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How did you wean off Metoprolol?

Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Sep 19 7:56am | Replies (551)

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@healthytoday

"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.

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We all respond differently to medications, to some degree. But I'm taking, for various ailments:

Phenytoin 500mg as 200mg AM and 300mg PM

Metoprolol Succinate 350mg as 200mg AM and 150mg PM
Metoprolol Tartrate 25mg mid afternoon.

The Metoprolol, my pharmacy had to clear the extra little bit of Metoprolol Tartrate with my doctor. The Max dose of succinate is 400mg, of the tartrate is 450mg. I'm under the Max in both cases, but that little bit, mid afternoon, makes the day smoother heart rate wise for me. And the Max dose can be exceeded under a doctor's instruction for many medications.

Singulair
Xyzal
Zocor
Levothyroxine
Coumadin

If you read the drug monographs individually, you'd think it was impossible I'm still awake, but not uncommonly I'm up by 4:30 AM through 10:00 PM, so they're certainly not having the negative effects that one would think. I'm almost 62, retired, I'm not as active as I used to be.

I'm in afib, I had the opportunity to be electrically cardioverted, but I was to be put on Sotalol. Reading the literature on Sotalol, it says it should only be used in "Highly Symptomatic" patients. I'm not highly symptomatic, no dizziness, no shortness of breath, just those darn flops in my chest and irregular rhythm. Today is bad, I suspect too much salt in Easter Food, or just too much food. On the days when it's calm, I feel I made the right decision in not getting Cardioverted, but days like today, I wish I had.