Hi, I'm not the patient myself, but am a worried daughter. My dad recently had a heart attack (approx 8 weeks ago). He was put on 2.5mg of Bisoprolol by the cardiologist. Other than being a bit more tired and achy he initially started off ok. The last couple of week, though, he has had awful symptoms (all listed as side effects of Bisoprolol). His legs, ankles and feet gave swollen up, he is breathless when only mildly exerting himself, his joints are really stiff and painful, his usual very healthy appetite has diminished to next to nothing. His stomach has also bloated. Not sure if this is from bisoprolol-related weight gain, or bloating for another reason. Every little task seems a big chore. its like he's suddenly deteriorated into an old man over the last few weeks. Last week he saw GP who agreed to let him halve the dose to 1.25. He said the breathlessness has marginally improved, but i guess its early days. Could it be the Bisoprolol has now built up in his system, making the side effects more intense? Has anyone else had side effects like this? I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel, as at the moment he has little quality of life. I look forward to hearing from anyone who has gone through/is going through similar. Thanks in advance.
He had a heart attack and he is only getting Biosoprolol ? Surely not. I could not take bisoprolol even at 1.25 mg either but I only had atrial fibrillation.
he's on a concoction of meds. water tabs, blood thinners, something that opens up the arteries. sorry i cant be more specific. he was on lots of meds before as he had MI last year too, and angina for many years. The blood thinners, water tablets and bisoprolol are the recent additions.
I hope that he gets round the bisoprolol problem.
@derek76 Thank you. if you dont mind me asking, did you have a bad experience with Bisoprolol?
i recently was in hospital and was given 1.25mg of this drug. I immediately felt drowsy and when it wore off I could not recall what I had ordered for my dinner. I refused the next one as this drug is a beta blocker and as I am pacemaker dependent I queried this. Take care with the drugs they ask you to take.
As I said I could not take it because of multiple side effects
It shows how strong this medication is if it affected you that badly after one dose, especially on such a low dose. Hope you're doing ok now.
I am now restored to normal, though I have to say that I am sensitive to drugs and have difficulty finding suitable ones. But you are right these are very powerful drugs. Research them well before taking.
hi my dad also takes these due to suspected angina he was also very nervous about the reviews he read on bisoprolol, hes on 2.5mg and hes not had any side effects at all so I think it varies between different people but he was expecting bad side effects, so hope your dad finds the right medication.
Thats good to hear. Yes, youre right, it does affect everyone differently. I'm glad your dad has had a good experience with them. For some people it works great. Thanks for your reply.
Hi simsim100,
I feel for your dad. My hubby had a heart attack in February 2018, he came out of hospital with about seven tablets yo take per day one being bisoprolol. This drug caused the same side effects as your dad and some, he felt like an old man. We went to see the GP and explained all the side effects and he said stop taking it, which he did, his blood pressure went a bit haywire for a couple of weeks but, it settled back down. We have now got him off most of the drugs, he takes only aspirin and eplerenone. I personally think bisoprolol is a nasty drug that should not be prescribed.
Hi jen86183, thank you so much for your response. Im so pleased your husband is off most of his meds now, including Bisoprolol. what a relief., My dad went to see GP today and explained in depth all his symptoms. The GP said that he can come off Bisoprolol. he slso confirned that recent blood tests he had done recently came back showing my dad was anaemic. His HB was 9.7, which is pretty low for a man. He sent him to hosp today to get bloods checked again, and the hospital are getting some iron infusions into him. The anaemia coukd def be contributing to his awful symptoms. im hoping that coming off the Bisoprolol and getting his iron levels up will help him feel much brighter. They think the anaemia could be due to the fact hes on two lots of blood thinners. Thanks again for your response.
my dad has now been confirmed to have 2 narrowed arteries which hes going need 2 stents fitted which I hope is very soon hes only 58. so they are now taking him off bisoprolol and putting him on another beta blocker and statin and also aspirin which he takes daily anyway, how old is your dad If you don't mind me asking?
Hi ben85014, my dad is 73. I hope the stents really help your dad as 58 is still young. I bet he'll feel a real difference after. Did your dad have any bad side effects ti the Bisoprolol?
hi he doesn't get any pains in his chest unless he does exerting things like at he does at work but hes told his boss now that hes awaiting minor surgery to his heart so hopefully they don't have my dad mauling heavy stuff, the bisoprolol was only temporary he was on it for 6 weeks because his heart was around 74bpm at rest for the dye test which they check for blockages it needed to be around 65bpm but for the 6 weeks he was on them he had no side effects I asked him because I read up about it and I knew of bad reviews about this drug.
Hi Yes, I had similar side effects taking this medication. Bloated stomach, exertion walking even three steps. Breathlessness, swollen feet and legs. I couldn't even drink a glass of water without feeling short of breath. I was given another medication. I hope your dad is ok. If the lower dose does not help go back to your GP or cardiologist because not everyone can tolerate this medication.
Hi ana36, thank you for your comment. Im glad you were put on alternative medication. Have you felt much better on it? My dad is now off the Bisoprolol. I think it may take a while to properly come out his system? but he's already feeling a bit brighter. hopefully onwards and upwards.
hi my dad is now back on bisoprolol has been for 5 days because it's now confirmed he needs a heart bypass not stents as his arteries are very damaged and again hes had no side effects from the bisoprolol and hes also taking blood pressure tablets and a new one I've never heard of relsorb xl which is like the angina spray I believe but it constantly opens the arteries so low risk of anything serious happens while he awaits the operation.
Hello simsim100 Yes I am much better on new medication (digoxin). I can understand the worry you go through so sometimes its's good to communicate anything to your doctors. It does not make us paranoid or a pest. I am happy to hear your dad is feeling better, the medication takes a little while to leave the system but everyday is a step forward and in the right direction. Best wishes to you and your dad Ana36 x