how do I stop taking my metroprolol

Question

I am on just a low dose of metroprolol and the cardiologist said I could stop taking it...this is the second day without this med and my heart was racing with hardly any provocation...was just doing a little bit of painting..causing tingling in arms and pressure in chest....should I be weaning off of this drug or should I just be going cold turkey...my dose is only 25 mg a day

9livesagain · Answer

I've been on beta blockers of one form or another for 3 years since a by-pass surgery (5 arteries). A prescribed dosage of 25mg of Metroprolol is a strong dosage, my friend. I can't believe a licensed medical professional suggested you stop taking this drug--cold turkey or otherwise. I'd get it in writing to leave behind for your family along with their liability insurance "dec-page"
In the meantime--and just an opinion--" There is a reason they call it " PRESCRIBED MEDICATION "...take the meds unless and until a qualified " Cardiologist " recommends otherwise....and...Please remember that the people responding to your question here--while many may be genuinely concerned---are NOT " Cardiologists "

Ida22 · Answer

you're right. 
I was just curious because the BB made me sick and I promised myself that I'll never try it again. my medication I use now is Tambocor, I've been on that for 8 months now, and it was great, but the last month it seems that its loosing the effect and im starting to have short runs of VT again, and more frequently. 
I starting to miss selo-zok that made my heart calm. 
so I'm just curious of maybe selo-zok could have worked but only with a smaller dose.

ed34 · Answer

perhaps that's not the way to look at it?
My bisoprolol being 20X stronger than some others means I can take 1.25mg while others have to take their meds at around 20mg for the same effect. So basically I think everyone is achieving the same strength through the correct dosage, hence everyone has the same desired affect on their hearts. So maybe everyone will feel the same way and have the same risks when coming off beta blockers, no matter what brand it is?

Ida22 · Answer

Hi,
I have always thought that my 25mg x2 selo-zok was a weak dose.thats why I didn't wean it of... 
Do you know if its strong or weak?

ed34 · Answer

wow no wonder my pulse dropped to 25 when they gave me 5mg.

is_something_wrong · Answer

I'm not sure if there is a chart for comparing beta blockers, but as far as I know, bisoprolol (Emconcor) is about 20 times as strong as Metoprolol, so 1,25 mg of bisoprolol is approx. similar to 25 mg of metoprolol, which again is about the double strength of propranolol. From what my doctor told me, 12,5 mg of Metoprolol is similar to 20 mg of propranolol, but they have different effects.

ed34 · Answer

"my dose is only 25 mg a day"

only?  I presume metroprolol is a relatively weak beta blocker. I can only tolerate 1.25mg of bisoprolol, but I suppose different types have different strengths.

cindy707 · Answer

Thats terrible the doc should have told you how to wean yourself off of the med.  We are never to suddenly stop taking any beta blocker but to wean off of it or we get something called "rebound" which is exactly what is happening to you meaning that if you are not weaning off of it the heart reacts X3 what your normal issues were.  In weaning off usually it means that you reduce your dose...the first day in most cases you cut your pill into quarters and throw one quarter away and take the three quarters of the med...the second day you take half of the pill and throw the other half away....on the third day you throw away three quarters and only take a quarter.....on the fourth day you take one quarter as well as the following three days and then you take it only every other day for the next 3 days and then finally reduce it down to a quarter on the second week and then stop.  That is the usual way of weaning off of beta blockers....hope it was helpful.

Mouse1369 · Answer

I was on Metaprolol Tartrate as well, I really didn't feel that it helped me much at all. I suggest that you wean for sure.

ed34 · Answer

When I stopped my beta blocker, I had the same thing. My heart seemed to beat much harder and faster, like it was celebrating being free. It does feel odd doesn't it and quite worrying but after about five days the difference was great. I could no longer feel my heart, even when laying down. During exercise I could finally feel it speeding up and coping with the situation.
Congratulations on being able to let your heart run free :)

Ida22 · Answer

Hi,

I tried twice to go cold turkey with selo-zok(also a betablocker). my dose was 25mg x 2.
I wouldn't recommend that... My heart was jumping, loads of pvc, extreme headache for 2 days. cutting a pill in half sound like a good idea. I think that you may need weeks to wean the metroprolol off. 

Strange the cardiologist didn't gave you some info when he said that you could stop taking this, but anyways, get some advice from you doctor

good luck to you!

Flycaster305 · Answer

Conventional wisdom tells us that weaning off the drug is a safer course. I would strongly urge you to contact your doctor and get some advice, given the new symptoms. I would think that cutting a pill in half and taking it wouldn't hurt you a bit in the meantime.