bisoprolol.....feeling worse

Ask your doctor about 'Ivabradine' which is for patients intolerant to 'beta blockers'. I can only tolerate 1.25mg of 'Bisoprolol'. Beta Blockers are very good at protecting the heart but they knock the life out of you.

Horrible side effects. Depression, fatigue, nightmares, weight gain, headache, memory loss, shivers cold hands and feet. Tiredness is the most difficult part.

Hi Vikki!

Your symptoms are just as mine were when I was on 2.5mg of bisoprolol.  Just like you, I felt dreadful even though the ECG was normal and the heart rate low (too low, in fact, at 48bpm).  The chest pains got so bad that I rang 111 and an ambulance arrived to take me to A and E.  All I got there was an instruction to get a referral to a cardiologist as the ECG was again normal.

I refused to take any more of the bisopralol and am now on propranolol, 40mg per day which is the equivalent dose to the 2.5mg of bisopralol.  I feel much better, though still have mild zombie like feelings, nightmares, some breathlessness, etc.  I have noticed an increase in what I call 'dropped beats' on this medication, though the tachycardia seems well controlled.

Why not ask your gp for propranolol to see if it improves your side effects?  If not this, there are drugs called calcium channel blockers which are the next to try if all beta blockers give you bad side effects.  Must google the medicine mentioned in your first response here, I haven't heard of that.  

Let us know how you go on and good luck with finding the right medication for you.

Hello Vikki, sorry you are having a bad time. I am on 10 mgs Bisoprolol and have been for over a year. I used to take my tablet first thing in the morning and about an hour later would feel as if I had been hit by a truck. Then I read that its best to take it on a full stomach to slow down the absorbtion rate. I now take it on top of a good breakfast and it made a huge difference. I still dont like the stuff and generally feel ropey in the mornings but it really has helped. I dont know if this may help you, I hope so and that you are feeling much better soon.

I have been on 2.5 for 2 years have put on a stone in weight, fell dizzy most of the day, contantly tired etc, I hate them! My hubby is on double that dose and has no symptoms at all.

Hi vikki I had the same symptoms as you weeks of feeling worse than ever, also had paramedic out thought I was a goner could not breath which put me into a panic attack, I was on 5 mg a day now off all meds thankfully, hearts gone back into normal best really glad to be off the bisopradol I think the general opinion of this med is all bad cannot offer any advice but the best of luck with your meds 

Ivabradine with no side effects (maybe blurry vision sometimes) is £1.46 per day while beta blockers are a few pence. Cardiologists love bisoprolol and one of them told me it's their favourite drug (for heart failure). If you have angina I think you should ask your doctor for ivabradine. You cannot live like this every day.

If it is SVT ask your doctor about 'ablation' particularly 'cryoablation'. It involves a wire in your artery (groin or wrist) and freezing cells in your heart. I am having 'ablation' next year for 'atrilal fibrillation' I also have 'v-tach' and 'dcm' so have an 'icd defibrillator' for pacing my heart rhythms. Unfortunately I am on 'bisoprolol' for life and it is worse for a man to accept (no sexual desire (women too), impotence). Good luck.