Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 11) (Top voted first)

i've been taking metoprolol for several years as partial treatment for high blood pressure. through diet and exercise, i've lowered my BP to the point my doctor says drop the metoprolol.

i did, 3 days ago, and i'm soooo tired, dizzy, irritable, and my vision is blurred.

is this withdrawal? how long will it last?

i remember starting this medication was terrible to get used to. it appears that stopping it is just as bad.

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Hi Jimbo. I'm sry you are having ongoing issues with metoprolol. That really bites. I hope it improves for you buddy.

And for those of you reading recent posts on benzos, let me offer an example of the power of these drugs.

As I have been weening off lorazepam/ Ativan , I went a few weeks ago To simply refill lorazepam and after taking that first pill, I got a huge wave of anxiety and started having heart skipping. I knew right away something was wrong. I went to see my doctor and explained that I felt my refill was off somehow. A different manufacturer maybe. He rewrote the prescription asking for me to be given the exact pills i received on 4/6. Well, the pharmacy was adamant that they were the same. I knew different. The skips got worse and more frequent. It got into the thousands per day . I thought they were pvc' s but I wasn't positive. I went to the ER and they confirmed it. It was pvc's. I had no choice but to finish the refill quantity since it was a controlled substance. Well, finally I ran out and had it refilled again and guess what. The pvc's stopped. The point is , when taking drugs with such an impact on your brain, your margin for error can be small and unforgiving. It's like gambling with your health. I'm trying desperately to get off lorazepam but it has to be scaled down slowly.

And to top it off, they wanted me to try lisinopril for blood pressure . I tried it and had a painful reaction. The pain was awful. Lisinopril is a heavily prescribed ace inhibitor for blood pressure but what they don't tell you is that it's made from the jaracara viper snake venom from Brazil and for some people can be serious, even in these tiny little doses .

We all need meds at some point in our lives. The doctors are suppose to weigh the gain versus the dangers in order to best wager our health. Like anything, there is always a gamble and a bit of guesswork involved and at times the price can be deadly. So that is why I strongly advise caution in anything we take unless the need truly outweighs the risk.

My best to all....

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I have just dropped Metaprolol after several years of taking it alongside other medications including narcotics and benzos. The narcotics and benzos were tough to remove due to dependency. That (addiction) was several months ago but I kept telling my GP and wife that I had forgotten what it was like to laugh. Have fun. I often asked about getting off Metaprolol which she would reply its best I stay on it. I dont know what its good for? Anyway. Its been three days cold turkey. The withdrawls are nasty but nothing like other addictions. And today I laughed, several times. I am working and functioning better now. My BP has not changed. I have a buzzing in my head which I am sure will pass. From my experience this is not a drug of any decent use. If you are on Metaprolol my recommendation is ask your doctor if it is really necessary. Its a horrible life blocker.

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Boyadage (sp), so you are getting off the (M) cold turkey? no weaning? how many mgs. were you on? not sure cold turkey is a good idea..It took me a year to get off the M and I had horrific side effects....... could barely function for awhile..it had stopped my life for almost a year.... Couldn't do much except minor things.. I don't even think I went out except when necessary and I couldn't exercise at all.. and now I am wondering if I have organ damage....another story.

That was back in Feb when I was totally off.. .. Now its July and I for the last few months I have been walking, exercising and getting out more and more and doing things and having a life.. My heart rate stays in a good range and I most of the aweful side effects have gone away... the doctor gave me this aweful drug for high bp and anxiety but it never really worked and I had more problems on it so I am now taking vitamins and supplements for the heart and working out and staying at a good weight, eating right, blah blah lol and hoping for the best...No more poison pills for me.

