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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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Welcome to Connect, @katydid77,
I found a few published studies the effects (positive and negative) of cardiovascular medicine on the brain, which you might like to read:
– Neuropsychiatric consequences of cardiovascular medications https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181843/
– Beta-blockers: Acting in the Brain But Healing the Heart https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/578687
While we wait for other members to return with their insights, could you share a bit more about yourself? Have you been taking Metoprolol for a long time?
I would like to know about memory loss too and if everyone has brain fog taking Metoprolol.
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1 Reactionis memory loss regained when metoprolol is stopped
Let me know if this works. I have not cut down to 12.5mg due to rising blood pressure when I try.
@joma7862 I, too, am trying to wean off Toprol XL. I have been taking 12.5 mg for at least 13 years. Today is the first day where I halved the 12.5 and my blood pressure is rising. My doctor wants me to do this for two weeks then stop. I am thinking this medicine has caused my hair to thin a lot. I am also on Cozaar which has had several voluntary recalls due to a carcinogen contamination. I'm not sure what I am going to switch to. After all, most generic forms are manufactured overseas where there's no safety regulations enforced.
Metoprolol Tartrate:
The mean elimination half-life of metoprolol is 3 to 4 hours; in poor CYP2D6 metabolizers the half-life may be 7 to 9 hours.
Metroprolol Succinate:
Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately 3 to 7 hours.
This drug has a short half-life. Though not related, Xanax averages 11.2 hours, Klonopin 35 hours, and Valium 100 hours, once they have reached a steady state. I give this example to show how short the half-life of Metroprolol is.
I wouldn't do anything without your cardiologist's knowledge and hopefully approval, or approval of another doctor familiar with your health and conditions, like that which may happen to those seeking Emergency Room Treatment.
I'd think that within 48 hours, the Metroprolol would be out of your system, for all intents and purposes.
I'm taking 200 mg Metoprolol Succinate in the morning, 25 mg Metoprolol Tartrate mid-afternoon, and 150 mg Metoprolol Succinate at night. My cardiologist prescribed 200 mg Metoprolol Succinate in the morning and 200 mg Metoprolol Succinate in the evening, but my family doctor is aware how I'm taking it and did not object. Prior to my afib I was taking Acebutolol 200 mg three times a day, it's another Beta-Blocker, I no longer take that, but it seems I'm fairly tolerant of significant doses of, at different times of course, different Beta-Blockers.
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2 ReactionsI am on metoprolol 100mg and I am experiencing side effects. I plan to call my cardiologist off today to tell them about the side effects. I have a irregular heart beat too fast but this morning I woke up to the worse dizziness I have ever had and looking at the side effects it's making the fluttering worse not better. If you been taking 100mg how long does it take to break down in your system for some of side effects to be less. Kim
It depends on your medical condition. I'm on Toprol XL for high blood pressure, but also have hypothroidism that is resulting in a very low heart beat. I'm not happy that I trusted my doctor and she put me on this drug that I can't get off without life threatening side effects.
I'm very surprised at these reports. I've been taking Metoprolol for several years now And I also take eliquis, and that's all I take. It's been evaluated several times, and my A-fib is said to be under control. Yes, I have certainly aged, but am not suffering from your symptoms. I'm surprised to see that long list. I am new to this list, so hi everybody.
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1 ReactionI was on 25mg twice a day. While on it, I gained weight and could not get it off. I got out of breath easily. I told my doctor about it and he scheduled a nuclear stress test. The stress test found no problems except leaving my bank account a grand lighter. Not the kind of weight loss I was looking for. So, I quit taking Metropolol cold turkey a week ago. I had no issues. Maybe because I was on a smaller dose. Already, taking three flights of stairs does not leave me winded. I'm bothered by the fact my doctor discounted the side effects. Now to get the weight off.
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