Started at 50mg, then 25mg, than 12.5mg, then 12.5 one day off and then the last day on. I have heard that the typical symptoms of weening are excellerated heart rate and higher blood pressure.
I was put on Toprol for palpitations and irregular heart rate from the Birth control patch, Stopped using the patch 3 months ago and weening off Toprol since symptoms stopped with removal of the BC patch. Please don't say "see doctor" I was healthy and normal before all this and I know my body and that these problems were caused by these meds. Thanks for the input
2006-12-20 04:17:11 · 3 answers · asked by kiwi8 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
In the vast majority of cases it is not essential that a beta blocker such as metoprolol (Toprol) be tapered although it is true that if it is stopped abruptly that some people will experience an increase in their heart rate more so than blood pressure. In 30 years however I do not recall seeing an instance of this. Nonetheless if you have reduced your dose to 12.5 mg daily or every other day there is no concern for the possibility of side effects as there is no longer enough in your system for your body to know that it is there. If the change in heart rhythm was due to the birth control patch the problem should not return if you stay away from the patch. Please feel free to ask me johnerussomd@jhu.edu a question at any time and I may be able to save you a trip to the physician. I participate in this forum as a public service. I wish you the very best of health.
2006-12-20 07:20:14 · answer #1 · answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I hate to say it, but you should see your doctor, and the reason is that although I am a doctor and I have some experience with toprol, the way it acts is, to some extent, different from person to person. I have not found it to have too much in the way of a rebound effect, which is what you're talking about, and it sounds like your doctor gave you a pretty long, slow taper, so hopefully everything should be fine. If you do find that you've having problems after, then you should consider seeing your doctor, but anything that happens should be very short-lived if it wasn't there before - mostly what happens when people stop taking their beta blocker (which is the class of drugs to which toprol belongs) is that the conditions it was treating come up again, but if everything is fine at your baseline, you should (not a definate, but probably) be just fine.
2006-12-20 05:08:01 · answer #2 · answered by The Doc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I weaned off a beta blocker to have a radiofrequency ablation about a year ago. They weaned me over about 3 weeks and we went very slowly because I had been on beta blockers for 10 years.
I felt like I was going to shake out of my skin. I could feel my heart pounding and my blood pressure went up. I just felt in turmoil and breathing harder and felt like my heart was in my throat. I finally called my cardiologist and he put me back on them. It was almost immediate relief. My heart problem is cured, but I am still on meds. I think I must have a physical addiction to the beta blockers. Maybe I did not give it enough time. I hope you dont have the same problem
2006-12-20 10:40:34 · answer #3 · answered by happydawg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