Metoprolol

[queseyo]

I have been on Digoxin, Flecainide and Sotalol without any good results but lots of side negative effects. New Cardiologist (an AP) has directed me to stop Flecainide and Sotalol and take Metoprolol instead... I'm not feeling much better, still on AF most of the time and a feeling of fainting. Any comment much appreciated. Thanks for reading.

[JohnEagel]

Oi mate,

I am taking metoprolol now for a couple of years and so far can tolerate it quite well. I used to take other beta blockers but they made me feel so sleepy and without energy.

But with metoprolol it is fine. Plus Pradaxa and Diovan but no FL or other arrhythmia meds.

Give it some time to get used to metoprolol

and all the best

Cheers

J.

[queseyo in reply to JohnEagel]

Well, your comment makes me feel a bit more optimistic. As you say, I should give some time and see. The main issues at the moment (just the 4th day) are insomnia and a nauseating feeling. Thanks, John and all the best for you as well because the AF is a real challenge, only those suffer can understand the frustrations. Cheers.

[secondtry]

I was given just Flecainide and still on it 7+ yrs later. In the first 3 months I felt weird with poor sleep but could have been due in part to the mass anxiety with the diagnosis and all the tests. Things seemed to get better after a Naturopath consultation and starting Mg & CoQ10 supplements but then again that might have been a coincidence.

[Spoiler in reply to secondtry]

How many mg of Flecainide do you take?

[secondtry in reply to Spoiler]

A medium dose of 200 per day

[Camille777]

I have been taking Toprol, the brand of Metoprolol for over a year. I hate it. It has made me fat, depressed, unfocused, and loopy. Plus I have lost most of my hair. I'm having cardioversion in 2 weeks and if it doesn't work we're going to find another beta-blocker. I'm in the US & Metoprolol is the first-line beta-blocker, even though it's older than the hills. The side effects are pretty well documented, but it has kept my heart rate down, so it does work. Maybe you'll do better.

[Physalis]

Did you mean your cardiologist is an EP? If not, what is an AP?

[P0rtnahapp1e in reply to Physalis]

An assistant physician is a new breed of provider. These highly educated doctors were specifically made to tackle the tasks of primary care in medically under served areas and work with a collaborating physician.

[Physalis in reply to P0rtnahapp1e]

Perhaps that's like the doctor I saw in our Community Cardiology Service. But maybe not!

[queseyo in reply to Physalis]

You are right, Physalis. Yes, my cardiologist is an EP, AP was an error. Sorry

[greatness]

Metoprolol will never ever Free you from atrial fibrillation. It will keep your pulse rate steady and DOWN from rising to a much higher and dangerous rate. Live your life to moderation levels- and that includes ALCOHOL- if you so desire it. Cheers

[Jspjkc6 in reply to greatness]

Metoprolol is, as was just pointed out, for rate control. It’s other purpose is to improve heart function. My heart function took a nosedive three months ago when I suffered six days in hospital with “flecainide toxicity”. It is a very rare side effect of flecainide, but potentially lethal. I’m Now off flecainide! Doctor Prescribed the Metoprolol to keep heart rate from skyrocketing, since A Fib is now constant. If heart function returns to normal they can do an AV node ablation.

[queseyo in reply to Jspjkc6]

My specialist suggests that the next step would be an AV node ablation and a pacemaker. Metoprolol plus Digoxin can only help heart rate which, after taking both of them in the morning I'm feeling awful for a few hours, not able to do a minimum of activity...HR too low. Thanks for you post, helps me to understand what to expect.

[Alphakiwi in reply to Jspjkc6]

What is the reasoning behind if your function returns to normal then av node ablated

[queseyo in reply to Alphakiwi]

My understanding is that if the heart return to normal rhythm (with these meds), but it is too slow then an AV Node ablated plus a pacemaker would be needed to keep the heart beats at a normal rate. e.i "60"? I'm still learning, and this site is helping lots. Many thanks for your post.

[Spoiler in reply to Jspjkc6]

What does flecainide toxicity do? How long and what dosage were you on?

[Jspjkc6 in reply to Spoiler]

Flecainide toxicity in my case landed me in the hospital with heart failure. The heart failure showed up in an echocardiogram, which showed poor pumping. This is expressed as your ejection fraction, which for a normal reading would be between about 55 and 70%. Mine was between 10 and 20%. Anything below 40% is in the heart failure category. The good news was that, because there was no coronary artery disease and no high blood pressure, I have a good chance of regaining normal heart function. My symptoms when I went to ER were breathing difficulty, particularly at night, and excessive fatigue.

[Jspjkc6 in reply to Jspjkc6]

Forgot to add I had been on flecainide for a couple years, but a fairly low dose. I don’t recall exactly what it was, but my go doubled the dose less than a year ago when A Fib was recurring.

[Spoiler in reply to Jspjkc6]

Thank you, my EP Dr has had my dosage all over the place, anywhere from 50, 75, 100, and 150 mg. Back and forth. The higher dose seems to actually make me worse! It is crazy, but you go into ER and those Dr automatically think higher dosage. A roller coaster ride! Did your feet swell, mine for the first time have started to swell some.

[Snowgirl65]

I've found through experience that a sudden change in meds can cause unwanted side effects like you're having. Maybe give it a little more time for your body to adjust. I too had to change from Flecainide to Metoprolol, and find the latter more agreeable.

[queseyo in reply to Snowgirl65]

That is good news!!! Hopefully I may start to feel a bit more like "myself" then. Even if it doesn't fix my permanent AF.

[captainKFF]

Hi, what is your heart Rate when you are in Afib?

[queseyo in reply to captainKFF]

I'm on AF mostly all the time and my HR keeps low...some time too low, 52/3/4, if resting. It easily goes to 100 or more when doing a bit of light activities. Not much energy at all. Appreciate your comment.

[Jacnc]

I did not do well with Sotolol… absolutely no energy . I was taken off Metoporol because it tends to slow your heart rate.I had to go into the hospital to be put on Tykosin. I had to be under supervision for 3 days.

I take Tykosin every twelve hours . You have to take it faithfully at the time,

I’m doing great on it.

[queseyo in reply to Jacnc]

Yes, I'm concerned about HR with Metoprolol plus Digoxin...HR too low, I may wait a couple of days more and then contact the Dr. if still worries me.

[lovetogarden]

Glad to hear a good experience w tikosyn. I’ve been on sotalol for a few years now. And it makes me tired and woozy. And recently, it’s stopped working as well at stopping tachycardia events. Am going to do the 3 day hospital stay for tikosyn soon. Really hoping it works well. Tired of being tired.