metoprolol

[KathyM]

Hi all,

It has been 4 months since my replacement. I am doing great, have since day one. I am taking 150mg of toprol Xl/the generic brand metoprolol. I am wondering if anyone else is on this high of a dose? I see the cardio tomorrow and I am hoping he will decrease it. My BP runs about 90/66 heart rate about 66 and oxygen at 97-98%. It seems like this is a high dosage. I do notice lately that when I do the steps I feel fine except for the fact that my legs are so tired. Sometimes after the gym they feel the same. Is this the meds?

Other than that I feel as if I never even had surgery. It is amazing. BTW I am 52 and in pretty good shape.

Thanks for the help.

xoxo
Just
Kathy M.

 

[Alistair]

I take 50 mg a day (25 morning, 25 afternoon). I'm not really sure why they asked me to take this as blood pressure has never been an issue for me. It was my understanding that this will be temporary (due to the surgery). So, I just do as I'm told like a good little boy.

 

[Superbob]

I take a 25 MG metoprolol twice a day, and have done so since surgery 3 1/2 years ago. I've never had a huge problem with blood pressure, but my GP explained to me recently that the object is to keep it as low as possible (short of being so low you faint) because the low bp helps protect the replacement valve.

 

[ctyguy]

I take 100mg once a day and my bp is 120/80. Im also slowly turning into a bit of runner. Im going to be asking my PCP this week for my 6 month checkup the same thing. I'd like to understand if I can get on a lesser dose.

 

[Duff Man]

I've noticed slightly lower than usual O2 saturation on tenormin at a relatively high dose, ie 95-98%. You're not taking an extraordinary dose, as they go up to 400mg for some cases. The symptoms you mention are typical beta blocker effects/side effects.

 

[Ross]

I've noticed slightly lower than usual O2 saturation on tenormin at a relatively high dose, ie 95-98%. You're not taking an extraordinary dose, as they go up to 400mg for some cases. The symptoms you mention are typical beta blocker effects/side effects.

I'm curious, how did you find this saturation thing out? You wearing a monitor?

 

[Duff Man]

I'm curious, how did you find this saturation thing out? You wearing a monitor?

I went to the hospital several times in 05 for palpitations... i was totally ignorant to what palpitations really were, so I basically thought I was having a heart attack each time it happened.

They hook you up to a pulse oximeter in the ER. The more tenormin they put me on generally the lower my spO2 reading would be. Just for ***** and giggles I'd put the meter on my wife's finger and it would be 99 or 100 every time, but mine would be 95 or 96... I've been thinking about the reasons behind my lower o2 readings for a while.

Beta blockers tend to cause cold extremities and stuff like that. They also cause bronchospasm at higher doses or in sensitive people which can definitely lower your spO2... There's more scientific reasoning that I can't recall to back up my findings, but I'm pretty damn sure about it.

 

[cday]

Kathy,

I will sum up what was posted on another thread -- If your heart rate/bp is kept too low during exercise by your heart med you will get lactic acid build up because you are not able to get enough O2 to your muscles. Is that what you are talking about with your legs?

 

[JodyC]

My legs are doing the same thing. I didn't know that could be the cause. I am on 100mg Kathy and probably will be for quite a while.

 

[KathyM]

Thanks everyone. I went to the cardio and he lowered the dose to 100mg. I forgot to mention to him about the tiredness in the legs. I will watch very carefully now to see if there is any change. He did tell me that he is more concerned about the BP than the heart rate. Did anyone here feel any different when they changed the dosage? At cardio rehab they tell me as long as the oxygen rate is over 95% they are happy. BTW Ross when I am at rehab they have the little thing that goes on your finger, we check it during the program.

Thanks again everyone
xoxo
Just
KathyM

 

[Adrienne]

When I was in A-Fib (before my surgery) in August 2005, my ex-cardio put me on 100 mg of Metoprolol a day (50 in the morning, 50 in the evening). I felt like I had lead in my legs! I am now on 25 mg of Metoprolol a day (12½ and 12½) just to keep my heartrate down a bit since it has always been somewhat high. I have no side effects at all.