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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

anacarel2018 | @anacarel2018 | May 23, 2022

I been on metoprolol 2 months 50 mg daily for tachycardia now I m on 25 mg for 7 days until I stop completely tomorrow are there any permanent sides effects or any problems that won’t go away after metoprolol I m so afraid can anything happen to my heart

lace83 | @lace83 | May 26, 2022

In reply to @glr702 "Hello, I took propranolol 10mg 4 times a day for a week. Had horrible side effects,..." + (show)

@glr702

Hello,
I took propranolol 10mg 4 times a day for a week. Had horrible side effects, was switched to metoprolol succinate 25mg once a day for 2 weeks, felt a little better but still many side effects, so I was on them for about 3 weeks only. I tapered down and took the last dose 6 days ago. The first day was horrible, then a little better the second, same on the third. However, I’m still having palpitations, dizziness, head feeling weird, some tachycardia (somewhat less today), weakness. I’m much better than when I was on the medication, that’s for sure. I had almost all of the side effects I could get and even ended up dehydrated in Urgent Care, also got anxiety for the first time in my life which has been horrible. So, my main question is: am I any close to the end of this road? I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to feel like myself again. I was put on this for occasional hypertension and tachycardia, which I believe was caused by stress. I would appreciate it so much if someone could help me with their experience. Thank you so much

I’m listing all the side effects I had with these medications, sorry for the long post:
✔️Blurred vision
✔️chest pain or discomfort
✔️like electrical current in head
✔️tingling, chills like on arms, back and head
✔️confusion
✔️palpitations
✔️dizziness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
✔️hair loss
✔️dry mouth
✔️hot flashes/heat intolerance
✔️sweating
✔️unusual tiredness or weakness
✔️insomnia, nightmares
✔️soft stools
✔️difficult or labored breathing
✔️difficulty with speaking
✔️extreme tiredness or weakness
✔️fast, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
halos around lights
✔️headache
✔️overbright appearance of lights
✔️lose weight
✔️seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
✔️tightness in the chest
✔️tingling of the hands or feet
✔️troubled breathing
✔️continuing loss of appetite that got to the point when only could eat liquids
✔️continuing abdominal pain
✔️continuing nausea
dark urine
✔️difficulty with moving
fever
✔️general tiredness and weakness
✔️hoarseness
✔️increased frequency of urination
✔️muscle pain
✔️sore throat
✔️sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth-white tongue
✔️unpleasant breath odor
✔️weakness
✔️anxiety

Jump to this post

I know you posted this like 4 years ago but I'm on the same medication now. I've been taking it for about 2 months. It's giving me insomnia really bad. A doctor gave it to me to take cause my heart races on me. I think this is all wrong of a medicine for me. But did you just have to ride through all the side effects to get off. I would really appreciate ur help. Thanks. 😫

lace83 | @lace83 | May 26, 2022

I just want to say that Metoprolol tartrate is causing me a lot of problems. I have bad insomnia from taking 25 mg for 2 months now. It has been tormentful and I'm getting anxiety/ panic episodes. I was put on it to slow my heart rate down. I'm going to talk to my doctor about getting of this tomorrow. I know more side effects are going to come from me winging off it. I just hope I get through all this. I'm also having palpitations I guess. My heart will speed up 105 then 5 minutes later back on the 90's. I'm shacky when this happens. How can I start getting off this medication? This is awful. No sleep in over a week.

lace83 | @lace83 | May 26, 2022

In reply to @bgp "Hi! New to this site. I have PSVT paroxomal Supra ventricular tachycardia. Had since I was..." + (show)

Hi @bgp . I also woke up out of my sleep with my heart racing. It's very scary. How did it go with weening of this medication? I'm worried about side effects and also my heart racing again.

bobbyd1017 | @becky1024 | May 27, 2022

In reply to @lace83 "I just want to say that Metoprolol tartrate is causing me a lot of problems. I..." + (show)

I was born with a 1 in a million heart birth defect that I didn’t know about until 2021 and I’m 78yo now. I wish I knew that an Electrophysiologist Cardiologist is a specialist that deals with heart rhythm issues. Regular Cardiologist simply prescribe Metoprolol for heart rhythm problems instead of referring you to an Electro Cardiologist. I ran into this issue with 3 different regular cardiologist and finally decided to be my own health activist. I did weeks of research before I stumbled onto an explanation of an Electro Cardiologist. That’s who every person on this forum should have for ANY heart rhythm problems NOT a regular cardiologist. This is just my opinion and not a diagnosis of your heart problem.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 27, 2022

In reply to @anacarel2018 "I been on metoprolol 2 months 50 mg daily for tachycardia now I m on 25..." + (show)

Hello @anacarel2018

It is good that you feel concerned. It is very important to talk to your doctor before tapering off (or stopping) any medicine that is being used to treat heart rhythm problems. Have you talked with your doctor about discontinuing this med?

I took metoprolol for about a month and had side effects. I called my cardiologist and he changed to a similar, but different med, for heart rhythm issues. The new med did not have the side effects.

Before you go off of the metoprolol completely please check with your doctor to see if he can substitute a different med that will help with the tachycardia.

Will you call your doctor?

anacarel2018 | @anacarel2018 | May 27, 2022

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @anacarel2018 It is good that you feel concerned. It is very important to talk to..." + (show)

Yes my cardiologist nurse said to take it for 5 to 6 days then stop completely I took it for 7 days and stopped today it been 3 days without taking it no issue other than anxiety the cardiologist think I don’t need to take any other medication all the heart test were clear only showed a sinus tachycardia a early beat but nothing else wrong since I suffer from ocd anxiety disorder cardiologist think the tachycardia happened due to that and no because a another issue with the heart or body because I got thyroids check ultrasound and blood test and got check for everything in my body lungs disease everything was cleared

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 28, 2022

In reply to @anacarel2018 "Yes my cardiologist nurse said to take it for 5 to 6 days then stop completely..." + (show)

Hi @anacarel2018

I am glad to know that you are making this change under the supervision of your doctor. Do you have any other concerns regarding this change?

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 28, 2022

In reply to @becky1024 "I was born with a 1 in a million heart birth defect that I didn’t know..." + (show)

Hello @becky1024

I'm glad that you posted your experience with heart rhythm problems and the benefit of seeing an Electro Cardiologist. It sounds as if you effectively became an active participant in your health care when you did "weeks of research" and found the correct specialist. Good for you!

Did this specialist change your treatment plan at all?

anacarel2018 | @anacarel2018 | May 28, 2022

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hi @anacarel2018 I am glad to know that you are making this change under the supervision..." + (show)

So far I been good still a little bit anxious about the fact that my brain keep telling me 7 days wasn’t enough to wean off this medication I was taking for 2 months and it was metoprolol succ 50 mg most of the time I m anxious thinking it was to soon to wean it off and I will have a heart attack or any issue any minute 🙁 this may be my health anxiety kicking in I don’t know

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