Paroxysmal AF

An update in case it's helpful to any one else. I decided to investigate other means of controlling my AF. Saw the GP and asked for blood tests to determine magnesium levels/cholesterol etc. I'm now taking 300mg of magnesium at night.

Then had allergy tests as I'd linked feeling ill when this began with some bread I'd bought. It turns out that I'm allergic to sunflower and sesame seeds in the bread.

Also two big ones for me - cows milk and maize.

I am making all the recommended changes to my diet. Have agreed with the GP that in a month I will have the Holter test again and if the recommendation is still that I need to take meds I will take them without question.

Incidentally the GP said that 2.5 is a low dose of Bisoprolol when I'd been thinking it was high.

Best wishes to anyone struggling with this condition.

Thank you for the contributions Lucky girl and Ellen as it's helping me to assess where I am at present. What a nasty reaction Lucky. I wasn't offered any other option. He just made out a prescription for this drug. True he advised about diet/alcohol/smoking etc.

I'm coming to the opinion that I'm going to get some blood tests done and see whether I may have a magnesium deficiency. I think a blood test can also show heart irregularities. I felt when it first began as though it was a reaction to a food item. I'd been eating a new wholemeal bread with various seeds and it occurred a short time after eating the bread. I'm going to have some allergy tests. If necessary I may get a second opinion from a cardiologist.

It is clear from my reading online that most AF treatment drugs are toxic and I think I need to consider other options. I need to know that I there is no alternative. I have made an appointment with an acupuncturist who has treated the family for allergies and is also a GP.

I'll report back and if anyone would like to know what I've been reading please send PM. Thanks again for your help.

It's a bit hit and miss with beta-blockers as very few agreed with me especially atenolol. Bisoprolol did take some getting used to but I realised that the " feelings " I got while taking them were supposed to happen to prevent the heart from racing. I'd always been very active but had been told to slow down. Now I just accept being idle

It did take a while before I realised that I couldn't exert myself in any way. It was like someone pushing me back but obviously the effect of the Bisoprolol.

Well - things have changed for me. After about 10 days on bisoprolol I was plunged into a deep weepy depression - I have had this before, 5 years ago following hip surgery and still take a small dose of anti-D. I got myself an appointment with GP and she said that bisoprolol can do this to susceptible individuals and she has taken me off it. Also not happy about my BP getting so low. At the moment we are just going to proceed with the anticoagulant alone - she said she has several patients whose PAF is managed in this way. She will monitor my heart rate and see how things go. If I get further episodes, then we will think again. I feel much better not on it; but have a friend who takes a much larger dose and has no problems at all. I think it is down to the individual.

I think that bisoprolol is just the standard knee-jerk to start people on; it is probably the cheapest!

This has come as a complete shock to me and I'm nervous of taking even 2.5 of this drug. All the information seems to say you slow right down, have no energy etc. I just can't think what that's going to be like. That's right - I haven't had the prescription made up yet.

I still work sometimes and I would have to give that up and what about driving if you feel tired all the time? I feel fine today and have been wondering about getting a second opinion, although the readout from the Holter last weekend was clear to see.

At the back of my mind though is the condition of my MiL when she had a stroke and I dread that.

Just been reading these posts now. Interesting about the bisoprolol - I have full blown AF and take 10mg morning and 5mg evening and have never questioned it, trustingly I usually believe the docs know best. They have never changed it in almost 4 years. My bp is "that of one in their twenties" but reading these posts I realise I am so much slower than I was - could be my age aswell, I'm now 72. How I'd love to go back to pre AF days. No one else I know has it.

I can't believe people have low bp when I struggle to keep mine just below the danger zone! In my case it's hereditary and while the 'clean lifestyle ' might help is certainly not enough. Currently being reviewed by cardiologist as the medication I've been on for the past 20 years no longer copes.

Well I came online to check whether anyone had experience of taking Bisoprolol which was prescribed by a cardiologist yesterday and I'm very nervous about taking it. I've read the possible side effects and some of them sound worse than the palpitations. I had the Holter and it showed that every hour or so I have an 'episode' even whilst sleeping.

However, reading your posts and also some other threads in the Health Forum, I've realised I'm being foolish and that others have far more to cope with. I must stop being nervous and like Lucky, just get on with it.

