1. Community
  2. Heart Health
  3. Bisoprolol

Starting my weaning off journey with Bisoprolol

Posted , 27 users are following.

victor99184
victor99184

hi guys, im 30 years old and have been on 2.5mg bisoprolol for 10+ years over 1 episode i had, really rapid heart rate after smoking some marijuana, i was bed ridden and terrified to get out of bed because my heart was beating so fast i would almost pass out. that last about a week until i got put on Bisoprolol.

i have been pretty good since then with this terrible drug bisoprolol and i recently have been approved to get off it(finaly) i also have no heart issues whatsoever i have been told by the cardiologist. Now the crazy part is that i dont understand how cardiologist do not have a clue how bad this drug affects people when they are coming off it, they litterally told me to just get off of it completely that i wouldnt need to wean..,.(holy crap)

i knew that wasnt going to happen being that i have tried  weaning off this drug before with litterally no success! the effects i get from a tiny bit of cutting the pill by a 10th was horrible. For me it would raise my cortisol levels at night causing extreme panic.. like i thought i was for sure dead waking up at 3:30am !!!! This was litterally happening for months with no explanation and countless visits to the ER. After researching this drug and months later i finally figured the pill was the cause of high cortisol spikes at night/extreme panic attacks so i made sure my doses were exactly 2.5mg. Before i was just hoping to get the right cut by eye but of course that wasnt the case.

Does anyone have any suggestions on weaning off Bisoprolol? How is life after getting off the drug? anything i should worry about? I go to the gym 4 times a week and notice the cortisol spikes at night get worse if i try weaning and still hit the gym. Im hoping to get off this pill completely sometime in 2018, i will be starting the wean jan 1st of the new year so im excited and scared at the same time and really would like some guidance. Oh yea i take Holy basil for the high cortisol at night which really makes a difference, thought id throw that out there in case anyone was going through the same thing!

anything would help

thanks

0 likes, 98 replies

98 Replies

Prev Next
  • natalie79356
    natalie79356 victor99184

    Posted

    Hi Victor,

    I have been on 2,5mg bisoprolol for 2 years.  It has been a total nightmare for me - I can’t exercise, not because I don’t have the strenght, but because I can’t sleep at night. I feel like my brain and nervous system are in shock.  I’m glad I found the strength and the positivity to start reducing the pill... My GP advised me to start by taking 1,25mg and 1,25 halved after good meal (I usually take it after dinner at 7pm). I got a pill cutter and it does not really cut the pill properly. One half is always bigger than the other, so I guess I’m  currently taking 1,8-1,9 instead of the original 2,5mg dose. It has been 10 days since I started and I have had 2 tachycardia attacks - which were bearable, but worse than on 2,5mg. I tend to be a lot more anxious as the time gets to 7pm.... I guess that’s due to my body being very very low on the drug. So far it has been good. I do not want to measure my pulse, as I’m trying to act as normal as possible and if I see that my pulse is getting higher it would create needless panic.

     I know it might sounds stupid and you might not be into that, but there is an app Calms - they have great podcasts on reducing anxiety and meditating with recorded breathing sounds etc. I found it very useful and I could feel how my heart rate was going down. 

    I read the replies and I think Bob’s way would help you stay away from any possible side effects. Good luck and stay strong, you will eventually get there! Once you start reducing the dose you will feel motivated and less apprehensive. 

    Natalie smile

     

  • Vimes
    Vimes victor99184

    Posted

    How is the situation going regarding weaning off this drug...?

    A few years ago (58 years old male) I was prescribed 2.5mg bisoprolol for high blood pressure and an elevated heart rate. This was after tests done by a senior cardiologist.

    Fast forward these several years and the dose is now at 3.75mg. 

    For me the biggest issues have been the continuous tiredness and stomach / nausea issues that I have had to deal with. Overall my doctors are fairly dismissive of those. 

    But over the last few months, might be related or not, I have developed the non allergic form of Rhinitis. This has lead to a particularly bad post nsal drip and lots of mucus and throat / voice issues. I have seen two different ENT consultants and had camera inspection etc. I have also had a gastroscopy, fitted with a Bravo chip.

    But I have read that beta blockers can induce Rhinitis. Even though this is shown on the UK's NHS website as a fact again my doctors seem not too interested in that.

    I would wish to ween myself off these drugs and then be able to see how my BP actually is, with improvements to diet and lifestyle. I would do this with the help of the doctor and close monitoring of my BP and heart rate etc.

    I am curious though how anyone has gone on with their own successes, or not, at coming off this drug..?

    Best wishes to all smile

       

    • Lolasmom
      Lolasmom Vimes

      Posted

      I was on Biso for about 4 months.  I was then told to just stop it in order to have an ablation.  My doctor said it was just fine to stop and not wean off.   Well, it was not fine.  I had huge withdrawals.   I did not make the connection at the time, and was put on 2 other meds for anxiety.   Big mistake.    I then had to wean off them which has been a nightmare.

      When I was on the biso. I felt terrible.   My heart rate and bp were very low.  My feet felt like ice, and I could not get off the sofa.  Felt like a zombie.    

      I would rather have tachy, than be on this drug.

    • Vimes
      Vimes Lolasmom

      Posted

      A few years ago I was prescribed Seroxat and took it for two years, but a great experience. I was told that I could just stop taking them with no issues.

      That was not the case.

      The anxiety levels went through the roof, it was an horrendous time for me and little understanding or belief from my doctor that it was related to the SSRI that I was told that I could just stop taking.

      Have you competed your weening off now and if so was your doctor supportive.?

      I'm not sure why some doctors are resistant to understanding the issues that can be caused when stopping some medicating.

      Best wishes to you.

