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Fast pulse rate

Posted , 5 users are following.

sarah87162
sarah87162

Really not sure what category to place this under. I have been on a medication called Bisoprolol to lower my heart rate (pulse). I have recently been in hospital and whilst there they stopped the tablet as I was having low blood pressure. On discharge they did not replace the tablet but wrote me a discharge letter to take to GP asking me to review the situation with him.

Last week I went to see him to discuss this. I said I felt well but was noticing my pulse was higher now I was off the Bisoprolol. I check my blood pressure and  pulse every morning I took my monitor with me and checked myself while I was waiting to see him.

It registered a pulse of 140 which I thought was very strange. I just assumed the monitor had somehow become inaccurate. He tested me again on his monitor said my pulse was very high. He went out and came back with a Bisoprolol which he made me take straight away. He said if I had not looked well or said I was not feeling well he would have picked up the phone and dialed 999!!!!

He then made me wait half an hour and took my pulse again. He said it had not altered and got one of the nurses to give me an ECG there and then. He then called me back in said my pulse had now gone down to 95 and I could go for the moment with a promise that if I had any chest pain I was to ring 999 straight away and I was to come back to him in early January. I really do not understand why my pulse was so high. I was not  particularly worried or stressed about anything. I did not have any palpitations but looking through the categories I thought it was the only relevant one to put this under. .Has anyone else experienced this?

Sarah

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Mabel27
    Mabel27 sarah87162

    Posted

    Hi Sarah, That was a beta blocker you were on. You can not just stop a beta blockers Turkey..Your blood pressure or heart rate can shoot up and cause a heart attack or worse. Shame on the hospital for doing that. You need to wean slowly off those things. They are serious drugs. In America, they are one of the drugs with a black box warning on them. Meaning that serious consequences can occur from them. I am not trying to frighten you. I am on one too. Metoprolol er ( extended release) I am trying to get mine reduced as they make me 'very tired. But, have to take blood pressure for a week and see how stable it is first and heart rate. You really should go back to your Dr in Jan as advised, but I would call first. They were definitely wrong to suddenly stop the medicine abruptly. Take care and do have a happy New Years. Keep an eye on your pulse and blood pressure!! Let us know how it goes!!!

    • Mabel27
      Mabel27

      Posted

      I did not call you a turkey!😱😱I meant cold turkey!( stop medicine suddenly) so sorry!!😁💞

    • sarah87162
      sarah87162 Mabel27

      Posted

      I am quite surprised to be honest because apart from just stopping bisoprolol the hospital in Bristol were very good. Years ago I saw a cardiologist and he said I could try stopping them as well. I did not realize they were betablockers so I will check this when I go back to GP. Thanks for reply I will let you know the outcome.

      Sarah

  • Mabel27
    Mabel27 sarah87162

    Posted

    I just wrote a long reply to you and it disappeared. You cannot stop that kind of med suddenly. It is very dangerous, your heart rate and blood pressure can shoot up and cause a heart attack.Not trying to scare you, that is a beta blocker, I take one too. But they have to wean you off it slowly!! Neglect of who ever told you to stop it cold turkey. Do keep checking your pulse and blood pressure 2 times daily. Let us know how you are doing. Happy New year! You will be fine!! Mabel27
  • alibalibea
    alibalibea sarah87162

    Posted

    Hi when. I came off Bisoprolol my heart rate became very fast.  I have a Fitbit so I kept an eye on it with that.  my pulse Is now normally within normal limits.
  • jx41870
    jx41870 sarah87162

    Posted

    Hi Sarah.  As the others suggest, if you read up on Bisoprolol or any beta blocker it should be done by tapering off over weeks.  And I have to suggest, often it just doesn't work, it's very hard to get off these things once you've been on them for a while.  Whether that's the drugs or just the body, is impossible to say.

    ?The good news is that if you want a natural beta blocker, it's dark chocolate!  Can't have any milk added or the effect is much less or is delayed for twelve hours or more.  An ounce or two - um, that would be about 30- 60 grams, of 90% dark, is almost as good as about half a day of standard pill.

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