1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

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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nmc7 | @nmc7 | 1 day ago

Our situations are much different however, never know if it might help. Years ago a cardiologist put me on metoprolol, atenolol and another beta blocker. As I am asthmatic, I could Not breath for almost a month- developed anxiety, panic attacks and grasping for air until I changed doctors as the one who diagnosed them didn’t know how to wean be off. Had ambulance take me to different hospital. Great hospitalist cardiologist put me on Clonazepam to get me able to breath again as she weaned me off all 3 drugs in the hospital for 3 nights. It still took a couple weeks of periodic panic attacks when alone at home. Be very careful. If you can have it done in hospital after such a long time, I would try that first.

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atharris | @atharris | 1 day ago

I am taking 25mg tartrate twice a day and have tried several times to cut in 1/2 to ween off and my HR goes up along with BP and feel terrible Can't sleep so I back out and keep taking. My Mayo Cardiologist told me the same thing. "You aren't taking that much so just get off of it." I believe some people are more sensitive to medication and need to ween so I think I'll tried 3/4 of tablet for a few days or week. Then 1/2 for a week and so on.

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kristy98230 | @kristy98230 | Mar 20 11:16pm

All drs care about is the money. We are a number to them. I'm on 45 meds for bp kidneys and heart failure I feel like shit all the time but drs around here just keep adding more. The try to make me think it's all in my head. When I ask questions.

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tuckie | @tuckie | Jan 26 8:32pm
In reply to @tuckie "Hi Easy! Cardiologist changed me immediately with Bisoprlol. Stopped breathlessness, unable to exert myself, H/R 186..." + (show)
@tuckie

Hi
Easy!
Cardiologist changed me immediately with Bisoprlol.
Stopped breathlessness, unable to exert myself, H/R 186 and pauses at night with my normal 47avge H/R.
Now Bisoprolol on reduced 2.5 then 1.25 , BP low. Last month iver easing it down stopped altogether.

I take 8am 120mg CD Diltiazem for H/R control Day. It is a CCB Calium Channel Blocker. This med also acts as an abti-arrhymic med. H/R always under 100 at rest.

cheri JOY. 76. (NZ)

Jump to this post

Hi
To myself.
Changed from Metoprolol to Bisoprolol immediately. Changing to something else keeps you covered.

Metopolol 186 H/R bpm DAY breathless/ couldn't exert myself, lie down and sleep/ pauses at night.
Bisoprolol 156 H/R bpm Day no breathless/ could exert. sleeping less.

After Feb 21 - Dec 21 struggled still without control H/R day.
Dec 21 went private and put on CCB Diltiazem. Great in control.

Dec 24 dropped the 2.5 altogether for control BP it went LOW.

Now happy on CCB Diltiazem 120 CD AM with both H/R and BP controlled.

Happier Days.

cherio JOY

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tuckie | @tuckie | Jan 25 3:10pm

Hi
Easy!
Cardiologist changed me immediately with Bisoprlol.
Stopped breathlessness, unable to exert myself, H/R 186 and pauses at night with my normal 47avge H/R.
Now Bisoprolol on reduced 2.5 then 1.25 , BP low. Last month iver easing it down stopped altogether.

I take 8am 120mg CD Diltiazem for H/R control Day. It is a CCB Calium Channel Blocker. This med also acts as an abti-arrhymic med. H/R always under 100 at rest.

cheri JOY. 76. (NZ)

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1 reply
ginnyjm | @ginnyjm | Jan 24 8:32am
In reply to @vbpets "Apparently YOU are not aware that many people have NO AFIB symptoms. I live in AFIB..." + (show)
@vbpets

Apparently YOU are not aware that many people have NO AFIB symptoms. I live in AFIB and would never have known anything without my Apple Watch.

Stop generalizing. Mostly everything you said is wrong. Apparently you never even heard of ablation, the number one treatment to "keep AFIB at bay".

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I was never aware of my A-Fib either, but my Apple Watch alerted me! My cardiologist says he has many patients who only know by their Apple Watch alerting them. Now, my husband has gotten the watch!

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vbpets | @vbpets | Jan 23 10:43am
In reply to @afrobin "Are you sure that your Afib did not return? Apparently some people are not aware that..." + (show)
@afrobin

Are you sure that your Afib did not return? Apparently some people are not aware that their hearts are out of rhythm. I don't get how that can be because it's like a huge thumping in the chest and needing to take extra breaths to get enough O2 in the system etc.. In any case, be careful. How are you going to keep your Afib at bay? You can't just expect it not to return. Something has to change. You need to be proactive. The cardiologist advised me to avoid ALL stimulants; alcohol, chocolate, Coke, any drugs or supplement with ephedrine in them, too many carbs especially sugar, being around cigarette smoke and avoiding very stressful situations. But what cured me of my serious case of Afib was exercise; pushing my heart. A walk didn't work. It had to be where I was working up a sweat. I suggest you really research and learn about your condition. My aim is to know as much as my doctor, if not more. I also cured myself of bladder infections..no thanks to my urologist. I had 28 in a row inside a 2 year period. Now gone! Become ultra informed about how your body works, reacts to meds and food and exercise etc... Good luck to you. Keep well!

Jump to this post

Apparently YOU are not aware that many people have NO AFIB symptoms. I live in AFIB and would never have known anything without my Apple Watch.

Stop generalizing. Mostly everything you said is wrong. Apparently you never even heard of ablation, the number one treatment to "keep AFIB at bay".

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1 reply
lenmayo | @lenmayo | Sep 19, 2024

When my systolic is above 140 I take Amlodipine Besylate. If it is above 120 I take 1/2 25mg Metoprolol Tartrate. My hear rate is usually in the 50's. A general rule is not to take Metoprolol
if systolic is less than 110 or heart rate below 60 bpm.

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lindy9 | @lindy9 | Sep 18, 2024
In reply to @samsam1 "My hair is falling out by fistfull for last few months esp-in addition my thyroid meds..." + (show)
@samsam1

My hair is falling out by fistfull for last few months esp-in addition my thyroid meds were increased at same time--any suggestions?

Jump to this post

decrease your meds ??

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katiekateny | @katiekateny | Sep 17, 2024

I have low blood pressure so metoprolol etc will drop my BP too low.
So, I am only on 12.5 mg daily. I feel like when it is the right time to stop…this won’t be an issue with cold turkey. The Flecainide however, at 200mg daily could be a bigger issue

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