    • Lolasmom
      Lolasmom Vimes

      Posted

      I spent 10 months weaning off Klonopin and Traxodone.   That ended Dec 2017.  I am post 7 months.  Still going through withdrawals.  But my windows are getting longer, and the waves shorter.  I can have a whole day window when you think the madness is over, only to then go into a wave.......

      This has been the worst thing I have ever had to do.  My doctor has gone through my eaning with me.   He has been supportive, but when I saw him a couple of weeks ago, I told him I am still going through withdrawals.    He looked at mw, and just said.....Well, it should be out of your system by now.

      I looked at him, and said........Oh ya?....okay then.

      They have no clue.   They think after 30 days, you should be fine..........I know different

    • Vimes
      Vimes Lolasmom

      Posted

      I understand what you mean about the ups and downs of going through withdrawals.

      I am becoming more aware of trying to manage my own medications and be as informed as possible, both are not always easy depending on why you are taking them and getting good quality consistent advice that you can trust.

      I go and see a specialist on Thursday and then my GP on Tuesday the following week.

      sometimes you get the impression, or at least I do, that you are not believed when you describe these side effects, either whilst taking the drug or trying to wean off them.

    • fiona95329
      fiona95329 Lolasmom

      Posted

      hi i know this post was a whole ago but your problem is/was the exact as mine is just now ive had a nightmare with this medication ive been off it for 4 weeks now as the doc says i can but my head is killing me every day im taken pain killers im very anxious and just feel so depressed so much, is there light at the end of the tunnel i was on them 4 month too

    • Lolasmom
      Lolasmom fiona95329

      Posted

      Hi fiona,

      Well......I just had my 2 years off this month. Yes it does get better, but I am still having symptoms. Atleast |I think they are withdrawals.Crazy stuff.

      You should look up benzofree.org Wonderful information. There is a podcast you can listen to. They come out every |Wednesday. I would suggest going back to the beginning of the podcasts and listen from there. Sign up and you will get an email every Wednesday with the new one. Helps so much and makes you fell you are not alone.

      Tell me about you. What were you on? How much, how long and what has been your weaning schedule.

      I am here if you need me. It's the hardest thing I have ever done. But is it doable. You cam pm me if you wish

    • fiona95329
      fiona95329 Lolasmom

      Posted

      well i had a small heart thing in the summer and they put me on 3.0 bisropodol, but i was so tired and i checked my heart rate one day and it was 53! to slow for me, so he lowered my dose to 1.5 and it seemed fine but i was getting lots of flutters going for sleeps in the afternoon and gained a stone, having weird pressure in my head, and panic attacks, so went back to the cardioligist and he took me off them and put me on a blood pressure tablet, that was fine felt ok then because of panic attacks while on this drug and presented my self to E&A 19 times with presure in my head, heart flutters, im left with sever anxiety , i think im going to die all the time , ive had countless ECGS, CT scan of my head, lumber punctuar all in the space of 4 months its been a nightmare, my new tablet makes my symptoms worse, i take to many pain killers. water helps me but just wish i can get rid of this feeling

    • Lolasmom
      Lolasmom fiona95329

      Posted

      Wow, kinda my story

      Back in Feb 2016, I started having tachycardia. Just out of the blue. At that time I had a really bad cold and cough and think that triggered it. Since that date, I have had about 55 episodes with 3 tries at having an ablation. I have Atrial Tachycardia

      Anyways, because of the tachycardia, I was put on bisoprolol 5 mg. I took that for about 1 1/2 months. I could not get off the sofa...so fatiqued. My heart rate was to low as well as my blood pressure. I was also taking bp meds. My hands and feet were freezing.

      I dropped it to 2.5 mg for another 1 1/2 months. Thats' when I went for my first ablation attempt. My cardiologist told me to just stop the biso 5 days prior to the procedure. I asked if that was okay to just stop. His reply yes no problem

      Well, it was a big problem. I went into severe anxiety. Many physical symptoms. Thought I was going to lose it. I could hardly walk my legs were were so weak and shaky. Probably adrenaline.

      Now at that time I did not even question withdrawals from the biso. I thought it was health anxiety. My family doctor put me on a benzo ( clonezepam) and trazodone. Took that for about 18 months.

      If I had realized that this was withdrawals from the biso, I would not have put my self through hell with the 2 additonal drugs.

      If I knew then what I know now..............

      That lead to a very long tough weaning of those 2 drugs. I have been off 2 years but still going through stuff.Waves and windows still.....

      Oh ya, I have facial pressure every day for the last 3 years. It starts like a weird quick dizzy spell. My face and forehead fill with pressure and my ears plug up. I feel all off balance and it is horrid. Oddly, it seems to come around the same time of day

    • kris_81
      kris_81 Lolasmom

      Posted

      I am still taking 1.25 mg of bisoprolol. I have the same problem with head pressure, not as much as I did with the 2.5 mg. I had to reschedule my appointment with cardiologist for 12/23. are you off of the bisoprolol now? if so how long did it take you to come off? I have been on it for almost 5 years and I'm just now experiencing these side effects before I went down to 1.5.

    • fiona95329
      fiona95329 kris_81

      Posted

      hi i just came off them suddenly its been a tuff three weeks, i just wish it would all just end.

    • fiona95329
      fiona95329 Lolasmom

      Posted

      so you had antidepressents as well? i think thats why you still have problems , coming off anti deppresents is bad, i know this from experience! you will get there. good luck

    • Lolasmom
      Lolasmom fiona95329

      Posted

      No. I am not on anything other than blood pressure meds

    • fiona95329
      fiona95329 Lolasmom

      Posted

      its so hard isn't it? i lie at night and think im gonny die like i have it just now, im back to docs tomorrow, hopfully i can get something to stop this

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.