Can I live without meds?

I have been taking Metoprolol since October 2008. I successfully stopped taking it for a few months and didn't experience any symptoms except rapid heart beat. Over time I got used to it.

Basically my doctor told me I had to get back on the meds. Him and my cardiologist told me that if I didn't take medicine for my IST that my heart would eventually get tired of beating so fast and give out on me. Is this true???? Can I really not live without meds? I am so sick of taking them! They make me extremely tired and I CANNOT lose weight for the life of me.

Also, I don't think they are even doing much! My resting heart rate is still about 96 average and exercising about 150. I have NO symptoms on or off the medicine except rapid heart beat so I don't need it to control my symptoms.

I take 100mg of Metoprolol daily.

Any insight would be great!

[littlegreenman1]

You'd be foolish to listen to ANYBODY AT ALL WHATSOEVER on the Internet rather than the physicians that know you.

Best bet... find other physicians and have them get to know you. If they agree with the first two... easy decision. If they disagree, then you have something to think about.

[DeltaDawn23]

I've been on Atenolol since 2003 for Afib.  The Atenolol kept it under control until the last couple of years.  I once complained to my family doctor that my blood pressure was so low sometimes that the top number was 85.  He said, "yes, and my little old ladies that are in their 90's have lived that long because they haven't worn their hearts out with high blood pressure."  So your doctor's may be right -- anyway, sounds like they agree with my doctor.

I took the Atentolol in divided doses, 25-50 mg., checking my bp to make sure it didn't get too low.  If I took a whole pill, my bp would plunge.

Hope some of this helps.  Good luck.