Metoprolol 50mg

[lindyloo59]

Anyone taking metaprolol 50mg twice daily? Yourcomments would be welcome on your thoughts on this medication. Thanks in advance

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Lindyloo

Yes, I take Metoprolol and have done for most of my 13 years with AF.

At present I take just 2 x 12.5mg twice daily along with 100mg Flecainide. I have to be careful with Metoprolol as it has a very strong effect on me and once when given 100mg in one dose while in hospital, I got out of bed the next morning and collapsed. I believe it had taken my heart and BP down dangerously low. My AF nurse told me it could kill me and I was never to take more than a tiny dose. Saying that, it does work for me at the low dose. Bisoprolol didn't appear to have any effect on me at all.

At one time taking 50mg Metoprolol would halt my fast AF within hours, but it always took my pulse down a little too low. When I told my GP about this he said, "I don't know why they make those tablets so strong".

Jean

[lindyloo59 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

My husband has only been taking it for 2 days when would any side effects show from it. He was taking digoxin lowest dose but had no effect dr in hosp said he didnt like digoxin and put him on metoptolol 😬

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to lindyloo59]

I didn't do well either when I briefly tried Digoxin. I felt as though I was going mad on it. It made me vague and tearful and I have never felt like that in my life. I was instructed to take it in the weeks leading up to a cardioversion but now would never agree to take this pill again.

I have to say I do like Metoprolol, because for me it does work. With your husband taking 50mg each time I would think the drug should work immediately in bringing down his pulse and perhaps BP. Do you have a machine that you can record his pulse and BP on? If not I would recommend getting one. I bought mine in Boots and it's always very accurate, think it cost about £30.

Jean

[lindyloo59 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi thanks for your reply should my husband be taking other meds to control the af as well as metoprolol for heart rste? He has been taking his heart rate off an app on his i phone. Thanks

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to lindyloo59]

Some people just take Metoprolol on it's own. Years ago I did the same. I would go with whatever his doctor suggests as he is the expert.

Hope he gets a lot better soon.

Jean

[lindyloo59 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks will do

Linda

[rosyG]

jean jeannie I sometimes have a resting pulse in the 40s so have avoided Bisoprolol- I had some AF abroad recently after a week of flu where I couldn't eat much and think my Potassium levels fell. I have spoken to an EP who suggested having Metropolol as it is shorter acting- but only to take it after a few hours of high heart rate- would you suggest 12.5mg at that point- has that amount ever reduced your pulse too much? It sounds like a good choice for me s when in AF I have a very high heart rate but don't want a long acting rate control because of low rate sometimes when not in AF. I am not on any meds except Apixaban

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to rosyG]

Hi Rosy - My Metoprolol dose is only taken now as I'm on Flecainide and I was told not to take Flec on its own without a beta blocker. My AF nurse said to me that Bisoprolol controls your heart rate for 24hrs, but Metoprolol just for 12hrs.

When I took a stronger dose of Metoprolol, in my earlier days of AF, when that was my only medication I think I may have just taken 25mg and then another dose a few hours later if it hadn't brought my heart rate down. Taking 50mg was fine when my heart rate was high, but as soon as the AF ended it took my rate too low. We all respond so differently to drugs, so what suits me may be totally different for you. I would have a chat with your GP.

Best wishes

Jean

[rosyG in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you Jean- that's very helpful- I have an appointment with my cardiologist before I next go away so will ask him about amounts - The EP that suggested it I think said 25gm - I might try 12.5first!!

[Hidden]

I started metoprolol with 25 mg twice daily and had problems with a pulse between 40-50. No matter what time of day,,,,felt weak,dizzy, and faint most of the day,,,I argued with my EP to change to another drug,but had already tried 3 others with many side effects,,,,what changed is that time passed and my body adjusted and now my pulse is 50-60 through the days and I still have occasional dizziness and bothersome ectopics,,,an occasional bout of breathlessness,but fewer side effects than the other drugs,,,,

[Spoiler]

I have been taking metoprolol 50 mg twice a day, every 12 hours since June 2016. I do very well on it, but They put a pacemaker in and after that is when I was started on it. My normal heart rate had been 48-52 but continued to drop on the antiarrhymics, since I have always had a slow heart rate, most of the medications were a problem. It is a extremely old drug, I was initially given it over 30 years ago but unable to tolerate it due to slow heart rate. I was shocked that over 30 years later it popped up again as a drug of choice for me.

