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Beta blockers

(44 Posts)
Luckygirl3 Mon 06-Jan-25 09:43:56

I am stuck with having to take these darned things and they are sapping everything worthwhile from my life: energy, intellect, joy. I am tempted to bin them but know my heart will go haywire again if I do.

Has anyone found a beta blocker that still leaves them with something resembling a life?

HowVeryDareYou2 Mon 06-Jan-25 09:57:28

I've been on Bisoprolol (2.5mg) for 3.5 years and not had any side-effects

Tizliz Mon 06-Jan-25 09:59:58

There was a thread about this recently

www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1330899-Beta-Blockers?pg=1

merlotgran Mon 06-Jan-25 10:07:02

I’ve been on Bisoprolol (2,5mgs) for three years and am now finding my energy levels at an all time low. This could be because it’s winter and I’ve recently had an operation but when I hear of others on Bisoprolol saying they are constantly tired it makes me wonder.

I was also prescribed it for AF.

Lathyrus3 Mon 06-Jan-25 10:10:26

Nope. They were probably one of the worst things that ever happened to me! Life wasn’t worth living.

Dragged myself (literally) out of bed, sat around until lunchtime feeling ill and dozing off. Felt a bit better in the afternoon but couldn’t even walk the half mile into town without stopping to rest (ironically halfway on the local undertakers wall). Evening reasonable as long as I just sat.

Even the consultant agreed it wasn’t worth it. Now I take a blood thinner to ward off strokes and just live with the palpitations. Back to an active life worth living 😁

Luckygirl3 Mon 06-Jan-25 10:39:02

Lathyrus3 - that is exactly it. I am barely functional.

merlotgran Mon 06-Jan-25 10:47:47

My fatigue and lethargy has crept up on me slowly and I can now identify with Lathyrus and Luckygirl’s posts.

I’m also on Ramipril and a blood thinner (Apixaban) All three can cause tiredness so I think I should ask for a review.

Lathyrus3 Mon 06-Jan-25 11:22:24

It’s an individual decision but I felt my life wasn’t worth living. But then I am not a ‘ prolong life at any cost’ sort of person. I’d rather have a few good years than more years of nothing much😬

I read once that there are those who are afraid of death and those who are afraid of life. For me a long life of nothingness is quite a fearful thing😱

Luckygirl3 Mon 06-Jan-25 11:31:26

I’m also on Ramipril and a blood thinner (Apixaban) All three can cause tiredness so I think I should ask for a review.

Me too, although my blood thinner is edoxaban.

I feel as though all of me is switched off at the main.

BigBertha1 Mon 06-Jan-25 11:48:42

I've been on Bisprolol for over 20 years - no problems.

Farmor15 Mon 06-Jan-25 14:26:54

I'm on 5 mg Bisprolol for AF, along with Apixaban, 40 mg statin and 100 mcg Eltroxin (after total thyroidectomy). I've always been energetic- I had an overactive thyroid for years which might have contributed!

I was worried that my energy levels would change after having thyroid out, but I noticed no change, apart from relief of symptoms of very enlarged thyroid.
Then, when diagnosed with AF and prescribed beta blocker, I was nervous that it would slow me down, but no effect!
When I have an AF episode, every few weeks, I feel a bit tired but most of the time I feel almost exactly the same as before I took beta blockers (and other meds).

Luckygirl3 Mon 06-Jan-25 22:08:00

It is heartening to hear that there are those who are able to take beta blockers with no problem.

PamelaJ1 Mon 06-Jan-25 22:21:53

I’ve been on Bisoprolol for about 3 months now but only 1.25mg. I have a friend who is on 10mg so feel that I shouldn’t really notice much difference as my dose is so low.
I felt fine before I had ‘my incident’ feel fine now but am presuming they are doing something that benefits me.

dragonfly46 Mon 06-Jan-25 22:52:14

I couldn’t take Bisoprolol as they gave me horrid side effects. My doctor tried me on a few others until I he gave me Carvedilol. I also take Edoxaban and have no side effects from either.

escaped Tue 07-Jan-25 00:03:45

I've been on beta blockers for 45 years, most of my adult life. Different names with olol on the end, beginning with Propranolol at 22 years old through to Atenolol currently. I've had umpteen consultations with experts, and every time I have been told that adverse metabolic effects can vary according to age, gender and race, as well as "just how you are made". Beta blockers haven't taken away anything from my life, slowing me down both physically and mentally would not be an option for me, but weight gain has been something I've had to watch carefully. Oh yes, and vivid dreams where I shout in my sleep.

Granmarderby10 Tue 07-Jan-25 11:22:10

I’ve been taking them for 20 years now. Mainly as a precaution after a heart attack.
For me it was the statins -(many different types tried) that rendered life unbearable - so stopped.
Kept up with small dose of ezetimibe though and aspirin.

Thoro Tue 07-Jan-25 11:55:46

I also take Bisoprolol. The only thing I've noticed is that when I start my morning dog walk my energy levels are low but as I keep walking they revive and I can keep going well.

merlotgran Tue 07-Jan-25 12:09:13

Those who are on Bisoprolol. Do you take it in the morning or evening?

Farmor15 Tue 07-Jan-25 12:59:55

I take in the morning. My understanding is that since heart rate tends to drop during sleep, and beta blockers also cause heart rate drop, that if taken at night, might cause it to be too low.

Pinkhousegirl Tue 07-Jan-25 14:27:46

Luckygirl3 - I was prescribed them when suffering from depression after a big surgical procedure. Prescribing done by a "physician consultant" who refused to prescribe anti-depressants as "they are addictive", - I was treated like a not very bright 5-year old. Anyhoo, prescribed 2, twice a day. About 2 hours after first dose my heart rate dropped to 35bpm. I was barely conscious, husband rang surgery "oh well, better just take one". Took no more, and never will again! Hope you find a solution.

Nannan2 Tue 07-Jan-25 14:43:34

My doc wants me to take beta blockers to supplement Ramiril, but bisoprolol i cant take- but i am reluctant to take any at all.Advice?

Nannan2 Tue 07-Jan-25 14:46:30

I had bisoprolol ags ago, wasnt consulted just put on it, (by a heart consultant) cant remember how it happened or what but now it says i cant take those in my notes.🤔

Lathyrus3 Tue 07-Jan-25 14:47:12

Pinkhousegirl

Luckygirl3 - I was prescribed them when suffering from depression after a big surgical procedure. Prescribing done by a "physician consultant" who refused to prescribe anti-depressants as "they are addictive", - I was treated like a not very bright 5-year old. Anyhoo, prescribed 2, twice a day. About 2 hours after first dose my heart rate dropped to 35bpm. I was barely conscious, husband rang surgery "oh well, better just take one". Took no more, and never will again! Hope you find a solution.

That was my problem too. With a heart rate of 40 or under it was no wonder I could hardly move.

wibblywobblywobblebottom Tue 07-Jan-25 14:47:50

As somebody else mentioned, speak to your pharmacist before trying to contact your consultant. The consultant is more likely to reply to a pharmacist. Even better speak to your GP, they will always get an answer.

Merhaba Tue 07-Jan-25 14:50:08

My husband takes em for stress He's so much better taking them. My bother in law takes em for fast heart rate. He's also happy with his..