Metoprol and Baby asprin at 27?

[JJpecoro]

I have been in the hospital 2 time with a-fib. The first time I was drinking and running around out on an island and my heart started going crazy. They were able to get it back to normal in the ICU and I was on meds for a few months. The second time (1 year and 1/2 later) I was laying in bed and my leg cramped and I had an episode. Again, they got it under control and informed me that because  I have had issues in the past I was 80% more likely to have it again. My current cardiologist has me in a daily dose of Metoprorol and baby asprin. I have been on this for over 2 years now and they have not changed anything. Is there long term side effects and am I too young to be on this regiment?

[Jerry_NJ]

I've been on a beta blocker, now atenolol, for about 15 years.

The only bad side effect I have noted is I got 15 years older...doesn't slow down aging, but may have prolonged my life anyway.

I take 25 mg twice a day and when my heart was in normal sinus rhythm I did not notice any fatigue or any of the other side effects.  I suppose my HR and BP were lower (are) but when my heart was pumping with all 4 chambers I could not detect any side effects.

[Artaud]

The significance of side effects of a drug depend on where the results were compiled from, premarketing, postmarketing, etc. One of the most useful ways to assess side effects is to look at the specific drug compared to placebo. A placebo, a sugar pill if you will, should not produce symptoms in anyone, yet a double-blind study, where the dispenser of the drug is unaware whether they are providing the actual drug or placebo (so they don't unconsciously reveal which is real) to the patient. Incredibly, during some of these studies, patients report more symptoms on the placebo than the actual medication. What I look for is the difference in percentage between the two groups. If 5% of the placebo group and 5% of the drug group report an effect, it's not likely that the drug is causing it. If 5% of the placebo group and 10% of the drug group report an effect, it's reasonable to assume that 5% of the drug group experienced the problem, not 10%. Another thing to look for are side effects that cause people in these studied groups to discontinue the drug.

Beta Blockers have a very safe profile when used as directed and are well tolerated by most.

[tom_h]

I've been on Metoprolol (I think) for 9 years.  I originally began it to slow my night time elevated pulse down.  That turned out to be a result of severe sleep apnea.  But my physician felt that it would be good to continue it as it helped my near lifetime supraventricular tachycardia, and it was good for my borderline hypertension.

Despite a cardiac procedure which cured my SVT, I continue to take Metoprolol for hypertension.  Although it's no longer a front line drug for that purpose, it works very good for me.  So I continue to take it at 75mg. per day in two doses. 25mg in the morning upon rising, and 50mg at dinner.
I experience none of the side effects noted, and other than taking a little longer to get my heart of to speed during workouts, I really feel no different.

Along with the Metoprolol, I was instructed to begin 80mg of aspirin per day (again, about 9 years ago).  I took this in the morning along with my supplements and did so until about 4 weeks ago.  I began to experience extreme hunger pains at night.  They were so strong, they would wake me up.  Initially, I though I was just hungry. but I read that this was an indication of a possible ulcer.  I am schedule for a visit to my physician next week.  But in the meantime, I've discontinued the aspirin and started Prilosec once  a day.  The pains have subsided, and I'm once again feeling good.

I'm not sure if the long term use of the low dose aspirin was the cause or not, but my hunch appears to have worked.  Of course, your mileage may vary.

[mdsks002941]

Side effects of Metoprol  include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, depression, dreaming, memory loss, fever, impotence, lightheadedness, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, cold extremities, sore throat, and shortness of breath or wheezing. Metoprolol can aggravate breathing difficulties in patients with asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.  The Baby asprin is low dose and should be well tolerated unless you have asthma . Asprin and nsaids  can aggravate asthma . As always check with your cardiologist  since your symptoms a have a history of reoccuring