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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I was off the 12.5 mg Metoprolol for 6 days and then I started getting a high resting heart rate at night and after a few hours I got anxious and took half a pill and things settled down in less than an hour. I took another half a pill the next night. Now I am skipping this night and will try taking 12.5 mg every other day and see how it goes. I continue taking the Hawthorn tincture and infusion (strong tea) daily. The main side effect with stopping the Metoprolol is an increased resting heart rate and anxiety and sometimes arrhythmia.
Hi all!
My doctor is allowing me to wean off Metoprolol succinate 25g. I was on this for somewhat high BP. My BP has significantly dropped. The side effects from being on this medication have made me feel awful, and just blah. My doc said since I was only on 25 mg that I could just stop but my anxiety isn't allowing me to do this. The pharmacy said I could taper off but gave no strict schedule. I've taken 1/2 dose for 5 days, skipped yesterday and haven't taken yet today either. It's been 48 hrs since my last dose and all I feel is a little anxious but my shortness of breath is improving, my energy is improving, and so is the heart pounding feeling in my upper parts of my body. Considering dropping to 1/4 of a pill today for the next week or just stopping overall but im so scared.
Did anyone have a delayed reaction when weaning off? Im on day 2 with barely any symptoms but not sure if i should expect them within the next week or if im lucky enough to not get the bad side effects during the weaning off process.
Wishing everyone the best during this journey! This drug is awful. Im hoping to be an advocate for others regarding this in the future. Thank you!
How are you doing now? Any increased side effects?
My cardiologist wants me to switch from Metoprolol to Atenolol. I'm wondering if anyone has done an abrupt switch and did it go okay. I'm very scared to just switch since I'm having so many horrific side effects already from the metoprolol. He said there would be no tapering off the Metoprolol just a clean switch. Help! Did this work for other people?
Hi. New here, and I'm a little worried. Folks are talking about getting off of 25 mg metoprolol cut in half. I take 100mg twice daily. Is that OK? Richard
About a year. I take low dose digoxin now
Thank you Nancy for this reply. I was thinking of doing every other day . . . good to hear it worked for you. How long have you been off it?
I went off it over the course of a month, cutting in halves and then quarters, then every other day, etc. No problems
Thank you for your comment KLH. I am so very happy to have found this website and know it's going to be helpful to connect with others regarding heart issues. So far this is the second day off of the Metoprolol, 12.5 mg daily. I went on a mile hike in the woods today and did well. I will continue to take the Hawthorn leaf, flower, and berry tincture twice daily and also drink 2 cups of the infusion (strong tea). I also believe my 15 minute meditation with abdominal breathing exercises are important for stress reduction.
Good to hear you are a gardener, working with the earth is good for the heart and mind. Just go easy and enjoy the plants.
@dedema Hi, I was on Metropol since March. It was prescribed for me in the hospital. I did not know that was what I was taking until I went home. They added so many meds that I was not on before. I have never in my life felt this way before. This is all new to me and I am trying to learn and cope with afib and CHF. My bp runs low. So they put me on all these drugs that lower your bp and boy did I have side effects. My body is in total, total fatigue, so they tell me. Since I have come home, my PCP took me off Metropol, and now I have weaned off am Amiodarone. I feel so much better and can get things done around the house a little more.
Here are some that have become better: head buzzy becoming less, balance with walking so much better, no itching of my back and torso, out of breath not as much(COPD), and gaining more energy each day. Also, I have been sleeping better and longer. Of course, this is just me and everyone is different in how they react and handle it all. I take one day at a time and am thankful for a little progress back toward the way things were before.
I am retired from the hospital lab so now I am a full-time farmer's wife and gardener. This has slowed me down and I am not much help. I do not know if this rambling has helped or not but I hope you find the answers you are looking for. Please keep in touch as to your progress and in the meantime stay healthy. KLH