How did you wean off Metoprolol?

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?

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.

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

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.

@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