Atrial Fibrillation

[MXRod]

MXRod said:

I have a similar thing where my heart slings an extra half heart beat then misses a full beat , so taking my pulse at my wrist it just feels like 3 or 4 beats then a gap , I have now an ECG test , 2 walking ECG tests , Echocardiogram and CT scan .
The result , in addition to the 5 meds I take in the morning , I now have to have in addition , Beta-Blockers , something I had once before and had the side effect of serious mood swings , something I was unaware of but made it hard for my family ,as a consequence my GP changed my meds , the consultant has prescribed the drug for a short time to see if it will regulate my heart beat , but the moment my OH spots the side effect , the drug stops

One day on Beta Blockers and all hell has broken loose
Explosive trots violent vomiting and cold hands and feet , all known side effects of beta-blockers.
I think I am going to give them a miss

[colin_p]

MXRod said:

One day on Beta Blockers and all hell has broken loose
Explosive trots violent vomiting and cold hands and feet , all known side effects of beta-blockers.
I think I am going to give them a miss

Stay with them, they really do help.

I've been on three different ones and am on an elephant tranquilising dose now of Nebivolol. Previously been on Bisoprolol and Propranolol.

Which ones are you on and what dose?

[MXRod]

Bisoprolol 1.5 mg . My GP did say it was up to me if I did have side effects , I will be calling the surgery Monday morning

[colin_p]

MXRod said:

Bisoprolol 1.5 mg . My GP did say it was up to me if I did have side effects , I will be calling the surgery Monday morning

They do knock the stuffing out of you at first, but it is well worth getting through that temporary phase.

I started on Bisoprolol back in 2014 at 1.25mg and it was steadily increased, 2.5mg then 5mg then 10 then 20! This was over several months and at each dose increase I felt a bit rough.

It is well worth sticking with them and getting through the temporary rough patch.

Also, are you as well hydrated as you could be? It makes a massive difference.

[smac]

I had the freezing hands and feet with beta blockers. I was moved to Diltiazem which has no side effects ( for me)

[Stu-nph26]

colin_p said:

They do knock the stuffing out of you at first, but it is well worth getting through that temporary phase.

I started on Bisoprolol back in 2014 at 1.25mg and it was steadily increased, 2.5mg then 5mg then 10 then 20! This was over several months and at each dose increase I felt a bit rough.

It is well worth sticking with them and getting through the temporary rough patch.

Also, are you as well hydrated as you could be? It makes a massive difference.

I was told 10mg of Bisoprolol is the max dose. I'm on 5 atm and it still doesn't stop my heart rate getting too high when doing any kind of ecersize

[colin_p]

Stu-nph26 said:

I was told 10mg of Bisoprolol is the max dose. I'm on 5 atm and it still doesn't stop my heart rate getting too high when doing any kind of ecersize

Maybe for a-fib. I have a lot more going on heart wise.

[Stu-nph26]

colin_p said:

Maybe for a-fib. I have a lot more going on heart wise.

Possibly but it was my GP who said that not a cardiologist so who knows. I don't really notice any side effects from it that I'm aware of

[colin_p]

Stu-nph26 said:

colin_p said:

Maybe for a-fib. I have a lot more going on heart wise.

Possibly but it was my GP who said that not a cardiologist so who knows. I don't really notice any side effects from it that I'm aware of

Up to 20mg...
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/bisoprolol/

I'm not on Biso now but on an equally potent dose of another beta. The only side effect I have is a severely reduced maximum heart rate, mine tops out at about 110bpm.

The important message in both your and my posts is that once you are past the initial getting-used-to phase (or not in your case) taking betas shouldn't be much of a concern.

[MXRod]

colin_p said:

MXRod said:

Bisoprolol 1.5 mg . My GP did say it was up to me if I did have side effects , I will be calling the surgery Monday morning

They do knock the stuffing out of you at first, but it is well worth getting through that temporary phase.

I started on Bisoprolol back in 2014 at 1.25mg and it was steadily increased, 2.5mg then 5mg then 10 then 20! This was over several months and at each dose increase I felt a bit rough.

It is well worth sticking with them and getting through the temporary rough patch.

Also, are you as well hydrated as you could be? It makes a massive difference.

I have carried on ,and so far so good , I think I know the cause of the upset , I had a bit of a back ache and had taken some paracetamol , and BOOM .
I am due a further 24hr ECG in 12 weeks to monitor results of the meds

[Glosphil]

I've been on Bisoprolol for 10 years with no side effects. Dose reduced to 2.5mg a year or so ago.

[colin_p]

MXRod said:

I have carried on ,and so far so good , I think I know the cause of the upset , I had a bit of a back ache and had taken some paracetamol , and BOOM .
I am due a further 24hr ECG in 12 weeks to monitor results of the meds

Glad to hear you staying with it.

I don't understand the BOOM though, was it a good or bad BOOM

[MXRod]

colin_p said:

MXRod said:

I have carried on ,and so far so good , I think I know the cause of the upset , I had a bit of a back ache and had taken some paracetamol , and BOOM .
I am due a further 24hr ECG in 12 weeks to monitor results of the meds

Glad to hear you staying with it.

I don't understand the BOOM though, was it a good or bad BOOM

Serious sxxxt and explosive vomiting

[Aydogflipper]

Speaking of beta blockers and bisoprolol in particular. Has many people suffered with other side effects from using them? I'm awaiting a discussion with my GP as since I started with them, I'm really struggling to drop weight whilst dieting.

I've only been on them for a year and a bit, but there has been a noticeable difference in the effectiveness of dieting. I'm doing very similar things to pre bisoprolol, but the results are not anywhere near as good.

Doubt it's an age related slow down, I'm only 33 haha.

[MXRod]

The only serious side effects from my previous use were cold extremities , hands feet etc and personality change , not sure what the dose was then , but now it is 1.5 mg , after a few days ,already cold hands and feet , could be the weather though ! As for personality change OH reports all is well at the moment

[mcelliott]

Aydogflipper said:

Speaking of beta blockers and bisoprolol in particular. Has many people suffered with other side effects from using them? I'm awaiting a discussion with my GP as since I started with them, I'm really struggling to drop weight whilst dieting.

I've only been on them for a year and a bit, but there has been a noticeable difference in the effectiveness of dieting. I'm doing very similar things to pre bisoprolol, but the results are not anywhere near as good.

Doubt it's an age related slow down, I'm only 33 haha.

I'm on beta blockers for anxiety, they lower heart rate which in turn I think slows down the body ability to digest food, this may be causing weight issues in some people.

[Aydogflipper]

mcelliott said:

I'm on beta blockers for anxiety, they lower heart rate which in turn I think slows down the body ability to digest food, this may be causing weight issues in some people.

That fits with some of the things I have read. I guess everyone is different and some people it will cause these issues and others will be fine. I'll see what the doc says when they call me.

[Don1]

I resemble that comment....

[Aydogflipper]

Don1 said:

I resemble that comment....

[schueymcfee]

Interesting stuff, reading some of these comments reminded of an episode I had on NYE. The butterflies in the stomach and heart missing a beat rang true. I had assumed as I have previously had a massive heart attack it was just a wobble of that. The next day I felt fine. I took an ECG with my watch but I can't make head nor tale although it doesn't look normal. I'm on 5mg Bisoprolol and all the other goodies. I'd appreciate an opinion....