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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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Thanks much. I read a lot, but putting that info with my feelings of an Afib exacerbation is difficult for me to do, and local support groups seem to be a thing of the past in the age of the internet. Thanks again.
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1 ReactionThis IS your support group and you don't even have to leave the house to join! lol
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1 ReactionNo, not a pill diuretic. I eat organic celery before bedtime ...that's natures diuretic. Also, you can make soup without salt, there are herbal salt subs online. One produced in Las Vegas is very good.
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2 ReactionsIve been on metoprolol for16 yrs, was ablated on 4/22/05, now metoprolol
Isnt working any more, they seem to not be able to find anything to put me on any more! Any info would sure be nice at this point! Thanks
What was ablated? Is your heart rate too high now?
Of the heart, this forum is for hearts.
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1 ReactionI have just been reading all the
Negative effects of metoprolol.
I'm 75. Been on this number years
Along with Flecinade and blood
Thinner.
I feel good.
I'd like to hear of the benefits
Of the drug.
Thankyou
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1 ReactionHave been on a low dose of Metoprolol for three years. This betablocker controls my arrythmia. Much prefer taking medication to having an invasive ablation procedure.
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1 ReactionI'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear. Ablation is done for various arrhythmias, such as PVCs that occur too frequently, Supra Ventricular Tachycardia, and Afib. What changes did you notice after the ablation?
Most Beta Blockers are effective and safe, and Metoprolol is both. For those of us with Afib; my family doctor said mine is Paroxysmal, though that's the first time I heard that; the top part of the heart beats at a very fast rate, and in some people, that fast rate causes the ventricles to beat very fast as well. That's the form I have, known as Rapid Ventricular Response.
Fortunately, between the top of the heart - the Atrium, and bottom - the Ventricles, is the AV Node - the AtrioVentricular Node. This limits how fast the ventricles can beat in response to activity in the Atrium. BetaBlockers such as Metoprolol slow the passage of signals through the AV Node, reducing the rate the Ventricles Beat.
I take 200 mg Metoprolol in the morning, 25 mg Metoprolol Tartrate in the early afternoon, and 150 mg Metoprolol Succinate at night. This is approved of by my physician, and the pharmacy had to talk to him before they'd fill it, even though the prescriptions were in their hands, because it's not common to take the Succinate (long acting version) and Tartrate (shorter acting version) in one day.
Only the Tartrate version has been proven to reduce the chance of a 2nd Heart Attack, but I'm not sure why. It may be because the only research was done on the Tartrate.
But I'm taking a large dose of Metoprolol, plus various other medications, I've not had the problems some attribute to even a smaller dose.
So, it safely, when used as directed, slows your heart rate, reduces the Contractile force of your heart, and actually helps calm some people down by limiting the effects adrenaline has on your heart and in some cases, system.