Relief

Treatment and medication
1

Hi folks,

went to doctor a few weeks ago feeling 'weird' with a fast irregular heartbeat. Within 20 mins I was in ambulance and on way to Hosptial.

Ok 2 days later they have corrected and slowed heartbeat with drips and they ready to send me home on the Thursday... I feel great again.

They put me on 5mg Bisoprolol and I take first one on the Friday... i am immediatley tired and achey and slightly breathless... i put this down to the 24+ hours of racing irregular heartbeat. Particularly since i felt pretty good again the next day. However pretty much every second day now I am completley wiped out - could fall asleep anytime and am still breathless... but more worrying is the anxiety - bordering on fear.. I get mini-adrenalin rushes which I fear are preludes to racing heartbeat again... mild panic that im actually going to get a heart attack - and some chest / muscle pain as well as trapped wind. Very lethargic and hard to concentrate / focus on something.

I am sorry to hear that others experience these symptoms but am relieved to find that this may actually be down to my reaction to the drug... and that there may be alternatives.

I am 48 and up to recently have been very active with a keen mind (computer architecture / engineering) but

I have nothing but admiration for the medical profession (in particular the ones who helped me) but I will be calling on my doctor very soon to discuss how healthy I am and what I can do about these side effects if thats what they turn out to be.

2

Hi Gary

I have been on Bisoprolol for over a year now after having a triple bypass.

Before this I was on atenalol with virtually no side effects.

I asked my GP why they had changed my medication and she said Bisoprolol was better for your heart.

I really don't like the side effects either, main one being extreme sweats and flushes. I am now after reading others on this site, thinking of going back to my GP and asking for an alternative drug.

3

I have weaned down from 5mg of Bisoprolol to 1.25mg which has been prescribed for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. I have experience all of the above side effects although they have improved over the 2 months i have been taking them and with the reduced dosage. I had hoped to stopped taking the tablets but my AF came back. Waiting to see my Cardiologist to.see what the alternatives are.

4

I also had a heart beat of 180 beats per minute and went into my local A&E were I was promptly treated. I had

been on Amitryptiline for 15 years first for depression then back pain, as this drug can cause fast heart rate I was taken off it immediately , I have had severe withdrawal symptoms but also find I have the side effects of the Beta blockers as well I have severe sweating ,cant sleep low energy I have a double whammy as I am on Breast Cancer drugs which cause the same side effects. I can't cut my Bisoprolol down as I am only on

1.25mg.Determined not to feel sorry for myself. : )

Mother.

24th April 2012