quadrupled my metoprolol this month

[Deedee]

My dose has gone up from 25mg twice a day to 50mg twice a day. Now that I'm at 100 for the day I was thinking of trying the time-release brand (which in Canada the lowest dose of that is 100, yes I know it's 25 in the US but not here)

Anyway now that my heart rate is way down from the 70s to the 50s I am not sure I'm up to working out or what will happen if I do. Obviously I can't do "target range" work as I don't know what my target is anymore.

Anyone got some thoughts on working out and taking metoprolol? Is it a great idea or even a bad a idea... I'm completely lost about it. I know I have to ask my guy (who I'm seeing tomorrow) about it but I was more asking what is YOUR experience, what do YOU know for sure... what's going on with others is what I'm curious about?

[ConcernedMom]

My daughter Rose, age 16, is taking 150mg - she takes the time-release version (Toprol XL), 100 in the morning and 50 at night. She works out regularly and wears a heart monitor. At that dose, her heart never exceeds her range, which is 130.
You should talk about this with your doctor to determine how you should exercise and what is your target range. Our doctors have consistently told us that it is very important for her to exercise, but to keep her heart in a safe range when she does.
By the way, she much prefers the time-release Toprol. The metoprolol gave her a terrible taste in her mouth.
Good luck
Miv

[Deedee]

I haven't had any problems so far on the metoprolol but the reason I'm up to 100mg is to switch over to the timed-release which only comes in 100mg and 200mg in Canada. I'll probably start it next week.

Thanks for the compare info. I just want to know what others experiences are like with target range, so thanks for sharing that. My shortness of breath seems so much worse lately... I will have to adjust more to my Meds no doubt.

[sydelle]

I too am on toprol XL twice a day at 50 and 25 mgs. Dr. Lever suggested I exercise using a heart rate monitor. I do not let my heart rate go over 100 to 110bpm. I have a feeling this is where you should keep your heart rate also but do ask your doctor.

My worst side effect is being tired alot. By early afternoon, I can just fall asleep. But I do feel better.

[gfox42]

DeeDee,
I was on Toprol XL 200 mg daily for a long time, and am now on Metoprolol ER 100 mg twice daily. I'm able to exercise without any real problem. But if I do something with others -- like hiking -- I'm almost always the slowest one in the group.

Gordon

[Deedee]

Oh! I'm very curious what your starting sitting around rate is now! Without meds I was around 70-75 and now i'm around 50-55.

What is a brand of heart moniter? To google it to see a pic I need to know more about it?

I am falling asleep in the afternoon too! It's making sleeping at night a problem already!

[ConcernedMom]

Polar is a reputable brand. They have all different models and prices. Rose wears a strap around her chest and a watch with a digital display. She says it's pretty comfortable.

[Deedee]

Thanks much.

Oh and to anyone NOT math challenged (such as myself!) I've been informed that my meds doubled... they did not quadruple... yikes, my math skills are just scary bad. Thanks for the correction!

:)

[Jillmgk]

I don't have HCM but do take the Metotoprolol XR for my BP. It makes me very sleepy too, so I can take it at night and function much better since I only have to take mine once a day.

[Deedee]

OH! What a great idea... now that I'm up to 100mg a day I can get the time released 100mg dose and thanks to you saying that I too realize I can take it around dinner and voila! Sleep like a baby at NIGHT... perfect!

GREAT BIG HUGGLES!!!

[Deedee]

Well - it didn't work out. I was up to 100 to switch over to once a day which I could have timed to help me sleep at night instead of during the day, when I just was struggling too much to function and dropped back down to 75mg a day which doesn't have a time release prescription in Canada (boo!)

What was happening was a lot of chest pain, like a constant pressure and if I push myself it really hurts. It's in the middle of my chest (not the front left) but a bit towards the back actually and towards the middle center too but not on the right.

My cardio said something about the small capillaries being constricted, I was more waiting to hear how to fix it than what it exactly was so I didn't take in his typical verbose explanation as much as I might have BUT he said I should maybe drop back down so I was already on to thinking about doing that.

Well I've been back down to 75mg for over a week now and the pain is still there ALL THE TIME. Anyone else have this? I was thinking after I recover from my ICD and uterine cancer surgery in April I should let myself stabilize until say the middle of July and by then I'm going to push for another drop back down to 50mg or even back down to 25mg especially if by then I can exhibit some lifestyle changes that help out any. That sounds reasonable doesn't it?

***** EDITED TO ADD *****
I just learned that metoprolol has some sort of effect or interaction on insulin or glucose levels? Does anyone have any plain english wisdom on this subject to share?

[Cynaburst]

You might need to add a different drug to the metoprolol to control the chest pain. That is what I did, and it has helped me alot. I took up to 200 mg. of Toprol, and was still having chest pain. Previously, when I experienced chest pain. an increase in the Toprol made it go away. It wasn't taking care of the pain anymore, so when I went back to Mayo, we decided to back me down on the Toprol (to avoid suppressing the blood pressure too much) and to add a calcium channel blocker.

Now, I am taking 100 mg. of Toprol and 150 mg. of diltiazem, and the chest pain is really under control. I takes some testing and fine tuning of dose, but I am definitely feeling better than I was before.

[Pam Alexson]

Me too I take 100 mgs of atenolol a day divided by 2 and regular acting diltiazem 270 mgs divided by 3 daily... knock on wood .... chest pain in control.