Beta blocker/Bisoprolol withdrawal and breathlessness
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Hi. I am 43 yrs old and have been on beta blockers (initially metoprolol and then bisoprolol) for svt the last ten years. I had an ablation which went wrong and I ended up on higher doses of beta blocker after that (8yrs ago). They added in flecainide a year ago as they wanted to drop my bisoprolol down becacause I was still having daily runs and my BP was a bit on the low side. I have managed to drop the dose down to 1.25 bd over the last few months. Then 4 weeks ago, I started to have awful episodes of ?different kind of arrhythmia where i would feel very faint and shaky and it would last for a few minutes. Because they then wondered if I was having a ventricular arrhythmia, they stopped the flecainide and halved my bisprolol. However a week ago I had a couple of prolonged svt episodes so they stopped my beta blocker altogether and started me onto something new dronaderone (like amiodarone with less side effects). I was relieved at the thought of finally being off the beta blocker once and for all but all week I have steadily been feeling worse and worse. I know that there is likely to be a withdrawl period but it's been a week now and I can honestly say that I'm more breathless today than I've ever been. Even just sitting at rest. I can't talk or eat without stopping for breath all the time and I have never felt so unwell in all my life. I am aware that I can get marked postural tachycardia and if I so much as walk slowly to another room my rate climbs from 75 to 120 in seconds. Has anyone else experienced such marked side effects after stopping bisoprolol or another beta blocker? I would really appreciate any thoughts. R
5 likes, 426 replies
andrew90314 rachel1511
Edited
Hi everyone. I'm 34. I've been on Atenolol for about 4-5 years. I started off taking 25mg, and when that had no effect, they bumped me to 100mg. It still didn't make an improvement, so I weened back down to 25mg and have been on it since with Lisinopril and Chlorthalidone. I stopped taking atenolol at the doctor's orders on May 7, 2023, and had withdrawal symptoms everyday since. In January, I had an anxiety scare and I completely changed my diet to a whole foods diet with no artificial preservatives and only water to drink. I started walking roughly .5-1.5 miles a day with my wife, and my BP and pulse started to drop drastically. I started getting light headed a lot, and my pulse was down in the 40's when resting. Rarely it would get to the high 30's, but this scared me to the point that I knew it was time to discuss stopping. Also I had developed severe insomnia with no real explanation, but I was having a lot of hypnic jerks, and everynight, I'd wake up around 3-4 with a racing heart almost as if the BB had stopped working. It made me wonder if I burn through the medication faster than 24 hours, but that's another rabbit hole.
Now after stopping, anxiety has been a big one, as well as a high heart rate. Mine has been 70-85 when resting, but when I wake up, it generally spikes up. When I get up and move around, it can go up to 130 at times. If my anxiety flares up, it can go higher. I've also experienced the "breathlessness" feeling which shot me into more anxiety. Also, my BP tends to be on the higher side now (130/80ish), but I am drinking ample amounts of water, taking a garlic pill, taking a b-complex vitamin, a vitamin D, as well as a steady dose of Omega 3 whether it's fish oil in pill form or just eating fish as a meal to keep my inflammation levels low so my arterial walls can deal with the added stress. I've noticed high sodium meals tend to make the conditions even worse, so I try to limit my salt intake to something my body can tolerate.
It's been sad to see so many with the same symptoms, but it's a slight relief for me, as I've been searching and searching for help and answers for this time. My HR was excellent before getting on the BB, so I'd assume it will eventually go back down to those levels. It seems like, from reading everyone's posts, avoiding anxiety or anxious situation at all costs is the key. I've noticed that as long as I don't get anxious or too aware of my HR / BP, I can't feel it, and I just know from experience that my BP is in a normal range.
I've had dizziness also at times, as well as gastritis from the stress which didn't help any situations.
I eat okra often as the slime really benefits your gut health.
Some of these tips I've shared seem to be helping me, but the relief is short-lived. I dread getting up out of my seat, but I force myself to try and do it at least a few times a day, as I know my body needs it.
