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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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.

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@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

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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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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

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@erodla

Hi, I have been on metoprolol 25 mg twice daily for a period of 3 months, due to high heart rate and heart palpitations during corona. I have now received a clear signal from the superior that I no longer need this medicine and can stop them. Due to the low dose, the doctor said that I could stop immediatly, but I am skeptical about this. How did you stop taking this medicine and did you get any side effects when you stopped? Thank you for your answers and advice.

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I’ve been on and off it several times using this dosage stoppage. From 50mgs daily, I went to 25mgs in the morning and 25mgs evening. I went down to 25mgs in the morning only, always with food for a full week, to see if there was any after effects. From the 25mgs daily, I skipped to 3 times a week, like M/W/F for a full week. That way you give your body two full weeks to adjust. Since Metoprolol is an adrenaline inhibitor, it slows up the production of adrenaline. The chemical that makes you flinch when a surprise triggered the reaction. Without Metoprolol, the only after affect was to flinch each time something happened to startled me.

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Hi, I have been on metoprolol 25 mg twice daily for a period of 3 months, due to high heart rate and heart palpitations during corona. I have now received a clear signal from the superior that I no longer need this medicine and can stop them. Due to the low dose, the doctor said that I could stop immediatly, but I am skeptical about this. How did you stop taking this medicine and did you get any side effects when you stopped? Thank you for your answers and advice.

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@junqdawg

MY DR. Knows I'm on Metroprolol and told me be CERTAIN TO TAKE MY DOSAGE BEFORE THE PROCEDURE OF EBLATION > BUT STAY OFF ELOQUIS FOR TWO FULL DAYS BEFORE THE PROCEDURE > Does NOT sound right to me BUT I GOT IT IN WRITING IN MY ORDERS TO FOLLOW BEFORE PROCEDURE . Was told Metroprolol keeps my B/P Correct and if my B/P is not in the right range he can't do procedure on that day . I;m confused to say the LEAST . JUNQDAWG

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Eloquis is a blood thinner. The Dr wants you off that so you dont bleed to death...

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@markdeegan

Your not on a largevamount. Notify DR especially before ablation. You would wean off it gradually

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MY DR. Knows I'm on Metroprolol and told me be CERTAIN TO TAKE MY DOSAGE BEFORE THE PROCEDURE OF EBLATION > BUT STAY OFF ELOQUIS FOR TWO FULL DAYS BEFORE THE PROCEDURE > Does NOT sound right to me BUT I GOT IT IN WRITING IN MY ORDERS TO FOLLOW BEFORE PROCEDURE . Was told Metroprolol keeps my B/P Correct and if my B/P is not in the right range he can't do procedure on that day . I;m confused to say the LEAST . JUNQDAWG

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@junqdawg

Hello .. About Metroprolol....... Exactly "WHAT " SIDE Affects are you talking about experiencing ? I have just finished one month of ONE 25Mg tab a day .Supposedly for my BP . Was told to be certain and stay on IT up to the day of My EBlation Procedure on 25th of April . But I ca't say I have had any crazy side affects so far . Maybe I have and don't realize it . or maybe the Low Dosage . Any info appreciated . Thank you .. JUNQDAWG

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The side effects I experienced were confusion, dizziness when standing or bending over to pick something up, memory loss, lack of interest, stomach pain (when I would press in different areas), feeling tired all the time, feeling of hopelessness. I've been off it for 5 days and finally these side effects are going away. The side effects come on slowly as this medication builds up in your system. I started on 50 mg for 3 months then 25 mg for 2 months.

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@junqdawg

Hello .. About Metroprolol....... Exactly "WHAT " SIDE Affects are you talking about experiencing ? I have just finished one month of ONE 25Mg tab a day .Supposedly for my BP . Was told to be certain and stay on IT up to the day of My EBlation Procedure on 25th of April . But I ca't say I have had any crazy side affects so far . Maybe I have and don't realize it . or maybe the Low Dosage . Any info appreciated . Thank you .. JUNQDAWG

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Your not on a largevamount. Notify DR especially before ablation. You would wean off it gradually

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@mrsilver

Hello to you. I too have been having unwanted side effects from the metoprolol which most ppl in here seem to be describing and I also have been concerned about weaning off. I was told the reason for the prescription was because a CAC should a fair amount of plaque build up in my LAD and the medicine would help slow my heart rate in case some of the plaque were to break loose. I was only taking 25mg's to begin with and I have been taking half a pill now for several months and the last week I've been taking half of a half. It seems ridiculous writing it out lol....but I just don't know for sure how long you are supposed to safely reduce for. I go to see my cardiologist in a week actually anyway but I really want to quit this medication asap. Ever since I started this and the statin a year ago its literally been the worst year of my life. And I had no symptoms before I started these pills or was even diagnosed. I just asked my doctor during a routine visit since I'm in my 50's and have diabetes and have been struggling with cholesterol should I maybe have a CAC and he said sure. I passed all the other tests stress, echo cardio, ultra sounds etc...anyway. Thank you.

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Hello .. About Metroprolol....... Exactly "WHAT " SIDE Affects are you talking about experiencing ? I have just finished one month of ONE 25Mg tab a day .Supposedly for my BP . Was told to be certain and stay on IT up to the day of My EBlation Procedure on 25th of April . But I ca't say I have had any crazy side affects so far . Maybe I have and don't realize it . or maybe the Low Dosage . Any info appreciated . Thank you .. JUNQDAWG

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