Does it make sense to stop Metoprolol after ablation?

[M987]

Does it make sense to stop Metoprolol after 3 months after ablation with no Afib or is it appropriate to continue to control the heart to prevent return of Afib? My EP said I could stop and use as needed. My new Apple Watch showed 100-160 bpm during bicycling yesterday and I felt fine but just wondering about any others similar experiences or thoughts. Thank you!

[Jalia]

I would be inclined to take the advice of your EP and use as needed ie as a 'pill in the pocket' He is the expert after all !

[M987 in reply to Jalia]

I agree. Thank you

[jeanjeannie50]

How about reducing your dose very slowly over a few months. If the heart has been restrained by Metoprolol for a long period of time, it will take a while for sinus rhythm to return to normal without it.

Jean

[M987 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you for the good advice. But I am only on 12.5 per day so already low which I should have mentioned.

[kathie659 in reply to M987]

4 years post ablation. Until last monthI was on 12.5 . Sinus pause diagnosed, pacemaker "installed " metroprolol increased to 25 mg. I trust my doctor, if he prescribes it, I take it. That said, when he suggested I stop pradaxa, we discussed my fear of stroke and since ive had no side effects? He approved the pradaxa indefinitely.

[Kacyjones in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean, so if you are taking Metoprolol, 12.5 twice daily (me too) the heart is not in sinus rhythm? Thanks Kerry

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Kacyjones]

No I'm not in sinus rhythm. My heart is bouncing around from 60-90bpm all the time. My normal resting rate used to be 62bpm.

[jeanjeannie50]

Alongside Flecainide I take that same amount of Metoprolol 12.5mg twice daily. Which is a quarter of a 50mg pill, so I can see how you can't reduce it much more. Do you take it once a day and are you in the U.K., because I know some other countries have lower dose pills. My GP once commented on Metoprolol saying he didn't know why they made them so strong.

Jean

[M987 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

That’s interesting that even 12.5 may be considered strong. I am in the US and I could cut the halfs into quarters to transition off. Or maybe just take when I will be exercising more. Thank you again for your assistance.

[DKBX]

Been on metoprolol and flecainide continuously even after four ablations and five cardioversions. My EP recommends that I should expect to be indefinitely AND that the beast may still return. I just accept it and move on.

[M987]

Thank you all for your comments. And a quick clarification that I get metoprolol here as a 25 dose and cut in half.

[mjames1]

I would stop per doctor's advice. It should have no difference either way as to if you will stay in sinus rhythm.

When you say you're taking 12.5mg "once a day" do you mean once every 24 hours? If so, that's a relatively low dose and you can probably stop cold turkey unless your doctor advised otherwise.

On the other hand, no harm in cutting the tabs in quarters and dropping to 6.25 for a week and then every other day for another week. You will need a pill cutter for that as they are relatively small and probably have to discard few.

Jim