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How did you wean off Metoprolol?

Posted by kenny48 @kenny48, May 11, 2018

Hi,
I've been taking both flecainide and metoprolol now for eight years, as a prophylactic for Afib. I recently moved to North Carolina and have a new Cardiologist. Have had a lot of PVC's this past two months, and had to wear a heart monitor for an entire month. He said that although I had a lot of PVC's I didn't have even one PAC! He also noted that my BPM was low in the low fifties most of the time. He asked why I was taking metropolol. I told him that the only thing my previous doctor had said was " it makes the flecainide, work better". He suggested I stop taking the metoprolol to see how I do without it. Unfortunately I read a lot of information on the internet. I read that it can be very dangerous to stop taking it. I take 25 mg metoprolol succinate, split in half. Once in the morning with my flecainide, and then again in the evening for a second dose. He wants me to take half in the morning and skip the evening dose for two days, then stop entirely. Has anyone else stopped taking this drug in a similar manner? I'm worried that the cut off is too soon.

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AFRobin | @afrobin | Jul 19, 2019
In reply to @soph "Cystitis is gross. Fortunately I haven't had outbreaks since I stopped being sexually active. Can you..." + (show)
@soph

Cystitis is gross. Fortunately I haven't had outbreaks since I stopped being sexually active. Can you tell us what UTIVA is? Sulfa always used to work for me, but it's not allowed with Dofetilide (Tikosin) which many of us use.

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It is derived from cranberries BUT it is not d-mannose.The owner of Utiva told me that in their clinical trials done in the US, d-mannose combined with Utiva actually diminished the effect of Utiva. I was also told that if I felt a UTI coming on, to just double up on the Utiva...which I did for 2 days at one point.The day before the onset of UTI symptoms, I had eaten a lot of carbs at a party and as always that is a UTI trigger. I still continue to shower morning and night to be sure I am 'clean' and I take the vaginal estrogen which is absorbed almost totally locally I am told and the Utiva. The most important thing to understand is that Utiva is to be used preventatively; in other words right after antibiotics when one has NO infection in the bladder. That is key.

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soph | @soph | Jul 19, 2019

Thanks, and for those of us who use Warfarin as a blood thinner, we might have to check out if using Utiva is like using cranberries. Cranberries intensify the blood thinning of Warfarin, so you have to check it out and perhaps use less Warfarin with the Utiva in order to get the right INR. It's easy to make this adjustment if you are careful to do the same doses of both every day.

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1 reply
texas14 | @texas14 | Jul 19, 2019
In reply to @soph "Thanks, and for those of us who use Warfarin as a blood thinner, we might have..." + (show)
@soph

Thanks, and for those of us who use Warfarin as a blood thinner, we might have to check out if using Utiva is like using cranberries. Cranberries intensify the blood thinning of Warfarin, so you have to check it out and perhaps use less Warfarin with the Utiva in order to get the right INR. It's easy to make this adjustment if you are careful to do the same doses of both every day.

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Excellent point on cranberries / warfarin. I drink cranberry juice if INR is way too low.. too many greens. It doesn’t affect INR much I discovered. But best to check any cranberry based product.

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Aug 14, 2019
In reply to @kenny48 "Ok, took my half dose for two days, today I'm supposed to stop entirely. I am..." + (show)
@kenny48

Ok, took my half dose for two days, today I'm supposed to stop entirely. I am feeling like a zombie. No get up and go, lightheaded. My BP is higher than it usually is but not thru the roof. 133/84 after doing some deep breathing exercises. Was 140/92 before. Doc said to go to emergency if it goes over 180. But that was the only thing they said to me. They said nothing about feeling like this. Mentioned some people get tachycardia. My heart rate is better than it was before 60,61 BPM but I feel so weak. They said nothing about this. Is this normal? When I asked about the tape off time, they said it's because I was only taking 25mg a day. Said it's a low dose, and I don't have to worry.

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Three years of heart disease and have improved alot. 80%. But, I think it can make you depressed. You might need to see a therapist or a group. My cardiology dept does not have a support group, but some do. I'm also into animal therapy, pet the neighbors cats and dogs whenever I see them. Also visit neighborhood horse ranch and commune with horses. Move beyond the physical realm and feed the heart the nourishment of love.

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bluebandit28 | @bluebandit28 | Sep 25, 2019
In reply to @jlbyrd975 "I've been on metoprolol about 8 months for one bout of afib. I was prescribed 25mg..." + (show)
@jlbyrd975

I've been on metoprolol about 8 months for one bout of afib. I was prescribed 25mg twice daily. I took that for 2 days and my pulse was in the 40s so went down to once a day. It was still low 50s so I went to 12.5 and have been on that for most of the time. My resting pulse is mid 60s which is lower than it's been my whole life. I'm sensitive to most drugs and metoprolol I think is one of them. I'm having terrible back and hip pain to the point of it affecting how I walk. I've told my cardiologist and my pcp but they both say metoprolol isn't the cause especially at such a low dose. Tonight I started halving the 12.5 and will use that for a week and then stop. If after a few weeks if the pain goes away I'll know it was the drug and see what alternative drug is suggested by my cardiologist. Has anyone else had back and hip pain?

