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.

@garlandtown

Of the heart, this forum is for hearts.

Jump to this post

I'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear. Ablation is done for various arrhythmias, such as PVCs that occur too frequently, Supra Ventricular Tachycardia, and Afib. What changes did you notice after the ablation?

REPLY
@success101

I have just been reading all the
Negative effects of metoprolol.
I'm 75. Been on this number years
Along with Flecinade and blood
Thinner.
I feel good.
I'd like to hear of the benefits
Of the drug.
Thankyou

Jump to this post

Have been on a low dose of Metoprolol for three years. This betablocker controls my arrythmia. Much prefer taking medication to having an invasive ablation procedure.

REPLY
@glr702

Thank you for replying. Those are the symptoms I had while on the medication. Just wanted to list them in case it can help someone. Right now I still have some palpitations, some anxiety, some hand tremors, it seems like the tachycardia is getting better (at least today), some dizziness and weakness and some chest tightness. I feel much better than when I was on the medication, that’s for sure, so hopefully I will keep getting better. Just wanted to know if anyone had any input on how long it usually takes for the remaining side effects to go away.

Jump to this post

I have just been reading all the
Negative effects of metoprolol.
I'm 75. Been on this number years
Along with Flecinade and blood
Thinner.
I feel good.
I'd like to hear of the benefits
Of the drug.
Thankyou

REPLY
@soliloquized

What was ablated? Is your heart rate too high now?

Jump to this post

Of the heart, this forum is for hearts.

REPLY
@garlandtown

Ive been on metoprolol for16 yrs, was ablated on 4/22/05, now metoprolol
Isnt working any more, they seem to not be able to find anything to put me on any more! Any info would sure be nice at this point! Thanks

Jump to this post

What was ablated? Is your heart rate too high now?

REPLY

Ive been on metoprolol for16 yrs, was ablated on 4/22/05, now metoprolol
Isnt working any more, they seem to not be able to find anything to put me on any more! Any info would sure be nice at this point! Thanks

REPLY
@afrobin

Hello Healthy Today, Do you take a diuretic? I think you probably do. In this colder season I like homemade soups...and inevitably they are salty. It's hard to make a soup that isn't salty. Since I have high BP, I do take a diuretic and that seems to help.

Jump to this post

No, not a pill diuretic. I eat organic celery before bedtime ...that's natures diuretic. Also, you can make soup without salt, there are herbal salt subs online. One produced in Las Vegas is very good.

REPLY

This IS your support group and you don't even have to leave the house to join! lol

REPLY
@soph

A number of not important flutters can happen and are okay. My experience with afib is that, your pulse will never hold low as 76-80, it will be going up and down, never staying low until you are in Normal Sinus Rhythm. In order to get back to normal rhythm, one possibility is the electric shock, another possibility is having a drip to help it along and simply waiting. Now I don't go to the hospital, and afib leaves in 7-10 hours, same as it did in the hospital (I rest the whole time). I know I am in afib because my pulse is almost impossible to take, it feels like a grand flutter. If I use the home blood pressure device, it reads as a high pulse, perhaps 138-145-175.
Your possible 3 day hospital stay was if you were being started in Sotalol (or Dofetilide.) They both require the hospital stay to see if they give you bad reactions. Mine didn't and I have taken Dofetilide for 4 years. Curious that no one has given you an EKG, regular practice for afib patients, in or out of afib at that time.
One trigger for my afib is more hard work than expected. If you lost so much weight, you must have a lot of ability to work hard, hope you're also giving yourself time to rest. Good luck!

Jump to this post

Thanks much. I read a lot, but putting that info with my feelings of an Afib exacerbation is difficult for me to do, and local support groups seem to be a thing of the past in the age of the internet. Thanks again.

REPLY

Hello Healthy Today, Do you take a diuretic? I think you probably do. In this colder season I like homemade soups...and inevitably they are salty. It's hard to make a soup that isn't salty. Since I have high BP, I do take a diuretic and that seems to help.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.