. But I just can't seem to sleep at night. I suffer from severe depression anyway, and it's getting a lot worse. My mum says I should keep taking the tablets until I see the cardiologist on the 28th, but I'm not sure I can cope with these side effects until then. Does anyone have any suggestions? Will the side effects settle down?

Thanks,
Emma xxx

7 Comments

Bisoprolol Side Effects

by SMITTY - 2010-04-10 09:04:10


Hello Emma,

Your Mum is absolutely right. We should never stop taking any heart medication without at least speaking to our doctor first. There are some, possibly including the one you are taking, when suddenly discontinued it may cause very serious problems.

Bisoprolol is a beta blocker and beta blockers (there are about 15 or 20 different ones) are given for treatment of many different heart ailments. Beta blockers have side effects for some of us such as those you list, lightheaded, sick, dry eyes, a runny nose exhaustion during the day and insomnia. Additional side effects can include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, depression, headache, nausea, impotence, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, numbness, tingling, cold extremities, sore throat, and shortness of breath or wheezing.

Now that I passed on about every thing bad that I know about beta blockers (many from personal experience), let me add they are very successful for some in treating their heart problems.

I was giving them to slow my heart rate to prevent arrhythmia so that my manmade PM could take over and give me a steady heart rate. But for me the cure was worse than the illness and after trying some 9 or 10 different beta blockers over the years and I do not take any now.

As for seeing some symptoms listed that you do not have, that is common with the medicine information sheets. My thought has always been that if I don't have it the medicine can't treat it so I ignore them.

Good luck,

Smitty

Talk to your doctor

by tsimbrow - 2010-04-10 09:04:49

Hi Emma,
I would strongly recommend that you call your doctor or cardiologist forst thing Monday morning. your Mom is right you should stop taking the medication, but if you having side effects that you can't handle it is definately worth making the call to your doctor.

Bisoprolol

by Pookie - 2010-04-10 10:04:42

Hi.

My Dad has been taking Metoprolol for tachycardia for a number of years, but discussed with his doctor last week if there was another Beta Blocker that perhaps he could try that wouldn't have as many side effects as he has been experiencing with Metoprolol...the doctor gave him Bisoprolol....

I don't know how he feels being on them yet, but for goodness sake, don't stop any heart med without discussing it with your doctor first.

My dad isn't the best at taking his Metroprolol to begin with (he hates pills, and he's very stubborn) and there have been several occasions his heart started to beat (and remained beating) extremely high because he did NOT take his beta blocker. Three times in the past couple of years we even had to call an ambulance!

Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon.

take care,
Pookie

Genie

by petrolhead - 2010-04-11 01:04:53

Hi Genie,

I had my pacemaker fitted in February 2009 for 3rd degree AV block. When I last saw the technician about a month ago, he said I was being paced 35% of the time, but since I started the Bisoprolol (I'm on 2.5mg) I've noticed my heart skipping a lot more.

I went on a short walk with my family this morning, which I used to be able to do with no problems at all, but today I got so breathless, and when we got back to the car I was absolutely exhausted and fell fast asleep! That's not normal for a 22 year old!

Emma xxx

Bisoprolol

by Genie - 2010-04-11 10:04:40

Hi Emma,

I had a pacemaker fitted 2 weeks ago and have been taking Bisoprolol for the last week because of problems with tachycardia after the procedure. I am taking 2.5mg, and also another drug, Ivabradine, to lower my heart rate.

How much Bisoprolol are you taking? The main problem is that it lowers your blood pressure: I can't take more that 2.5mg for this reason. It will do a good job of lowering your heart rate. I don't have any side effects other than the fact that when I exercise (only walking at this point) my heart rate hardly moves, and I get tired easily. I also feel a little breathless, which I think is because of the slow pulse (now about 65 resting).

I'm new to the site. Do you have a pacemaker? How dependent are you? Bisoprolol is a standard drug for tachycardia (don't worry about the heart failure in the info, my leaflet is the same), and a very good beta-blocker. But depending on where your problem comes from, the Ivabradine might be better. But it only works on your heart when it is not being paced. Bisoprolol, like all beta-blockers, can make heart block worse. Before I was paced, this happened to me, so it's something to be aware of.

If you have any more questions, do ask, and I'll happily chat some more about this.

Genie

Emma

by Genie - 2010-04-12 06:04:14

Hi Emma,

Did you have the tachycardia before the pacemaker? How fast is it? I had some tachycardia before the pacemaker, but it got much worse two weeks ago after the procedure (140 when I stood up and walked around). I have second degree block so was only being paced as back-up. But with the Bisoprolol my pulse is now hitting 60 a lot, so I'm being paced quite a bit now I imagine. This in itself is worrying me (I keep thinking the pacemaker might not work!)

I have only been out for a walk twice, but the breathlessness is something I'm definitely experiencing too. My GP (family doctor - I'm in the UK) says that beta blockers keep working when you exercise, so they limit your maximum heart rate. This means you get tired really easily. By the way, I'm only 31 myself, so this isn't normal for me either. Before the pacemaker I had no trouble with brisk walking, and even swimming.

I am trying to get off the drug, but am cutting out the ivabradine first, a bit at a time, supervised by my doctor. But if I were you I'd talk to your doctor about an alternative (you could try the Ivabradine if you are only being paced a third of the time). Or you could talk to him/her about a lower dose of the beta blocker (it also comes in 1.25mg)? Is it lowering your heart rate as you need it to?

Genie xx

Hi

by dw5281 - 2010-04-12 08:04:17

I'm on 2.5mg of bisoprolol. when I first started taking them I took the tablets in the morning & it made me feel sick dizzy & generally bad but I changed and take them at night & had no side effects! I was put on them bacause my heart rate goes high when I exercise or doing anything remotely strenuous! Dont stop taking them unless you are told to - I did and got a right telling off off the dr!!

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