How did you wean off Metoprolol?

Hello Always Hope,
After a period of AFib where I did not have 3 steady beats in a row all day, every day..to the point where I felt faint all the time and the Holter monitor malfunctioned. I was put on the maximum dose of a beta blocker, Sotalol. I felt like an old lady but I was only 46 years of age. For almost 2 years I took that drug. The cardiologist told me that my heart could stop at such a high dose and to try to reduce it even by a bit. Try as I might, even cutting out 1/2 a tablet of the 4 I was taking daily, sent my heart into a tailspin.
I read that exercise can reduce arrhythmia and palpitations and I joined a gym. I went every day but Sunday for 35 minutes on the treadmill and then strength training for another half hour. I gradually reduced the dose of beta blocker and my heart remained steady. I was elated! At the end of a month, I was completely off the beta blocker.
My cardiologist said it wouldn't last. I kept going to the gym for 4 months. My heart remained strong and steady...and here I am 24 years later and my heart is fine. No issues whatsoever.
But I am sure half the secret is: since that dark period 24 years ago, I have cut out all stimulants; absolutely no coffee, tea, Coke, decongestants, any ephedrine drugs used in dental freezing or supplements that can be stimulating and alcohol. I have a friend with AFib who prefers to take the beta blocker so that he can enjoy his wine and morning coffee. For me...no thank you! I would rather be off those drugs and their horrible side effects.
Whenever you can, go the 'changes to one's lifestyle' route. Exercise and avoiding stimulants. It worked for me and my extreme AFib. So, it stands to reason that it CAN work for others.

I am wondering about how to wean off Metoprolol also. I had panic attacks as a teenager, and they disappeared once I was older. Once I was placed on Metoprolol XL 25mg, I began having more anxiety attacks which seen to be getting worse. I tried getting off of this with my University of Michigan physician but I felt terrible the entire time. I want to wake up late on the weekend. I want to go out of the country without thinking about having to take my pill on time. If not taken without 15 to 20min of the normal time, I begin having palpitations and panic. I want my life back.

"I want my life back." Yes, me too. Before I developed afib and heart failure two and a half years ago, I was a very active person on a ranch. But this illness took me down. I am lot's better, heart failure corrected etc. and also am on Metoprolol which is taken to slow the heart rate. This is working fairly well but I have little physical energy. Part of Metoprolol's job as I understand it, is to keep the heart rate lower and when I start exercising I am fighting this med not allowing the rate to move much higher. It's a confusing thing for my need for movement and my heart's need to not beat too fast. Yes, I'd also like a normal heart function but at 71 I am where I am. Trying to be at peace with this process, not able to make plans that can't be changed because I might be having a difficult heart day etc. On the other hand, I am grateful I function as well as I do and the illness is being managed.

My experience was that being physically active allowed me to lower my beta blocker dose. When I kept up the exercising month after month, I was able to get off the beta blocker completely. Of course, I NEVER drank coffee, tea, alcohol, went near smokers, or took any stimulant like decongestants etc.. I know I keep writing the same story but I can't tell who has read about my AFib cure. This happened when I was 46 over a 2 year period. Now I am 70 years old and have had the odd blip and skip but it is usually because I had some chocolate (stimulant) or a sugary meal. That scares me into total compliance with the 'NO stimulating foods or drugs regime'. I wish the same experience for everyone.

The Parasympathetic Nervous System acts as a Brake for heart rate. I never realized how much until the afib started. Metoprolol does a great job controlling rate, but I had an altercation with another driver recently, OMG, what was I thinking. Although the rate probably didn't go above 100, it hasn't been near that at rest in awhile, more like the 70s at rest, 90s after climbing the stairs. It took hours for my heart rate to return to normal. Adrenaline causes a higher rate, the parasympathetic nervous system brings the rate down, but something that upsets it lets the rate go, or remain, high.

Reading a medical article recently, the doctor said when they see heart rates above X amount, it means Parasympathetic Response has been withdrawn entirely.

So, in those approved to exercise, and in those cases exercising commensurate with their doctor's oversight and in ways approved by the doctor, increased conditioning brings increased parasympathetic tone and a naturally lower heart rate.

The Parasympathetic Nervous System acts as a Brake for heart rate. I never realized how much until the afib started. Metoprolol does a great job controlling rate, but I had an altercation with another driver recently, OMG, what was I thinking. Although the rate probably didn't go above 100, it hasn't been near that at rest in awhile, more like the 70s at rest, 90s after climbing the stairs. It took hours for my heart rate to return to normal. Adrenaline causes a higher rate, the parasympathetic nervous system brings the rate down, but something that upsets it lets the rate go, or remain, high.

Reading a medical article recently, the doctor said when they see heart rates above X amount, it means Parasympathetic Response has been withdrawn entirely.

So, in those approved to exercise, and in those cases exercising commensurate with their doctor's oversight and in ways approved by the doctor, increased conditioning brings increased parasympathetic tone and a naturally lower heart rate.

The Parasympathetic Nervous System acts as a Brake for heart rate. I never realized how much until the afib started. Metoprolol does a great job controlling rate, but I had an altercation with another driver recently, OMG, what was I thinking. Although the rate probably didn't go above 100, it hasn't been near that at rest in awhile, more like the 70s at rest, 90s after climbing the stairs. It took hours for my heart rate to return to normal. Adrenaline causes a higher rate, the parasympathetic nervous system brings the rate down, but something that upsets it lets the rate go, or remain, high.

Reading a medical article recently, the doctor said when they see heart rates above X amount, it means Parasympathetic Response has been withdrawn entirely.

So, in those approved to exercise, and in those cases exercising commensurate with their doctor's oversight and in ways approved by the doctor, increased conditioning brings increased parasympathetic tone and a naturally lower heart rate.