### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
I have been on metroprolo ER for close to 10 years - 100mg since last July. I was still having high blood pressure problems & swelling so my cardiologist told me to stop taking it and started me on Benicar 40mg. He told me it was completely safe to just stop taking the metroprolo; however after reading many things contrary to that, I started back with 50 mg and stopped the Benicar for now. I do not know how many days I should allow to taper off and when I should start back with the Benicar. Right now, blood pressure is okay.

### output:

Hello. Thank you for asking on Chat Doctor. I understand your concern. Well, personally, basing in my everyday experience, I would highly recommend you to continue on a beta-blocker Chat Doctor.  Maybe, I would recommend down-regulating and adjusting your dose (i.e. not 100 mg daily, but 50 mg daily), but I would not recommend stopping it altogether). You see, beta-blockers have an perfect and beneficiary effect on the heart. They act by both lowering the peripheral blood pressure and the heart rate, which, in summary, decrease the workload on the heart and do not let it "get tired". If you decide to adjust your beta-blocker dosage, then it is perfectly safe to add losartan (Benita) to your therapy, also with small dosage. They both work together in a line to lower the blood pressure. Anyway, if you are just determined that you want to stop taking metoprolol, it is safe to just stop taking it, and it is not necessary to taper its dosage. I hope I was helpful with my answer. Take care.