thinking of getting off meds... - Heart Disorders Message Board

bb123 · 05-15-2007, 04:20 AM

Hello,
I know you are not suppose to get off unless under dr care. I won't do it but wondering and have Q's to ask you all. Maybe you have experience this before.
Okay, I have SVT for while, 6 months to be exact. I take metoprolol 25MG (2x a day ) I know baby dose.

I gained 10 lbs and I do exercise and eat right. I just hope I don't gain more, could I just because of my heart meds?... will it stay the same?.... ( total of 10 lbs gained )

My other question:
Suppose I decide to wean off ( under dr. order, of course) Could I have another episodes? even if I don't drink coffee, no chocolate, lots of water, exercise, do everything right. Is it worth it to think about stopping the meds? (like in a year, maybe)
It makes me slightly tired, I know that. THe gaining weight which I don't like.

So, have any of you experienced getting off the meds after been on it for a while, how did you feel? any regrets? another BIG TIME episode??

Just thinking about all this.... not going to do anything about it right now.
Meds is working great, I have to admit that.

Just want to hear from people who have SVT like I do.

Have a wonderful day!

andreanna · 05-15-2007, 10:38 PM

Crap my message gt deleted on accident. I will make this one short. No matter what meds I have been on they give me horrible side effects. Excessive weight gain, depression, lots of fatigue and very low blood pressure.

I have tried Atenylol, Ditiazem, Toprol and now I am taking digoxin and something else I pick up tomorrow I forgot the name of it.

I am having a cardiac MRI this week and if we decide not to try another ablation ( first one was full of complications as we found abnormalities in my anatomy of my heart). I might try to wean off meds and see what is worse the tachycardia or the side effects. Cause frankly life has gotten very depressing lately. IM 34 this is not right.

Good Luck no matter what.

bb123 · 05-16-2007, 04:04 AM

Andreanna,
I feel your frustrationg and you are only 34. damn.
I am 43 and had it for just 6 months. LIke to hear more like how much did you gain? hoping no more than 10 lbs. I am eating better, exercising more and yet I can't lose the weight. Any advice??... seriously...

So on the other hand, no matter what--- if I wean off the meds (under dr's care) , I will still get tachycardia episodes?.... even tho if I am not drinking caffeine??. Isn't having too much caffeine the the reason for tachycardia? . Looks like I will stay on meds but just asking you all.
I am sure if I stop meds, my chest will have tightness. Lately, no problem.
Love to hear more from your experiences.
Thanks... Take Care, Everybody.
~ bb

Lenin · 05-16-2007, 06:45 AM

bb,

As a way of TESTING what till happen, you could take 2 x 12.5 mg. metoprolol a day and see if your episodes of SVT return. If they DO return, then go back up to 2 x 25 mg. If not consider trying to do without. (Stay at each lowered dose for a month to let your body adjust.)

Remember though, beta-blockers cause weight gain ONLY if you don't do something dietarily to offset the gain. It is quite possible (if not easy) to eat less to compensate for the decreased metabolism.

I think EVERYONE should test out their meds periodically. After all, the other extreme is that every drug you have ever been prescribed you will have to take forever...sheesh, an awful thought!

andreanna · 05-16-2007, 12:47 PM

When my SVT episodes became more frequent I had already given up caffeine all together. Even chocolate. Sure it can make things worse but if there is a physical reason for it ( extra circuit or abnormal anatomy) giving up caffeine will not be the solution although I say give it up anyway it is no good for the heart.

Even on my meds I have chest tightness and some pain once in a while. I dont know whether I am having post EP study and failed ablation PVC's becasue I never feel right. All I know is that I constantly get this short catch your breath sort of cough. And almost always have a headache like the kind you would get if you held your breath too long.

I dont recall if I gained on the ditiazem ( but I fainted all the time ) but the Toprol I gained 4.5 pounds in 2 weeks before the EP/ablation ( stopped taking ti 4 days before study) and the when I went back on it after I gained about 5 in 2 weeks. I am not even drinking my diet caffeine free soda ONLY water. Eating great. No exercise becasue frankly I am too sick. Well see what these new meds do to me. Hopefully only mkae me feel better.