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Hi..i too have been on metropolol for 7 months .
I bounce between 50mg a day and 25...i think ive never gotten used to this and want to weane off it..i too have been sufferin lately from back and hip pain...
I too was put on it for 1 bout of afib. I also think every 2 months it makes me dizzy and naeuseas...were u able to come off it successfully...thanks colin

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1 reply
bluebandit28 | @bluebandit28 | Sep 25, 2019
In reply to @elland77 "Hi,everyone I'm new to the group,I have being on metropolol for three years now,I have being..." + (show)
@elland77

Hi,everyone I'm new to the group,I have being on metropolol for three years now,I have being tapering the drug for sometime now,I have taken 25mg for two weeks,now I'm taking12.5mg now,it increases my blood Pressure,though after sometime it goes down back to normal,I feel dizzy,pains....my body system has changed......pls if you have had similar effect,share with me, I don't want to go back fully n I'm scared of stopping the drug abruptly.... I consulted my Doctor,he said I should go back to the drug fully......who has similar experience, pls share n advice me,

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Hi did u successfully come off? Ive been on metropolol for 7 months now and feel dizzy...nauseas...im tryn to see if i can weane off it as i belive this is the reason why and it seems ive never gotten used to this....

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healthytoday | @healthytoday | Sep 25, 2019
In reply to @bluebandit28 "Hi..i too have been on metropolol for 7 months . I bounce between 50mg a day..." + (show)
@bluebandit28

Hi..i too have been on metropolol for 7 months .
I bounce between 50mg a day and 25...i think ive never gotten used to this and want to weane off it..i too have been sufferin lately from back and hip pain...
I too was put on it for 1 bout of afib. I also think every 2 months it makes me dizzy and naeuseas...were u able to come off it successfully...thanks colin

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I ask myself why I am on a med before I go off. Re metropolol, I'm on it to slow the heart rate, in afib mostly due to a leaky heart valve, so the slowed heart rate helps me feel ok most of the time. I get very tired and they say this is a combination of the med and the heart. My cardiologist said I could experiment with the dosage of metropolol which is on the low side. But not to mess with Eliquis since the anticoagulant is the most important piece of the pie since stroke is the biggest danger with afib.

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lucky1038 | @lucky1038 | Oct 1, 2019

hi -- i've just had two new cardiologists - first one is an EX cardiologist b/cuz for one thing she rxd metoprolol succinate at 100 mgs twice a day. i have low blood pressure sometimes but sometimes it's high like around 143 systolic. so i knew that 200 mg metoprolol a day was too much for me -- e.g. i'd end up on the floor after fainting (or worse) from dangerously low b.p. i now take 25 mg one or 2 x a day. and i do try to be checking my b.p. and heart rate. also the ex-cardiologist pushed me off to an NP after my 1st appt. i did not know ANYTHING about said NP, not even her name much less her qualifications/clinical experience. and when said NP sent me a stupid reply to a question i had posed to the MD i was both disappointed and angry b/cuz i was not getting the care i need and expected from the cardiologist. so i changed to another cardiologist in the same group. he seems ok but i'm not sure yet. i did ask a couple questions via the electronic portal -- cardiologist 2 answered vaguely e.g. no real answer. i am concerned about the BNP levels which were over 1000 sometimes. cardiologist 2 said it's best to talk about it at next appt. i also asked what the metoprolol and losartan are doing for my heart failure? he answered w. an empty answer. so i'll see how he is at my next appt. coming up next week.

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2 replies
katydid77 | @katydid77 | Oct 1, 2019
In reply to @lucky1038 "hi -- i've just had two new cardiologists - first one is an EX cardiologist b/cuz..." + (show)
@lucky1038

hi -- i've just had two new cardiologists - first one is an EX cardiologist b/cuz for one thing she rxd metoprolol succinate at 100 mgs twice a day. i have low blood pressure sometimes but sometimes it's high like around 143 systolic. so i knew that 200 mg metoprolol a day was too much for me -- e.g. i'd end up on the floor after fainting (or worse) from dangerously low b.p. i now take 25 mg one or 2 x a day. and i do try to be checking my b.p. and heart rate. also the ex-cardiologist pushed me off to an NP after my 1st appt. i did not know ANYTHING about said NP, not even her name much less her qualifications/clinical experience. and when said NP sent me a stupid reply to a question i had posed to the MD i was both disappointed and angry b/cuz i was not getting the care i need and expected from the cardiologist. so i changed to another cardiologist in the same group. he seems ok but i'm not sure yet. i did ask a couple questions via the electronic portal -- cardiologist 2 answered vaguely e.g. no real answer. i am concerned about the BNP levels which were over 1000 sometimes. cardiologist 2 said it's best to talk about it at next appt. i also asked what the metoprolol and losartan are doing for my heart failure? he answered w. an empty answer. so i'll see how he is at my next appt. coming up next week.

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That is disturbing. I wish you well and good doctors to get you there.

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djim115 | @djim115 | Oct 12, 2019

Sounds like we have the same doctor SMH !
I was given this for palpitations about two months a go
25 mg in 1/2 ,once a day
Doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s wreaking havoc
Gained 15 lbs! Im trying to lose 30 ! short of breath , tired all the time
And the palpitations havent gone , lessened in frequency but i feel uncomfortable in my body ! tight and stiff and cranky what is that ?!?
I rather have palpitations!!! So
Im going to cut the half in half for a week then to every other day till im off
This is a crap the drug side effects are worse then the symptoms at least i had one symptom !
Ekgs are normal blood pressure is up ...probably because im so frustrated! But im on BP meds . i will keep you posted . Ps . weird dreams ....i had to start to take it in the AM

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