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I have been on lisinopril and metotoporil for close to 10 years. I have had 2 orthopedic surgeries. Now that I'm reading about the arthritis and joint pain, tingling in arms, feet, heaviness in legs, etc...did these meds cause all of this? Plus, the depression and anxiety and blurred vision...occasional dry cough and constant runny nose...I had some symptoms when I first started the meds, but they went away. At first I had the blurred vision which went away, but the rest of these symptoms gradually came about, so I never thought that it would be the meds. I do remember shortness of breath and sinus infections, one after the other...again, I would have never connected them with the meds. How can the medical profession get away with this? ...over the past 2 years, I've lost a lot of weight and now my Bp runs low...so I've worked with my doctor to cut my doses in half. After reading that everyone else on these meds have the same side effects, I want off. I'm now taking theanine, omega 3's and magnesium. Thank you Everyone who has posted on these boards. I just wish I would have stopped the meds before back surgery to see if I didn't need it.

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Drug companies don't want u cured, they want you dependent. More money.

I doubt any drug company CEO would take his own product if he could avoid it. They are well aware of its dangers.

True healing, unless there is a real need for a drug, must come from us. It's not that we don't need some of these drugs, in my opinion , it's that many times we are clearly over medicated and it can also have harmful side effects greater than our original problem.

I'm still weening lorazepam and for three days I been dizzy with headaches. I been irritable and grumpy. The day I'm off this, I'm going to throw a party, no joke.

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Toonces just go slow. There is no rush. I weaned 1/2 dose at a time from 100 mg on down. Take a week or two at each dose and let your body stabilize there before taking the next step. That way if there are rebound effects they are not as extreme. It's scary to do since it has to do with your heart AND one of the side effects is anxiety which makes it even harder. I kept records all the way of my BP and pulse. That way I could see my reactions. That way I could reassure myself that this was "day 3" reaction after a dose reduction. I usually had a bad day or two after each adjustment, usually day 3 or 4 and then my body would adjust. Make a plan for yourself and you can do this. Your body knew what to do before this drug and it can learn what to do again. I'm beginning to feel better now. It's 18 days after weaning. I weaned over 2 months. This takes time. But it's worth it. It's hard because the doctors LOVE this medicine but it was horrible for me. Be encouraged and you will be so glad to have this nightmare behind you! I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

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Nice to hear others are having similar experiences with Metropolol! I'm on the Met Tartrate XR 100MG/Once a day...It has had a HUGE impact on my life...I've gained 40 lbs and it has turned me into a zombie...As soon as I get home from work, I crash at the computer and hardly move...

It also regularly causes me cloudy vision and unfocused vision problems...And then there are the weird/random/anxiety-based thoughts! Also, my concentration is at times, seriously affected, and my general mental well-being is terrible-No interest in taking care of daily chores or taking part in activities, etc...

Due to a period of unemployment and now only part-time work, I have no health insurance...so no DR to see to get a diff RX, so my current option is to take half pills, 50mg...After 3 days of this, I've already seen an improvement in my general mood/thought processes, etc...

Tied to all the problems however, is the weight gain-18 months or so ago I had gastritis from stress, and responded by quitting smoking, eating MUCH healthier, and walking literally every day..Result was I lost over 40 lbs and felt 100% better, both physically and mentally..

Sadly, I got back on the cigarettes, then was trying to hide my smoking from my work colleagues and due to nico withdrawal and the BP meds, I got angry and walked out of my job..Partially due to being physically worked like a slave for 2 years straight, partially due to a *ucked up head from getting back on nicotine plus BP meds...

Of course, I somewhere in there lost all motivation to eat healthy and exercise, so that combined with Metropolol slowing my heart rate and thus my metabolism, I put on 40+ pounds...

Also-WTF my Dr put me on a medication that's primarily for heart patients(when I had an echo stress, etc and all was normal) IDK..

I suggest that:

1. Do not blindly agree to take ANY RX without doing research first!

2. If possible, ALWAYS request the BRAND NAME version of the drug, as the generics have been proven to not be exactly the same...Search the internet for "Metoprolol Recalls" and you'll understand!

3. DO not be surprised (men esp) that MET has a deleterious affect on your libido...Lack of staying power, lack of interest, ED like symptoms, etc...

