I've had a long history with SVT, going back to those very occasional episodes when I was much younger, to episodes that could last from a couple minute to several hours 2-3 times a year as I got older. I was started on medication for SVT after I presented to the ER with a heart rate of 225 after several hours of this at home. They slowed down the SVT with an IV drip of adenosine- it went down to around 120, then gradually reduced to normal overnight with a digoxin drip. They started me on 100 mg/day of metoprolol succinate ( long acting formulation), and that seemed to keep my heart rate in the normal range for a number of years. They wanted me to have an ablation at the time, but my SVTs were infrequent, so I refused. The cardiologist told me I'd likely have to be on the metoprolol for the rest of my life unless I agreed to the ablation, I told him I was happy to take the medication as it seemed to help.

I had a few side effects when I first started taking the metoprolol, kind of a light-headed, floaty sort of feeling and another side effect I actually liked, which was a calm, calm feeling and nothing bothered me. The light-headedness and floatiness disappeared a couple weeks after I started taking the metoprolol. I still take metoprolol about 25 years later, though now it's 150 mg/day of metoprolol tartrate ( shorter acting, twice a day formulation) and believe it or not, it still seems to have a calming effect on me. I still take it for SVT, but now also for A-fib and flutter.

One of the side effects of metoprolol, along with other beta blockers can be lowering the blood pressure too much in people who have normal blood pressure. These folks could have additional side effects that come with low blood pressure and may be advised not to take beta blockers. But I've had high blood pressure since I was a spring chicken ( genetic) so I have never had those side effect with this drug. In fact, the metoprolol seems to work with the other drugs I take for blood pressure to keep my blood pressure within a fairly normal range.