Low heart rate - bisoprolol

[Whatisgoingoff2024]

What is your typical resting heart rate on bisoprolol? The last few months my HR is resting between 40-45 BPM. I know bisoprolol typically reduces your HR but it seems to be much lower than usual. It’s always sat at around 50BPM. I have been doing a lot more exercise this year so generally am fitter but I am concerned it’s too low. I feel dizzy a lot of the time and fatigued. The issue is that it keeps my heart issues at bay so I don’t really want to interfere!

I have wondered about this - I’ve been on beta blockers (v low dose) for the last 4 years or so and have been slowly increasing my fitness; I was v sedentary before. My hope was that at some point I could come off the pills because my heart health would have improved thanks to the exercise - this makes sense to me logically but maybe I’m wrong. (My exercise performance has been patchy though and I’ve only really ramped it up this year).

On beta blockers my rhr is between 50-55, usually 52, 53. Last summer it went down to about 46 and I was going to ask my doctor but it went up again - I think I may have just been very relaxed on holiday!

In any case, I think it’s something you should talk to your doctor about, particularly as you’re feeling dizzy and tired.

My resting rate is 46bpm. I am on 3.75mg bisop per day. I am in my sixties and feel absolutely fine with that. Overnight it can go down to the 30s. My cardiologist wasn't a bit concerned, he said once the rate rises on activity it's ok.

I have Atrial Fibrillation and the bisoprolol (as you all know) lowers the HR. Mind you, it took six months titrating to get the dose right. 5mg and I was nearly dead as the resting rate was around 39. Then 2.5mg and the heart rate was all over the place as it wasn't enough. So am now on 3.75mg for over 3 years and so far so good. I do get Afib episodes now and then though, and may need an ablation in the future. I walk a few miles every day and run up and down the stairs at a cracking rate for my age. The HR goes up then!

Obviously check with your GP again, the dosage may need to be adjusted if you feel dizzy and are fatigued. I don't have any of those symptoms though, so I'm not concerned. For now!

i couldnt exercise on bisoproplyl. I was exhausted even walking the dog

The main concern is that it is low AND making you dizzy. You should go back to whoever prescribed it and ask for a review

I was on for a few months to get my BP down as BP tablets made me feel really ill - bisoprolol made my HR go below 49 a lot of the time - it did bring my BP down a fair bit but made me feel like I was walking through cement and really slow generally -

My sits around the low 60’s - sometimes it increases depending on activity. Never dips below 50.

I’m 42 and take 1.25mg x 3 per day.

I take 2.5mg and its about 80 resting, from 132 unmedicated

Fatigue is a common side effect of bisoprolol and personally I couldn’t tolerate it.

It might be worth asking your cardiologist to see if they can prescribe you a different beta blocker.

I’m not currently on beta blockers but I have an ICD and it paces at 50 so my heart rate never drops below that.

But I’m currently in hospital on the urgent transplant list so a low heart rate is often expected.

I take a low dose (1.25mg) due to a naturally fast heart rate and ectopic beats. My resting rate is now between 65-85 depending on time of day, what I've eaten/drunk (wine!) etc. If it gets too low I feel awful, and have a more erratic rhythm. I am not particularly fit but do normally get 10k steps in a day.

@AnyoneWhoHasAHeart sorry to hear that - wishing you much luck - x