However, problems I experience when OFF MET, although generally seeming to correlate to caffeine and nicotine intake:

1. Shaky hands-prob the caffeine
2. VERY short temper...
3. Massive sweating....

All the above may just be too many cigs and too much coffee and not enough water though... One reason it's hard to determine what's causing certain things is multiple possible factors: I'd suggest trying for a week to cut out certain foods/drinks/meds/supplements, etc. as it may help determine which side effects are caused by which meds...

Anyway-Just some basically random thoughts on what I've dealt with on Met Tart 100MG XR

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My doctor told me I wouldn't notice either. He said the same thing about the Metoprolol, "It's such a small dose, just stop taking it" NO WAY!!! I stepped it down slowly and still had a hell of a time getting off of it. The fact is that you DO notice. I don't know how propranolol doses run, but if you think you're having too strong a reaction, then cut the pills in half for a week, and then in half again for another week. Your body needs to learn how to handle the adrenaline and sadly, anxiety is one of the withdrawal symptoms I had too. You should check your BP tho and make sure you stay within safe limits. You don't want to make things worse for yourself. My bad days were usually day 3 and then better on day 4, until the end then it was drawn out more. Go SLOW and be safe. You can do it!!!!

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Thanks. & I've had clonopin for major anxiety attacks but rarely take it. To be honest I'm the most worried about coming off my Mirtazipine which has made me gain 20lbs thankfully I started working out before it could get any worse. I mean I'm at day 3 and so far no panic attacks yet today significantly less pvcs all and all if it gets too bad my cardio is only 15 mins away as well as the ER. I just feel better knowing there are other ppl going through what I am.

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(Weaned off for 3 months/clear for 2.5 months). Thanks Bee for the "Dr Joseph Mercola" Youtube tip. Watched it. Fantastic. Dr Andrew Saul too. They then led me to Dr Carolyn Dean. Fantastic. Reading her "Death By Modern Medicine" and "Atrial Fibrillation - remineralize your heart". If you don't have AF still read it. So much knowledge to be gained!!! Thank you.

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Honestly Chris , after two weeks, you could cut it tomorrow right to 7.25 mg twice a day or whatever u feel comfortable doing. Stay there a week then drop again. After that short a time, I would be to worried but I'd still be safe.

This is just my personal opinion and not medical advice. But be certain it's safe for you to quit before doing so. It's best to talk to your doctor before making medication changes. Assuming it is safe and you know it is, it shouldn't be too hard to get off for now but it might be uncomfortable.

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Yes there is. Take at least 500 mg of milk thistle everyday. About a month after you are completely done taking metoprolol, you'll see your liver improve.

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Just cut it in half about once every 5-7 days and you'll be fine. Now if it's hurting your liver like it did me, I went a tad faster. I posted my schedule on one of my earlier posts exactly.

But still, safe and slow is always better unless u have an urgent situation.

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Anytime Chris. Remember that weening off this drug will certainly have its challenges. It can be a tad scary. Just don't panic. Go slow and be calm.

I'm not sure what type of palpitations you are having since it's such a broad term but be certain its safe for you to quit. Metroprolol, I admit , is a very necessary drug for some people. I hated it and felt it was awful for me. But overall, beta blockers are generally reasonably safer compared to other options. That's is, if your body can handle them.

Anytime your heart is not going well, it's terrifying. It changes the way we go about everything. So I can understand your desire to get away from any extra problems. Just do it safely. You know your body the best.

And remember, eat the 3 and nix the 6.

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Hi Chris: I was on 50 for almost 10 years, so hopefully, you'll have an easier time of it...but if I were you, I would cut the 25 in half for at least a week and then cut it in half again and then go to zip after that...but just to warn...I have/had blurred vision, anxiety, depression/crying, lightheadedness, up and down blood pressure and up and down pulse and some chest twangs and tightness, lots of fatigue off and on...also, I take omega 3's, magnesium and now I take olive leaf extract thanks to Jane for suggesting. Hopefully, you will have less issues than those of us who have been on longer...I'm still going thru it...5 days completely off...ugh...and good luck

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For what it's worth: I'm Male, 48, diagnosed with High Blood Pressure a couple of years ago..smoked for 28 years, then quit for 14 months and cleaned up my act, lost 30 lbs, etc etc and somewhere in there, got on Metropolol... Had many weird side effects-such as aching muscles, fatigue, blurry vision, and other things I can't remember right now...

