Taking metoprolol as needed ?

[Mayobarber]

Is it okay to take metoprolol as needed ? I did a trial of not taking it for a weekend and my hr state under 85 so my doctors nurse said I don't need to take it anymore and I can take it as needed aka if my resting heartrate gets over 100. Is this safe ? I thought beta blockers were very touchy ? I'm 24, 130 lbs and only take 12.5 mg at a time. I just took one so I hope her advice is okay !

[tom_h]

I wouldn't ever suggest to anyone that they follow my suggestions or directives.  You should alway do what your physician instructs you to do.I was merely stating the facts I know about the drug.

An interesting development occured recently when I visited my physician for my normal 6 month check.  My BP was measured 102/60.  This was quite low for me.  My heart rate was clocked at 62, again somewhat low from what I experienced in recent years.  The physician measured twice to mak sure, but didn't say anything about it.  I've also been having a difficult time getting my heart rate up to speed during heavy physical exertion.   I think I traced it to a build up of metoprolol from taking it for as long as I have.  At 75mg. per day, a small amoumt remained when I repeated the dose the following day.  I did a "reset" by skipping my dose for 36 hours.  This gave time for the buildup to clear.  When I resumed it, I noticed that I felt much better and that my heart responded quicker to demands.   Doesn't answer your question, but I thought you might find it interesting.

[Mayobarber]

Sorry for all the typos hard to type on this phone

[Mayobarber]

Yes... You did tell me that. But  i chose to take my drs orders instead - mostly bc as someone who constantly monitors my Bp and hr, I don't find it necessary to take twice a day. My heart rate stats around 70 and my Bp stays around 100/70 all day, I find no need to introduce even more of a drug into my body when I've been on the metrication for quite some time with normal readings when only taking it once every 24 hr.... But all that is besides the point because like I said I'm not taking it daily anymore. My hr was 130 and it reduced it down to 80. It's going on 6 hours later and I'm still fine. I was really just wondering of other people take it as needed and personal experience with long term effects and such

[tom_h]

I got conflicting information regarding how you can take Metoprolol, and I trust what my electrophysiologist told me. Metoprolol is not meant to be taken as needed.  The drug doesn't work that way.  My GP initially told me to chew on an extra pill in addition to my regular dose whenever I had an episode of SVT, and that it would help slow it.  My EP said that you need to build an amount in your blood for it to be helpful and that chewing an extra pill did nothing for the moment.  I believe, I had mentioned to you nefore that 12mg is all but completely metabolized in a 24 hr. period.  I know that I also memtioned that metoprolol tartrate (not Toprol XL)  is not intended as a once a day pill because of its short half life.  You end up with a roller coaster of drug levels.

[Mayobarber]

I also wanted to note I have no other heart issues and was only taking this med for high heart rate