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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@afrobin

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles, AlwaysHope. If I can give you one word of advice it is to be PROACTIVE. Don't leave your health in the hands of someone else...such as your doctor. Can you see a good naturopath; preferably one who has his or her doctorate of naturopathy who can help you get your health back on track.
Write down your history in point form and take any medicine and supplements to show him or her. And most important of all, take questions to ask. Never mind the cost. This is your health at stake. The naturopath will create a healthy diet for you, probably encourage you to take probiotics (50 billion Garden of Life) to boost your immune system and to get plenty of sleep and exercise.
Our plates should be very colourful. You don't want to be looking at a plate of beige food. I think your naturopath can work with your doctor to get you off any meds that are giving you problems. There are more natural ways to cope with anxiety such as exercise and some natural supplements. Avoiding coffee and tea is a start. Aiming for at least 7 servings of fruit and vegetables is also a good start. I wish you all the best.

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Thank You. That's great advice. The only positive in this is that Benzo tolerance with drawl forces a healthy diet because certain and most unhealthy foods hurt, cause pain and send me into a tailspin.

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@afrobin

Yes, we will have to agree to disagree. I question and doubt any study that promotes a statin or drug because it is undoubtedly backed by Big Pharma. I prefer to believe the Canadian researchers (in the documentary) who have no stake in the game; nothing to gain.

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The early Statin research, they didn't seem to realize the irony. They said the participants died from a variety of issues unrelated to high cholesterol, they felt confident that had they survived, it would have proven the efficacy of the drug.

1. I'm sure they all didn't die, but sufficient numbers must have died to spoil the statistics.

2. They were talking Early Statins.

3. I've been on Zocor for years.

4. Dietary changes are preferred to pharmaceutical intervention if the desired goals can be reached.

5. I think that some of the goals are unrealistic and lead to doses that are too high and possibly other issues from that.

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Quote: 'The next time you go in for a medical checkup, your doctor will probably make a mistake that could endanger your life, contends cardiologist Allan Sniderman of McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Most physicians order what he considers the wrong test to gauge heart disease risk: a standard cholesterol readout, which may indicate levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol. What they should request instead, Sniderman argues, is an inexpensive assay for a blood protein known as apolipoprotein B (apoB).
ApoB indicates the number of cholesterol-laden particles circulating in the blood—a truer indicator of the threat to our arteries than absolute cholesterol levels, some researchers believe.'.
My husband had high cholesterol levels even in his twenties. After watching the documentary on The Nature of Things on Cholesterol which you can see on line, he decided not to take statins because he is not in the ultimate risk category; 'a man in his forties who has had a heart attack.'. I will ask him to have the apoB test. He has had his c-reactive protein test and it is normal. He eats very well (lots of veggies) and he's a big walker so maybe that's why his CRP was good.
35 million Americans are on statins. Is it possible that so many Americans are 'sick' and need to be medicated?

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Hi All, recently went to hospital with very high blood pressure (for me) 168/98 almost fainted , diagnosis was very low potassium and long qt syndrome , was put on metoprol by ER doctor (only a month of the prescription) I’ve cut way back on salt past month, changed diet, need to exercise haven’t been, but have lost 8 lbs, the medication was also supposed to help with my constant palpitations, realized it hasn’t made a difference though my blood pressure has dropped, I have about 4-5 pills left , so I’d like to half them and wean off it, Cardiology said my heart was normal and that palpitations could have been from low potassium, I’m still having them though?? Which causes even more anxiety. I’m going to wean off this metoprolol because with my diet changes I think I can manage, and try vitamin supplements such as cq10 , potassium and magnesium. Anyone else do this? Would love to hear your insights thankyou ,

