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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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Hello! I think I can help you get off TWO of your drugs. And that is for the chronic urticaria. I have suffered with hives for years off and on. At point they stopped 'off and on' and just remained. The itching, scratching, bleeding was terrible. I went to 2 dermatologists and 1 allergist and they all said the same thing; 'You may need to take your antihistamine and another drug for itching for the rest of your life. We don't know why people get this. Sometimes it spontaneously goes away which may happen and other times people have it for life.". The hives persisted for 8 months and the meds made me sleepy and lacking in energy. I decided to visit a naturopath who told me to cut out ALL carbs and drink plenty of water. Back then there were no protein, low carb keto or Dr. Atkins diets so this was novel. I was desperate and followed the diet to a T. I ate meat, fish, eggs, cheese and loads of vegetables as he recommended. Within 3 days the hives disappeared entirely and I was off the medication! For 3 weeks I kept up the diet (and lost lots of weight without trying!) and then I had a half a toast. Boom...hives! So I kept up the no carb diet for another few weeks and reintroduced a half a toast and I could tolerate it. Over the years when I eat too many carbs or if I have one big blast of sugar (birthday cake for example) I will start to itch at the ankles which is a warning.
At the moment I am on holiday in Europe and I have a major case of hives (a kind that 'travels' around my torso). It's next to impossible to restrict my diet. When I get back home, I am going on the protein with veggies diet with the aim of 10 servings per day. I can't wait to get rid of the chronic inflammation in my system and get healthy again...and off the antihistamines. Why not do the same, Soliloquized?
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1 ReactionI'm not addressing your situation, each person reacts differently to different things. I was on Acebutolol 200 mg three times a day. After my afib started, I was switched to 200 mg Metoprolol Succinate in the morning. I take 25 mg Metoprolol Tartrate at 2:00 PM, and I take 150 mg Metoprolol Succinate at night. For seizures, I take 200 mg Phenytoin in the morning, and 300 mg late in the day. I had chronic urticaria, I'm still on Xyzal and Ranitidine AM and PM, I'm on Singulair once a day. And I take Zocor and a small dose of Maxide with HCTZ. Technically, I shouldn't even be awake, LOL.
I feel fine. I might feel better without that stuff, but for now, my seizures and heart rate are controlled. My Urticaria is held at bay, and here I sit, writing this. For people reading the side effects, please don't think you'll experience them just because others did. You can give people a Placebo and they'll have symptoms of exposure to whatever they were directed to study.
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1 ReactionThat's what all the doctors say
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1 ReactionI know from experience, NEVER get off beta blockers abruptly. You must taper off gradually.
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2 ReactionsNo, unfortunately they will not operate on aneurysms smaller than a certain size due to complications from surgery outweighing benefits. Many people supposedly live with aneurysms for up to 15 years because they stay small. I go in for 6 month evaluation in September to assess growth and size and we move from there. I just started weaning myself off of beta blockers this morning and already feel much better! My pharmacist told me to call my doctor who said my "side effects" Weren't related to meds. He did call back to say go ahead and stop taking meds but no suggestion on how to do that! 😕
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1 ReactionAprille, can you not have the aneurysm operated on asap? Living with that in your body must be stressful to say the least. If it bursts, unless you are IN the hospital at that time and they stop the hemorrhaging right away....let's put it this way, it's a dire situation. I know there is a certain limit in the size of the aneurysm that then requires an operation . At some point it must be operated on. It seems to me, the earlier the better.
I wish doctors would be honest about side effects of drugs. But it may be that they just don't know. After all they didn't study pharmacology. You can look them up yourself AND consult with the real experts on drugs and interactions and side effects and that is, of course, your pharmacist.
Is anyone on here on beta blockers for an aortic aneurysm? My blood pressure normally is 110/60 but doctor wanted to get it lower. He prescribed Metropolol 25 mg succinate but I could not take it (so many issues and side effects after only 2 days). I was switched to Metropolol Tartrate 12.5 2 x per day and told to stay on it for at least 7-14 days. I am on day 21 and the side effects are growing and getting more and more invasive. Leg and foot cramps, insomnia, dizziness, mental fog, anxiety, depression, fatigue, headaches. None of these were happening to me before the meds. I have no other meds being taken right now. Messaged him this morning to ask about side effects and he responded that I must be dehydrated or doing too much. I am otherwise fit, have great bloodwork, no issues healthwise (other than bicuspid aortic valve that has caused aortic aneurysm). I want off the meds and I don't see why I need to suffer the side effects if my blood pressure isn't high to begin with. I have been told I lack the enzyme to properly metabolize medications so this is not new to me when put on medications.
How are you cutting it so small and is that per day or 2x a day? I am on 12.5 metropolol 2x a day to reduce blood pressure lower than regular for an aortic aneurysm. I took a sliver dose this morning (I cut poorly on one pill so it ended up that way). Just curious how you managed it and do you think your coming off time is longer because you have been on it so long?
Be advised that those on Coumadin might have problems with elevated INR values if they drink Cranberry Juice or consume Cranberries.
Interaction between warfarin and cranberry juice
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17919554
Get some non-sugary cranberry juice from Trader Joes, 1/2 cup of it straight or mixed with water will help with bladder and kidneys. Raw organic (if possible) celery each evening helps eliminate extra water retention.
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