metoprolol tartrate

[Deedee]

Does anyone take this drug while on the ICD wait list so they can have unrelated surgery in the meantime?

The hospital didn't want to put me under at all unless I went off and got an ICD but my gyno is worried and I've been dragging my heals doing research and coming to terms with things while he's apparently been getting very nervous about getting in there and evaluating an ovarian cyst that has a couple of troubling elements to it.

So now to give me time I suppose, my cardiologist puts me on metoprolol tartrate so I can apparently go ahead and have the gyno surgery. Meanwhile I am extremely unhappy to be on this drug and want to get back off it ASAP. I'll even stop dragging my feet over my ICD to get off this (or any) drug as it's side effects will worsen conditions that I already suffer greatly from (like sensitive bloated lower legs and feet and icy cold extremities for instance.)

I guess most people don't stall or drag their heals, so I might not find someone that's gone thru this, I know, but any anecdotes about this drug (good or bad) would be appreciated. I have found people on another kind of heart forum discussing it, but that is not the same as HCMers discussing it.

You know what? This has been going on since the day before my scheduled surgery last July and it just occurred to me today that I don't see what the problem was to having my heart stop in surgery in a hospital OR with a defibrillator sitting right there... why is it better to slow my heart rate down and make me even more dizzy than I already am with this drug and THEN knock me out. I don't get it.

Barely dealing with it all... already got mush-brain too (something else this drug practically promises to make worse.) I just can't afford a lot of side effects, not taking care of things on my own like I do.

[Pam Alexson]

Deedee, certainly I do not get it either.I f this medicine AKA, Lopressor is not the best BB for you, then you and your doctor need to consider another one. Not being on a medication for symptomatic HCM will surely evoke negative remodeling over time so you lose me in your argument to get off of medication or any medication asap. The best approach for an HCM heart is that it does not overwork to the point of impacting things worse/ further structural changes, over time. You describe swollen lower legs .. this certainly is a symptom many with advancing disease do emerge into and sometimes the effect is made worse by certain medication . Again if this is the case then you need a different med regime.

Many of us have had other surgeries with and with out devices .. when you have one they turn it off during surgery and use external devices if needed so again I am not sure what the issue is. If you do not have a device any surgical patient has external devices available in the OR in case of adverse event.

You have the right to drag your feet over getting a device but, if its to your advantage and advisement to get one, given the status of your HCM, then you need to project your thinking down the road a bit and ask what the real issues are and what you want for your future. Although AICD"s cannot prevent one from having progressive heart damages happen and certainly due to certain levels of deterioration one can die with a device in place... it is the combinations of therapy and medication, expert management, that work in union to help deviate the HCM heart from those negative changes over time.

[aDoug40s]

I have to take 100mg of this twice per day. I don't like some of the side effects but it's better than being six feet under.

I get cold knees and get very tired in the afternoons. I now always have to have a nap after work. I often don't sleep well which doesn't help.

I tried taking Bisoprolol Fumarate 10mg but found it made me feel worse and gave me even colder knees when trying to sleep.

I have an ICD and so far so good - no shocks.

I wish that they had found my Heart problem earlier as maybe if I had been put on a beta blocker it might not have gotten as bad as it is now.

I wish you the best and hope that you will be OK.

How many other Beta Blockers exist? Are there any that would better than Metoprolol?

[Deedee]

Thanks you guys... wow, they turn of ICDs during surgeries? WOW I wonder why they're insisting I get one before admitting me for any type of surgery then... that is going to my first question when I go in next week! (Probably it's for insurance for stresses afterwards or something but it won't hurt to ask.) I was given the impression when all this talk about putting an ICD in me started that I could just have the hardware and avoid the meds, so that plan is already out the window... which makes me sad as the side effects are all things I already had and I actually want to get back out into life, not further unable to.

I haven't got anything especially cold yet but it's only been a couple of days... so I'm still on the cut in half pills until tomorrow. When I get too cold in the past just from the low circulation or whatever it is, I have to go to bed. The super too cold is usually associated with lack of sleep anyway. I used to go in the hot tub but I read hot tubs aren't a great HCM idea. Anyone else heard that?

Anyway this all has to be under control at some point, I can't crawl into bed if I'm intending to be back to work in 2011 which I really would like to be.

[aDoug40s]

If your heart isn't in good condition hot tubs and saunas are not allowed. You need the blood in the vital areas not going to surface of the skin.

[Pam Alexson]

http://www.virginiaheart.com/handler.cfm?event=practice,template&cpid=9497

[Deedee]

Thank you both for confirmations and a great link too.

[dhaxelbarqs]

Metoprolol tartrate is approved to control high blood pressure, treat angina symptoms, and improve survival after a heart attack.
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