What puzzles me is that the cardiologist said I have the heart of a 20 year old woman (aged 76) but that the AF comes with age.

Lucky girl, you might be able to go on a lower dose of beta blocker. When I had my one and only bout of AF 2 years ago I was put on 2.5 mg bisoprolol, but it make my resting heart rate around 40 and because of that I had no energy. It was then reduced to 1.25mg which suits me much better, now have a resting heart rate in low 50s and can do everything except walk as fast as I used to. The standard dose of rivaroxaban is 20mg, and they won't reduce it. I did ask but no. It's a blood thinner with no antidote so you have to be careful with cuts taking ages to stop bleeding.

Just looked at my dosage of bisoprolol and it's 3.75 which seems to be keeping the " episodes " at bay. I was originally given the top dose n 2007 to begin with but there was no way I could function on such a dose so it was reduced to 2.5 until I had my last " do " about 4 years ago then it was increased to 3.75.
Admittedly it has slowed me down to what I was used to doing ( never still ) but I'm not worrying about that at this stage.
I also take Lipitor ( atorvastatin ) at night with my warfarin and haven't suffered any ill effects. If anything the Lipitor appears to have improved my eyesight even though I don't wear glasses only for reading and haven't had an eye test since 2003. I'm turned 78 so my medication has kept me going.

I'm another with PAF. Bisoprolol doesnt make me dozy but I have no energy at all. I currently have 5mg 2.5 am and 2.5 pm. Doc has said I can go up to 7.5 or even 10 if I need to.
Also on blood thinners

2.5 - but I am breaking them up into 3/4 of a tab at the moment. I will up it in a few days.

I suppose the difficulty I have is that when I had AF after the hip surgery 5 years ago, they said I did not need anti-coagulation or BBs - but his time they said different - I guess I am 5 years older. So I have to accept it. I will get used to it all in time.

What dosage is your bisoprolol Luckygirl ?

I know little about it Luckygirl. Just reading your post as advised by Mawbroon as I had an apparent panic attack. November is a long wait for something important. take care.x

Slight difficulty here.....I always have had low BP, but it is now in my boots on bisoprolol; and my pulse rate is barely alive!

I have made an appointment to talk to GP (not till Nov!), but in the meantime have just taken 3/4 of a tablet.

I guess there is a balance that needs to be struck between a BP that lets me function, but also trying to keep the heart rhythm stable.

Anyone else had this problem?

I also have bisoprolol and spironolactone in the morning.

lucky that’s the way to do it!!

Right - 20mg it is! I am seeing GP in a couple of weeks so it can all be reviewed and bunged on my repeats list.

OH was (is?) a doctor. In the hospital a doctor came up to me to take history and asked me what had happened I told him that I had woken up in AF; and he said (in a very scornful voice) "How would YOU know it was AF?" I said that my OH was a doc and he had taken my pulse - cue very sheepish look on behalf of the doc - that'll larn 'im!

Sorry Luckygirl - that was my reaction to the docs remarks! I'm on 20 mg of Riveroxaban too - presumably its the best dose for us.

Lucky I’m sorry you’ve got this to contend with as well as everything else. I guess you’ll need to give it a bit of time to see how much realistically you can carry on doing. But I can understand your desire to feel you’re still able to live the the life you want to have with helping the family and need to have in caring for your dh. Although it might be time to reassess your day to day commitments..Good luck as you find a way forward with it all. Bet the hair compliments bucked you up!

Willow500 - cheer me up, why don't you!

I am on 20mg of riveroxaban - it does come in smaller doses and I am wondering if I should not be on so much.

Bisoprolol as others said is sort of designed to calm you down.

If you were doing so much that you cant do it on Bisoprolol then you were probably doing too much and living in an unsustainable way, so either you calm down or your body will object in other ways IYKWIM

I have AF and take Atenalol and Riveroxaban - I don't know if it's the same condition. I do bruise very easily and was told it was a choice between having a blood clot to the brain with the AF causing a stroke or bleeding to death! Not very helpful really.

DH takes Bisoprolol, he had a bit of a problem with it (for the life of me can’t remember what it was!) and the doctor said he should take it at night.

I take the Bisoprolol in the morning.