Anyway-I stopped taking it recently as it was costing me $40/30 pills because I don't have health insurance right now and due to the side effects..

At least in my case, I've had no real issues stopping it basically cold-turkey...I would suggest that the #1 thing to do to improve quality of life is TAKE A WALK...Everyday..!

When I started walking I felt pretty terrible, although not as bad as I'd thought-I worked up to being able to walk 5+ miles a day..generally I could walk further but it's not viable where I live...

But between walking, quitting smoking and eating MUCH better than I was, I improved my health considerably...I also had BP readings as low as 107/68 or so..Of course I was still on meds then...

The other major change I made was to actually drink water-Not tell myself I should, not drink a little and forget, but to actually drink at least two 16 oz bottles of water a day...whereas before I was a caffeine a holic and would never drink anything but coke or coffee or iced coffee drinks...so my body was all screwed up with all the sugar and caffeine...

I will also say that 3 years ago at age 45, I felt like an old man..I had a bad viral infection, gastritis and a hiatal hernia, mostly all caused by stress...Which is what prompted me to go to the DR for the first time in like 15 years...Of course the DR was little to no help except in prescribing pills and eliminating (through various tests) different diseases..None of which I had...I was screwed up physically, yes, but mostly I was screwed up mentally..

SO FORGET about getting off Metropolol-Pretend you never took it-Get intrigued by something..find a hobby-go out of town, make a fancy meal at home...Do something to give you a sense of pleasure and to take your mind outside your own body...And the best medicine of all-Go to a large hospital and walk around like you are lost...Be discreet, but look in various rooms as you walk by-And tell yourself how much worse it could be!

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Sandra & Anita......I'm not sure if the drug itself is still causing issues after all this time, but I can say from my own experience that my central nervous system seems to be overly sensitive not only to Metoprolol, but other drugs as well. While I still get slight tinges of withdrawal symptoms after being M-free for nearly three months now, it took me over six months to recover from anesthesia that was given to me about 2 1/2 years ago for a gall bladder surgery. Somehow or another it seems that certain drugs can either damage or misalign the way our bodies adjust during recovery, and this seems to be an area where the majority of doctors are totally clueless about the proper treatment, especially when considering that all of their diagnostics prove that we're doing just fine. In the meantime, we're given no other choice but to do the best we can in order to feel better. About the only advice I can offer is to continue to hang in there and to ride out the storm, for it does appear as though the two of you are beginning to feel better. It just saddens me that any of us have to endure these kinds of experiences at all, for this was never part of the plan.

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Joey , u sound kinda abrasive.

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Not really getting where Joey is coming from at all. Those of us who seem to be on the same page, thank you for your support and those of us still struggling... Keep up the good work.

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Thank you Tony. Without the kind, patient encouragement of the forum, I don't think I could have gotten off this poison. My doctor did NOT tell me about the side effects prior to prescribing nor did he tell me to wean off it. Every step of the way he made the exact opposite of a good decision. More meds more meds more meds. Most days are good days now, with the occasional bad day here and there. I still do not feel like my system is where it was before introducing the beta blocker. I do not expect an honest answer about why this is from the medical community that minimizes side effects and denies reality in order to sell more meds. I am getting better, and I am determined to be better. A day of random rogue anxiety is now more detectable as the abnormal day rather than the norm. My treadmill has been a life saver. I can walk and am increasing both my incline and speed, and getting some measure of fitness back. My heart is getting healthier (it was never unhealthy prior to Metoprolol) but I still get the occasional M twinge. My pulse rate is improving and I think my body is learning how to function again after this whole horrible experience. Again, I am grateful for the solid support from all of you who understand the reality, not what is "medically recognized".

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