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How did you wean off Metoprolol?
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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Definitely, I’m now in possession of a $75,000 loop heart monitor implanted in my chest just above the left Atrial Chamber. Because of my 1 in a million birth defect, the top Electrophysiologist Cardiologist in the Major Hospital near me took a keen interest in my case. My heart is monitored 24/7 by the company who watches my heart thru my recorder out in Oregon with their plant in Germany. It records every heartbeat my heart produces to map out where the short circuit is, so a very rare procedure can be preformed on me when the mapping is completed. I’ll be strapped onto an operating table because the procedure is so delicate, I can not move for roughly 10 hours. Then he’ll slip a special device down thru my neck into my right Atrial Chamber and destroy every Heart Cell involved in the short circuit, one heart cell at a time. Interesting, you bet, my heart is so rare, I doubt any doctor in my state has ever performed a procedure like my doctor will get a chance to do, a once in a lifetime kind of operation. To think I never would have found out about my birth defect had I not done my research and learned I was going to the wrong cardiologist.
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1 ReactionSo 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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1 ReactionHello @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?
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?
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2 ReactionsYes 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
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1 ReactionHello @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?
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2 ReactionsI 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.
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6 ReactionsHi @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.
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1 ReactionI 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.
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. 😫
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