Slowed Heartbeat

I have PAF and lately bradycardia.  To counteract the former, I was put on 10mg daily Bisoprolol.  The specialist who did this also is recommending a pacemaker to counteract the bradycardia, but I read on the leaflet for Bisoprolol that this drug slows the heartbeat.  I am really puzzled as to how these two can be side by side, ie why a drug to slow the heartbeat and a pacemaker to speed it up?  My surgery doctor has just reduced this to 7.5mg (to see what happens).

[Mom2four85]

I would really question your doctor and try to find another medication that doesn't drop your HR like Bisoprolol does.  

I can't see the benefit of putting in a PM because of a decreased HR from a med - the benefit doesn't outweigh the risk, what happens then if your HR goes to 140?do they take it out with yet another surgery?  I'm just a patient with ANS issues also and I question everything dr's tell me so I make sure I'm making the right decision =)

Did you have bradycardia before taking meds? Also, for PAF I don't understand the treatment with a beta blocker?  Have  you tried Midodrine or anything else to raise your BP such as salt & fluid loading, tilt training exercises or meds?

Here's a link with some doctor's who deal in ANS disorders; I did see some listed in the UK but I don't know if any are close to you, but it would be worth a visit just to see what they have to say about your situation =)

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Neurological-Disorders/Dysautonomia-Specialists/show/717?cid=196

[JoKelly]

Many thanks Lisa and I have posted a question on the link you suggest.  I was not aware of the bradycardia before I started Bisoprolol which was during my hospital stay in September.  (This replaced the Atenolol I was taking up until then).  Consequently wearing a Novocor monitor for a week revealed this condition.  Seems to me that our medical service is a passive thing rather than proactive and it is really up to the individual to research and suggest or one can get left on a treatment which is just accepted and not changed.

[Mom2four85]

The medicine is doing it's job by relaxing blood vessels and slowing heart rate to improve and decrease blood pressure, the bradycardia is just a side effect of it and there are many beta blockers out there so a switch may be in order.

Since you didn't have the bradycardia prior to taking the med then I would question even more about surgery for a pacemaker; which would be invasive and if your hr then changes could be dangerous for them to remove.

You may want to ask in the expert forum on medhelp also to see what the doctors say =) it's worth a shot to get a 2nd opinion; but it may take a few tries to get a question in, so keep trying.