[sandy1952 in reply to Spoiler]

Did they put in a pacemaker for afib and did they bypass the av node. How do you feel with the pacemaker. Thank you. Sandy

[Spoiler]

No, they did not bypass the av node. The dual pacemaker has been great. I had a cardiac arrest on the second dose of Tikosyn, the first one converted me to NSR. My rate was 33 when the Tikosyn converted me, they never should have given me the second dose with that rate. My second EP Dr said, by the first dose converting me it was a indication to reduce my dose. They initially put in a emergency temporary pacemaker immediately after I was resuscitated, the following day back to surgery to get the perm. One. It keeps track of any rhythm problem plus now no problems with drugs that lower my rate now. I knew I was going to have issues since my normal rate had always been slow, just no room to lower it with drugs.

[BRECK47]

I have been on Metoprolol 50mg daily for past 6 months,25 mg 2x day with propafenone 225 mg 3x day for afib,I have had good success with occasional afib attacks lately while sleeping, from suffering with acute bronchitis/flu for past 3 weeks. I have tried other remedies like amiodarone which had many side effects,I am not a good candidate for ablation because of sleep apnea

[Bud5 in reply to BRECK47]

Dear Breck47, I have AFIB and sleep apnea. Have had a ablation last two years. My EP said nothing of a problem with sleep apnea. I use a C-pap machine every night.

[jsanta]

I take it once a day at night with Xeralto and flecinide. I’m 64 male three ablations in last year.

[goldfinger88]

I have taken it for a very long time in that exact dose. It has certainly helped my PVCs. It does not seem to effect my blood pressure. It is not a first line drug given for high blood pressure as it often does not work on blood pressure anyway. It does take the pulse down. In my case it's very good, though it does get high at times and I still have PVCs.

It does tend to cause weight gain and/or make losing weight very hard. It also can (and does in my case) cause fatigue.

But it is a good drug. I'm sure some people can't take it or prefer not to take it. But in my own case at least, I doubt I could get along without it. I might have more energy without it. That has been the one major side effect that I hate about the drug. But I can deal with it.

[Heartfelt17]

I've taken it temporarily from 50 mg to 25 mg then down to 12.5 mg daily. No matter what the dose, I feel sluggish, stiff and sleepy on it. So, I'm off of it and hope that I do not have to take it any longer. Going to visit EP next week to discuss this decision. (I've had 2 heart ablations in the last 12 mos., one for flutter and one for Afib). Bottom line, I feel much better without it!

[1Jerbear]

Hi Lindyloo. I was on Metoprolol for maybe a year and my doctor changed it .I never asked why . I never noticed any effects from it . I am now on Irbesartin and 5mg of amlodipine . I'm doing ok with these .I take my Irbesartin beore bed and Amlodipine for the day.

[ralft]

I took it 4 years ago until having a successful ablation. I recall no side effect symptoms caused by it. My ablation worked perfectly until last fall when the AF came back and my new cardiologist wanted me to go on amiodoarone. I said no thanks and suggested 25 mg twice daily metoprolol I went back to the EP and he put in a pacemaker after my implant reported that my heart had stopped a month earlier for 14 seconds. Since then I blamed the metoprolol for constipation and maybe weight gain so my EP halved the dose. My pacemaker's monitor reported a couple of AF episodes and therefor he is unwilling for me to discontinue it But he agreed to half the dosage and my symptoms have improved a lot. In the next month or so, I hope he will enable the pacemaker to prevent AF episodes. What have neen your experiences with tis Pacemaker feature?

[oscar3993]

I have taken metaprolol for 30 years when first diagnosed with HBPressure! I took 100 mg slow release at that time..it worked for me for 15 years when my BP increased again! At diagnoses I also had a high pulse...110 / minute! Was added another BP pill at that time...took both at night! BP drugs adjusted over the years...now 50 of metaprolol and 8 mg of Atacand! Diagnosed with A fib in May ( age 57) this year....they wanted me taking 25 of metaprolol am and also at night...so same dose just split! I was blacking out 2 hours or so after taking morning dose! Atacand reduced to 4 mg at night and this seems to be the magic formula for me! Afib mostly under control still some slight bouts but heart always reverts to normal sinus rhythm!