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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@bayxo

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!

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Hi @bayxo

I'm 35, male, and was prescribed Metoprolol for what we believe was high BP caused by steroids (prescribed to fight an infection). I've never had issues with BP before and was told to take 25mg twice daily of M-Tartrate. Primary said stopping it shouldn't be a problem, but... IT WAS. I even went down to 12.5mg for two days and was feeling much better (less fatigue vs. 25mg). Then, I stopped this morning and had an acute reaction to MT being out of my system; heart palpitations, fatigue, dizziness, and BP through the roof (for me; 130/101). It was hell.

All to say - I'd really like to get out of this mess and I'm sad my Primary ever prescribed this drug. But, I'm going to copy you and continue to cut dosages. Spend about a week or so here @ 1/2 dosage and then go to 1/4 and see how my body takes to it. DO NOT STOP ALTOGETHER. If you're here reading this, that means you have had some sort of side effect or symptom. We're all helping each other to figure out the best way off this drug, but it's going to take longer than (I) expected. @bayxo , would love to hear about your journey and progression! Thanks to all for sharing their advice!

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@bayxo

How are you doing now? Any increased side effects?

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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.

REPLY

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!

REPLY
@dedema

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.

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How are you doing now? Any increased side effects?

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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?

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@nancymulloy

About a year. I take low dose digoxin now

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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

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@dedema

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?

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About a year. I take low dose digoxin now

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@nancymulloy

I went off it over the course of a month, cutting in halves and then quarters, then every other day, etc. No problems

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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?

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@dedema

This is the most helpful comment so far for me. I was diagnosed 2/2022 with Afib and I have a Mitral Valve Prolapse with mild to moderate regurgitation. I was in the ER with a resting HR of 160. I was put on Metoprolol Succinate 12.5 mg daily with 2 baby aspirin. To come off any prescription medication, I agree, one has to be very pro active. Diet, exercise, stress reduction all need to be a priority. I stopped stimulants, i.e. alcohol, caffeine ( although I have an occasional cup of Earl Grey Tea and a small piece of dark chocolate), sugar (including processed carbohydrates), marijuana. I cook my own meals with organic and local produce. I have wild fish and pasture raised meat 1-2 times weekly. I go easy on the whole fat dairy, I do have a daily cup of whole milk yoghurt. Most important is I have been a wild craft herbalist for the past 38 years. I am taking Hawthorn leaf, flower, and berry infusion (strong tea) daily and also the tincture. This herb is a reputable heart tonic and there has been a lot of research on it, done mostly in Germany. I am nervous coming off the Metoprolol, since I have tried twice before and when my heart started to pound and race a bit, I went back on it. I think one needs to be on herbal remedies for at least several months before weaning and going off the medication. It's now been 6 months and I am going to try to stop the Metoprolol again. Wish me luck! By the way . . . I have had invasive Breast Cancer twice and declined chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. I did have surgery and radiation. The first time was in 1999 and the second in 2009. I strongly believe the Herbs, Diet, Exercise, Meditation, Singing, and being in Nature pulled me through. I hope this comment is helpful.

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I went off it over the course of a month, cutting in halves and then quarters, then every other day, etc. No problems

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@kilh

@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

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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.

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