TIFU by taking metoprolol when my resting heart rate was usual (around 60 BMP)
My doctor prescribed me Egilok (metoprolol) for my ectopics (extrasystoles, palpitations). I would take ½ tablet (12.5 mg) whenever I suffered with ectopics. I would usually have ectopics with my resting heart rate a bit elevated, so the medication took out both problems. In a way, I felt good.
Then my problems started to subside and I was symptoms free for a few days. I managed my vagal nerve and I stopped getting the big ectopics. Great! Then came today and the ectopics flared up again (probably because I stayed up late with an emptier-than-usual stomach and had one extra coffee in the afternoon, maybe a combination of those, I really don't know). There weren't many, but they bothered me and I really wanted to go to sleep, so, just like my doctor advised, I took ½ tablet to treat the ectopics.
That was a mistake, as I soon realized that my already regular resting rate of a bit over 60 BPM fell down to around 55 BPM, possibly even lower. Not nice. It's quite scary. The ectopics are gone, but at what cost? I feel so stupid. I trusted my doctor, but perhaps I should've pushed through it and let the ectopics go away on their own, I know that they can.
Now I'm scared to fall asleep for I know that the already low resting heart rate will go even lower. The maximum potency of the medication lasts up to 6 hours, depending on factors that I am not aware of. This will be a sleepless night. And one that tells me that I cannot use beta blockers to treat ectopics when my heart rate is – normal.
Isn't it funny, this thing called life?
TL;DR: Took ½ tablet of a beta-blocker to treat a sudden wave of ectopics (painful extra beats). Made my already low resting heart rate quite slow – around 55 BPM. Afraid to go to sleep as that decreases heart rate as well. Weaponized insomnia.