Sunlight is a bit sensitive for me too, but I've tried to get some sunlight in a little bit each day.
andrew90314
Edited
Hey everyone. So it seems this forum is all but dead lately. Just a report in. I've been continuing a good diet. I'm trying to walk as much as I can now. My HR is up when I'm out walking and things, but I am rarely out of breath anymore. Looks like my full recovery time may be 3 weeks to 4 weeks, but I can tell I'm getting better. When I lied down last night, I checked my heart rate, and it went down to 66 at one point. I've been eating as wholesome of foods as I can. Breakfasts consist most days of oatmeal (Purely Elizabeth Apple and Pecan) with Almonds and Pumpkin seeds, and a small bowl of fresh organic blueberries, blackberries, or mulberries. Lunch is usually a sandwich with flax bread, fish or chicken with fresh pesto along with a lot of fiber intake - salads, greens, anything with good fiber. I take a multivitamin and garlic supplement with lunch that has enzymes and probiotics as well. For dinner I usually do chicken breasts or fish with another vegetable and brown rice or brown rice pasta with some fresh tomato sauce. I try to keep the salt intake down, and I use celtic sea salt where I can. With dinner I take omega 3 fish oil pills. Before bed, I practice 10 minutes of meditation each night. My sleep has gotten exponentially better, and I hope some of these tips can help your recovery. I drink nothing but spring water and an occassional dandelion root tea.
sandra92247 rachel1511
Edited
Thank you everyone for this discussion, it is helping a lot since I am going through the withdrawal period.
I am 49 and I was on Concore for 6 months for Atrial fibrillation, the prescribed dosage was 1.25 and that dose gave me a nightmare at the beginning - even stronger and more often Afib attacks, heaviness in my chest, HR 50. After some time I guess my body adjusted but then I wanted to get off that horrible drug.
I started taking smaller and smaller dose every day in a next 2-3 months and my condition looked stable, even I had an Afib episodes once in a month (especially around my period).
My HR elevated to 60.
But 2 months ago I started having breathing problems, for which my doctor would say every time - No, it's not from Concor.
Btw. I went to see 7 different cardiologists, did many tests and everyone told me my heart was fine.
However, a month ago, I decided to go visit my parents and since then I am living a nightmare.
I had an Afib attack so I went back to 1.25 which caused me even more breathing problems. Then I saw my parents' doctor and he doubled my dose to 2.5 saying that 1.25 is nothing, and included Amiodarone as well. After that I couldn't sleep, I felt like my brain was frying, I couldn't breath, didn't have energy for anything, I just wanted to lay down all day, I became anxious and depressed.
In a meanwhile, because I told them I noticed several time that I had and Afib after meal, the doctor sent me to gastroenterologist for hiatal hernia and assumed that it gives me arrhythmias.
Endoscopy showed I had 7 cm hernia, the CT scan showed I didn't have hh at all.
With pulmonologist and cardiologist advice, I stopped withand continued with Amiodarone only. Today is the 5th day and I feel better but still not good. I breath much better.
Does anyone have an experience with hital hernia and Afib? I am thinking about the surgery if I have hh and I hope that will resolve my heart problems.
marwan40654 sandra92247
Edited
Stop taking all medications. You are fine. These symptoms you are suffering from, I have been experiencing them for two years when I stopped taking Concord or beta bloker You are fine, but unfortunately our bodies need a lot of time after stopping taking a medication to return to normal. Be confident that you are 100% fine.
marwan40654 sandra92247
Edited
I don't want to scare you but this is the truth
I was in Bisoprolol just two months I was taking 10 mg ,Because my blood pressure is a little high, and it was the worst day of my life. I became like an old man. My body shivering, cold feet, dizziness, dizziness and ringing in the ears. I stopped taking it only after two months of using it. Loss of energy most of the time, foggy head and dizziness sometimes I feel better, but the adrenaline in our bodies is rushing with force. I give up and I have no solution but to take vitamins. I do not want to be negative, but I am afraid that it will not come out of my body. I am 39 years old, I admit that the tinnitus with time has improved, I just feel With a band in the ear, but ringing in the ears.Coolness in the body, especially in the legs Note: Do not ask the doctor, because it will worsen your condition. Do not use any medication. Pregnancy and time will end this despicable drug that caused me anxiety and incomprehensible fear
Note : I haven't taken medication for 2 years and still a lot of withdrawal
sandra92247 marwan40654
Posted
Thank you for reply Marwan.
Today is the 9th day without Concor and I still have problems with breathing.
I am not even sure anymore that I can't breath because of the withdrawal or because something is wrong with my lungs. I have problems with breathing while I walk.
