taking Beta Blockers as needed?

[stargazer1977]

Hi, I just registered and had a question for you guys. I am one of those people that is never satisfied with what doctors say and always look for other opinions!

I am taking a beta blocker, Toprol XL 25 mg once a day for sinus tachycardia. I would have ST episodes, at first rarely (every 6 months) then becoming a little more frequent (every couple of months), then when I went to the Dr I had had 3 episodes in 2 weeks. They were often just out of the blue for no reason, but sometimes due to caffeine, which I know I shouldn't have, and then I would get scared and panic/anxiety would prolong it and make it worse. Anyway, they ran the whole battery of tests, blood work for thyroid, EKG, echo, holter monitor, and just found sinus tachycardia- normal rhythm, just fast. So first they prescribed regular metoprolol 25 mg twice a day. It worked great for my heart rate, but I started having insomnia and started cutting my pills down, first to 3/4, then to 1/2 and taking melatonin and it helped. They went ahead and switched me to Toprol XL, which is extended release, to help with the insomnia (this is my first day so we will see!)

Anyway, enough of the long background story! My real question was, although the BB is working well and I am happy with it for the most part, I just have this weird aversion to taking medicine and would kind of like to get off of it. Part of me likes the "security blanket" of not having to worry about ST, but I would like to have the option to quit if I wanted. I asked my Dr. if the BB could be taken on an "as-needed" basis, just when I felt an attack coming on and he said no. But I don't really understand why not. I know people take it for stage fright, so it can be taken on a one-time basis, it doesn't need to build up or anything, and also when I took my first dose, it slowed my heart down within a half hour, so it seems like it would work, when I have an attack of ST, to take a BB to stop it. Would it not stop tachycardia once it had started? Do any of you guys have any insight? I feel like this would work and since I generally didn't have the ST very often, I didn't know if it was worth it to take meds every day for something that happens once every few months. But the doctors don't seem to like that idea. Also a related question- I guess if I was to try that, the regular metoprolol would be better because it is released immediately, rather than the Toprol XL that is extended release?

Thanks, and sorry this was so long (and maybe incoherent, I am getting sleepy!). I appreciate any advice anyone has.

[lylone]

Be careful with stopping BBs. Some people have had heart attacks when they have stopped them. I have had SVTs since I was 18 and it seems that they occur more when I am stressed and when the anxiety is at its highest. I was even having them while on a BB. I was on Verapamil and now Cartia. They switched me from Verapamil after I had an episode after 5 years of none. The I was on cartia and had 3 in 5 months. I have not had one now since June, and that is when I went on Xanax and saw a therapist. I had every cardio test in the book and all showed nothing. I think that stress and anxiety causes the SVTs and the more I think and read about it I believe it.
Just be careful with stopping BBs cold because it can have adverse reactions.

good luck,
Lyl