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@singitsoft

Hi All, recently went to hospital with very high blood pressure (for me) 168/98 almost fainted , diagnosis was very low potassium and long qt syndrome , was put on metoprol by ER doctor (only a month of the prescription) I’ve cut way back on salt past month, changed diet, need to exercise haven’t been, but have lost 8 lbs, the medication was also supposed to help with my constant palpitations, realized it hasn’t made a difference though my blood pressure has dropped, I have about 4-5 pills left , so I’d like to half them and wean off it, Cardiology said my heart was normal and that palpitations could have been from low potassium, I’m still having them though?? Which causes even more anxiety. I’m going to wean off this metoprolol because with my diet changes I think I can manage, and try vitamin supplements such as cq10 , potassium and magnesium. Anyone else do this? Would love to hear your insights thankyou ,

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I take 3 (500mg) vit C with three meals daily. Also with VitC take HeartBeat Cardiovascular support from Health Food store. Magn, potassium in morning with first VitC. I take metoprol to slow heart rate due to afib and leaky heart valve. Why do you want to go off of metoprol?

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@healthytoday

I take 3 (500mg) vit C with three meals daily. Also with VitC take HeartBeat Cardiovascular support from Health Food store. Magn, potassium in morning with first VitC. I take metoprol to slow heart rate due to afib and leaky heart valve. Why do you want to go off of metoprol?

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It didn’t seem to be helping palpitations, and wanted to just be without any medication, are you just on metoprolol along with supplements? I wanted to take potassium, magnesium and cq10 with medication and wasn’t given any formal guidance,

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@singitsoft

It didn’t seem to be helping palpitations, and wanted to just be without any medication, are you just on metoprolol along with supplements? I wanted to take potassium, magnesium and cq10 with medication and wasn’t given any formal guidance,

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Most drs aren't into supplements, with the exception of magnesium for heart issues. Yes, I take metoprolol. I slows my heart rate which helps me feel better. That's about all my cardiologist recommends at this time, unless I want open heart surgery where they replace the heart valve, ablation the heart and put me on alot of meds. No thanks. I feel well enough for a 70+ year old. Also, the open heart idea would only maybe work and for maybe a few years. Good grief. No thanks.

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Hi, @singitsoft, I have to agree with @afrobin @soliloquized and @heathytoday. Along with supplements make sure you maintain a healthy diet. For me the Metoprolol was causing additional symptoms besides the tachycardia. I started with dizziness, nausea, extreme weakness, I attributed it to another condition but since I started the tapering and a heathy diet and exercise as much as I can for now I feel better. I would definitely consult my doctor before quitting the metoprolol and NOT quit cold turkey depending on how long you were taking the Metoprolol it can cause additional heath problems......

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@alwayshope1

Hi, @singitsoft, I have to agree with @afrobin @soliloquized and @heathytoday. Along with supplements make sure you maintain a healthy diet. For me the Metoprolol was causing additional symptoms besides the tachycardia. I started with dizziness, nausea, extreme weakness, I attributed it to another condition but since I started the tapering and a heathy diet and exercise as much as I can for now I feel better. I would definitely consult my doctor before quitting the metoprolol and NOT quit cold turkey depending on how long you were taking the Metoprolol it can cause additional heath problems......

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Thankyou it Only been taking for 1 month and it was prescribed by an ER doctor , a low dose of 25mg,

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@alwayshope1

Hi, @singitsoft, I have to agree with @afrobin @soliloquized and @heathytoday. Along with supplements make sure you maintain a healthy diet. For me the Metoprolol was causing additional symptoms besides the tachycardia. I started with dizziness, nausea, extreme weakness, I attributed it to another condition but since I started the tapering and a heathy diet and exercise as much as I can for now I feel better. I would definitely consult my doctor before quitting the metoprolol and NOT quit cold turkey depending on how long you were taking the Metoprolol it can cause additional heath problems......

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Definitely don’t plan on quitting cold turkey wanted to taper off (half a pill) for a few days then , be off, been eating super healthy and cut sodium , metoprolol didnt seem to be helping palpitations, so I’ll try supplements, 💗

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