The Nephrologist scared me the other day, saying that maybe I can't breath and the Oxygen drops down to 91 when I walk, is a blood cloth in my lungs! So I did bunch of tests with Pulmonologist and he said that I am fine, but now I keep thinking about it because I still can't breath.
marwan40654 sandra92247
Edited
Do not be afraid, you are not sick, you are very normal. I was suffering like you were suffering from shortness of breath and all the annoying symptoms that make us fear that we have a serious disease, but be confident, all these symptoms will go away. Withdrawal from this medication. Believe me, believe me. I have visited many doctors and all of them. They told me that I am not suffering from anything, and time will be enough for it to return, but unfortunately we need a lot of time. Today and yesterday I was in very, very good health, but my symptoms return because the body needs a lot of time to return to normal. Believe me, you are in good health and that you are not suffering. Of any type of disease, trust this and be sure. Although it is difficult, I am sure, but make sure that you do not mean anything. All you mean by shortness of breath is psychological. The symptoms return. Stress. You know that what you mean by it now is only psychological, but unfortunately it will cause you anxiety and this. Anxiety makes you think that you are suffering from serious diseases, God forbid.
sandra92247 marwan40654
Posted
Thank you Marwan, I really appreciate your support. I am glad that you are feeling good today and yesterday, and I hope you will feel good and be in good health all the time, every day!
larry34761 rachel1511
Posted
I recently came off of beta blocker atenolol after 15 years. I have been off of atenolol For eighteen days. I am now on the diltiazem and am still going r thru withdrawals from the beta blocker. My heart rate used to be in the 70s, but now it is in 104.
At night, it will slow down slightly into the 90s. I have heard it will improve in time but I am breathless and tired most of the time. I hope and pray that this will help others.
marwan40654 larry34761
Posted
I don't want to scare you but this is the truth
I was in Bisoprolol just two months I was taking 10 mg ,Because my blood pressure is a little high, and it was the worst day of my life. I became like an old man. My body shivering, cold feet, dizziness, dizziness and ringing in the ears. I stopped taking it only after two months of using it. Loss of energy most of the time, foggy head and dizziness sometimes I feel better, but the adrenaline in our bodies is rushing with force. I give up and I have no solution but to take vitamins. I do not want to be negative, but I am afraid that it will not come out of my body. I am 40 years old, I admit that the tinnitus with time has improved, I just feel With a band in the ear, but ringing in the ears.Coolness in the body, especially in the legs Note: Do not ask the doctor, because it will worsen your condition. Do not use any medication. Pregnancy and time will end this despicable drug that caused me anxiety and incomprehensible fear
Note : I haven't taken medication for 3 years and still a lot of withdrawal
sandro22998 rachel1511
Posted
Has anyone managed to get off completely?
How long after the body returned to normal?
lima99924 rachel1511
Posted
Hi,
I was unfortunately on Biso 15 months marked by:
In my experience looks like Biso "locks in" and "changes" how CNS and periphery nervous system communicate via various synapses, ions and channels which prevents it from being functional like it used to. As a result some get nervous system that is slowly degrading and dying so called nephropathy and it shows in blurred vision, balance problems, pain, SHAKING, WEAKNESS etc. Ofc, the more time you were on Biso and bigger the dose THE WORSE it is. Doctors will ofc convince you its OK for 35 year old to have all those symptoms, testament to just how far Hipocratic oath has come nowdays.
Any way, easily biggest mistake in my life, better would have been to spent jail time.
Tried to ween off but impossible. Anxiety, all sorts of pain, SHAKINESS are just to horrible to bear. Its like a doomsday machine. As added sound of horror you can even hear your heart beat in the brain but as irregular and distorted sound. Biso will simply NOT ALLOW anyone to tamper with its now properly "locked in" CNS and periphery neuro vegetative systems. You SIMPLY CANT "UNLOCK IT" to become normal again.
BUT, there was a solution in my case. Switched to Nebivolol it UNLOCKED IT at lowest dose 1.25 mg and in moments I started to feel much better. Its than possible to ween off Nebivolol if you wish but I don't have any side effects any more and Nebivolol as beta blocker does provide support against arrhythmia AND heart attack as is vasodilator so I stayed on 1.25 mg.
Regards
simona60415 rachel1511
Edited
I had nightmares and numb hands during sleep after quiting bisoptrolol. The only way that I could have sleep was Cardio Ritm (a Romanian natural pills) with Magnesium, Potasium and motherwort.