Questions about coming off Beta Blockers

[Krista1994]

On May 22, I went to the ER in A Fib.  I was admitted over night and my heart finally snapped back into a normal sinus rhythm at 8:30 that night.  

A little history:

I had been taking 50mg's of Metoprolol(sp) once a day for about a year for AFib and Palpitations.  I did not like the Beta Blockers at ALL and was trying to wean.  I had cut my 50mg pill in half and was on that dose for about 3 days when I went into the AFib. My doctor said that is probably what did it this time. Well in the ER they tried to get my heart rate under control with the Lopressor but it didn't touch my irregular hartbeat.  They then switched to Ditiazem(sp) and that instantly lowered my heart rate but didn't touch the irregularity.  The doctor I saw after being admitted came in to talk to me about my condition and what they were going to prescribe (I'm on Cartia 120mg's 2x's a day).  I asked about my Beta Blocker because a) it was what landed me there in the first place and b) I had heard that you should not stop them "cold turkey".  Well he told me I was on such a low dose that just stopping them at that point wouldn't matter.  So I did.  About 3 days after I quit the Beta Blockers, I started having a flutter in the morning.  I told my Doc and he upped my Calcium Channel Blocker, it then progressed to harder flutters and now it's more like a "rubbing" palpitation feeling with the anxiety. Now almost 2 weeks later I'm still having Palpitations with exertion and my Anxiety is in FULL FORCE!  I'm wondering if it's because I quit my Beta Blocker cold turkey and now am feeling the after effects?  How long do these last? Will they end?  Do I need to go back on the Beta Blocker?  I'm really not liking this feeling and it's definitely not helping with my anxiety!!!!  Thank you for any help!  I'm going to put a call into my doc too.

[finetilthree]

did they tell you what could've caused your afib in the first place?  how old are you?  i had afib about three times one week after I had a baby.  they think it was my hormones.  they put me on a bb to control it and i was on it for about 8 months.  i came off it completely and haven't had any afib since, although i do have palps every day.  

[canihelp]

I have been on Sectral Beta Blocker for many years. II'm 50 now.  It has the least side effects for me, and works reasonably well.  I take it for fast heart rate and PVCs.  Last week, my internal medicine Dr. wanted to run a treadmill on me to make sure there was no blockage (no real symptoms of)(EKGS normal too), and told me to stay off my beta blocker.  So, when he tried to do the treadmill test, I had PVCs so bad, I couldn't even walk on the treadmill, so it was all in vain.  (They started the treadmill in an extreme uphill position instead of doing it slow too)  It really showed my how much the Sectral did for blocking the adrenalin that causes problems in my body.
I decided after that my cardiologist will do any tests that need to be done.!!
The internal medicine Dr. did suggest I try St. John's Wort to help raise my serotonin levels.  I can't tell if it's helping or not, but it does seem to make me shaky early in the morning with more PVCs, so that's not good.  It might not do everybody that way.  I also tried 5-HTP.Calm, and it had me really shaky feeling the next morning.  I have found a cup of Chamomile tea first thing in morning works well, and the Dr. also told me to take 1/2 mg of Kolonopin when I feel the PVCs are coming on (anxiety--in laws, etc... ha.)  Mortherwort seems to work some for me when it's PMS time.

Any suggestions out there for PVCs??  Herbal or otherwise?

[pbanders]

FWIW, I've been on 50 mg daily of Metoprolol since early '04. I, too, disliked being on the BB (decreased aerobic capacity) and tried to wean myself. I had two weeks of tachycardia before I gave up and resumed my normal dosage. Since then, I've adapted to the decrease in my capacity and have had no other issues. You get used to it after a while.....

[Krista1994]

I am 35 years old.  Been suffering from bouts of rapid/irregular heartbeat for about 8 years now.  I was ok without meds as they were not very frequent.  I went to the ER for the first time almost 4 years ago because I was really lightheaded and couldn't breathe.  At that time they sent me for an EKG and by the time I got to the ER my heart had gone back to a regular rhythm and they said by my EKG that I had "PAT".  I went to the ER again a year later and they at that time said I was in AFib.  This last episode they said AFib as well and diagnosed me with "Lone" A Fib meaning there were no underlying heart problems or other reasons for it (besides of course the lower dose of Beta Blocker).  They said that the reduction of dose in the Beta Blocker is what caused the A Fib.  I'm about ready to just say the heck with it and go back on the Beta Blocker but I didn't want to if these "withdrawal" symptoms will cease soon!!!

[frs87]

I've taken BB (25 mg Atenolol) for about six months to control lone Atrial Flutter. I stopped taking them when I had a successful ablation. However, I kept feeling little flutters and PACs for about 15 days after it, my doc said it was because I quit the BB abruptly. A month later i felt a lot better, though I still have PACs and PVCs todau. Even if it was a small dose, it can happen. 25 mg of Atenolol is considered a very "light" BB, but I felt the symptoms anyway. I don't know much about the med you came off, but given you history it seems you are suffering from the very same problem. Try to remember you have a normal structured heart so nothing of this will kill you. The anxiety will give you no help.

[scaredformylife]

I was taking 25mg of atenolol as well for my SVT bouts.  Mine always happened in the middle of the night, but here recently they happen when they want to.  I am not taking the atenolol on a regular basis, but if I have an SVT episode, I take one.  Is that the wrong thing to do?  I have no reactions to the atenolol whatsoever besides it lowering my heart rate and bp.  I am 32 and this all just started for me in summer of 2006.  I am devastated, I feel like me life is limited because I have this unexplainable heart condition that can not be stopped.  I am anxious all the time and feel helpless with my condition.  I felt nothing when on the atenolol but I also do not want to stay on drugs the rest of my life that are going to eventually cause another problem!  I am so scared, frustrated and anxious!  I know you are not supposed to stop the atenolol cold turkey, and I didn't.  But when I have an SVT bout I take one to calm it down, I can't get the vagal maneuvers to work.  I do not want to do any other damage, should I discontinue all use of atenlol?  I have SVT about maybe once or twice a month or 2 -3 times a month, something like that.  I know it is not as much as everyone elses, but the fear doesn't change.  How does this affect everyone that works?

[canihelp]

Beta Blockers are not made to take on occasion!!  I've tried that and they'll send you into bad PVCs if you've been taking them very long & then go off.  Take them regular.  I've had many doctors tell me you do much more harm to your body by NOT taking something than by taking the right thing.  I take Sectral and it works pretty good with no side effects (small dose, twice a day).  If your life is a scary episode right now, your are doing harm to other organs in your body by the stress.  I felt the same way as you years ago, but when you are able to feel good, you become less stressful, and life becomes more normal again.
I drink a cup of Chamomille tea each morning.  It seems to be just right to start a calm day for me.
For more info. that I've written, check the other posts under my name "canihelp"  for today & yesterday.