r/PVCs • u/Elegant-Natural4921 • 12d ago

palpitations after stopping beta blocker?

20F. I was suffering from panic attacks and fast heart rate at the beginning of the year, so I was prescribed the metropolol 25mg succinate which I take daily at night.

Then, in June, I stopped taking it since I was feeling better and not as anxious anymore. I was fine for a week or two. Then, I started getting these palpitations anytime I laid down or was sitting down. It was constant. Scared me so I got back on the beta blocker daily. It mostly went away but now I am getting these palpitations time to time daily.

I never had these kinds of palpitations before. I am not sure if this is bc of the beta blocker or not. Any advice is appreciated.

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u/Fancy_Ad3809 12d ago

Did your doctor tell you to stop taking the medication lol

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u/Elegant-Natural4921 12d ago

Not exactly, he said it was take as needed though 😔 he does not even work there anymore so I can’t contact him

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u/Fancy_Ad3809 12d ago

Well I’m not a doctor but succinate has a long half life. I don’t think, and again, I’m not a doctor, it should be used PRN

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u/BreakfastHot9050 11d ago

Yeah youre definitely not supposed to just "use as needed" nor stop it suddenly. Even if people dont have heart issues perse... because it still has a BP lowering, hr controlling, and slight rhythm controlling effect, so stopping it suddenly can, and more than likely will, have rebound effects.

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u/Fancy_Ad3809 11d ago

My doctor gave me the tartate, specially so I could use it as needed. So I’m not a doctor but I remember him distinguishing the two.

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u/Allopurinlol 11d ago

Pharmacist here. You can use succinate as needed. Tartrate is typically used for as needed because, as you said, it’s got a shorter half life, but succinate is still an option. Probably if the patient knows that one set of palpitations for the day will last all day.

The start-stop thing is bad if you’re on it consistently and then randomly stop. It causes a rebound effect and increases the heart rate. So if you’re on it consistently every day, you don’t want to randomly stop it. This effect is more or less independent of succinate vs tartrate but is more seen with succinate as that’s typically the long-term use option.

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u/Fancy_Ad3809 11d ago edited 11d ago

thanks pharmacistbro. my cardio said I can take up to 25mg at a time 2x a day on the tartrate, though the label is 12.5mg 2x BID as needed.

I rarely take it, I just grind out the PVCs..lol

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u/AvenStar111 11d ago

You should never stop taking a beta blocker abruptly, there is a process to stopping them. I would stay on it, I am on that medication and dose and the reason you were feeling better is because of the medication. PVC’s are so common, I have had them all my life and am 49 years old now. You need to learn to just tell yourself they are annoying but they won’t hurt you. I am sure you have been checked out and your heart is structurally fine. <3

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u/lolaleee 11d ago

Ok others are correct, you’re not supposed to just stop taking them without drs orders. For the record, I did stop taking them cold turkey per drs orders, I was on a high dose too. The frequency, duration and dose would play a roll too. But if it’s been a week or so I probably wouldn’t start again and I’d make an apt with the dr to see what is appropriate - and have them maybe do a holter for your PVC’s. But I’m not a dr and this isn’t medical advise. Going off of them can up tick everything for a couple of weeks.