Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 18) (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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Hello folks
I don't know what to do anymore............I have been weaning of this Metoprolol since last Feb...............I know everyone is different but its been a small nightmare .. anyway; I was on 37 miligrams and my heart rate was so low last night I figured okay time to drop the last l/4 pill I take before bed....My last pill was at 8:30 last night.........but when I wake up in the morning at about 11 a.m. resting heart rate or I was just walking from one room to the other was like 80......so I took a l/4 pill at 11:30 am........Not sure how long this will last...........I might have to go back up to 37 miligrams........someone told me to stay on each milligram until you feel stable and that is what I have been doing... also have some new side effects when I go down. headaches, anxiety, overall not feeling well, stomach issues, pain in body, bad shakes..etc.etc......... so frustrated right now and I cannot find a doctor who will listen to me let alone believe anything I say.

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Does anyone here felt body aches after stop taking metoprolol? I've been off for 2 month now and experience body ache at back up to neck.

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I was put on this drug for high blood pressure it some what ccontrolled my bp,I started having SVT, some problems wit my heart , just last Wednesday I had a procedure done on my heart, the procedure was a success, and the doctors switch my Bp medication to some other brand omg what did they do that for yesterday I experienced the worst feeling I couldn't even stand up to walk to my bathroom which is just a few feet from my bedroom, I didn't know what was happening. I thought if the procedure was successful what was going on with me not knowing it was withdrawl from the metoprol so I called my cardiologist they made me a appointment to come right back in my heart was going crazy all day from that early morning my Bp was sky high the doctor did a EKG and ECHO it was normal heart beat it' was just beating way to fast it was up to 160 and it was freaking me out, come to fimd out they weren't suppose to just stop the medicine just like that they have to cut down on this medicine gradually, so they put me back on the metoprol so now each week I'll be slowly drop down to not taking any at all I never want this drug again I will be doing my research before the doctors give me any prescription but I have end this saying to God be the glory I'm doing good today I have Faith and hope that I will have a normal life in Jesus name Amen thanks for reading my story

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The first 6 weeks were rather difficult when I began cutting tablets of toprol.However, it got better each week.It took a total of 6 months to come off it. I am happy to say it gets better and better.I am calmer, less anxious.I have learned how to cope with the"anxieties of life" without medications.At 60 I am now vegan. I believe a healthy diet and removing wheat, dairy have helped me tremendously. ?

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I was wondering if anyone experiences like a head zap or buzz feeling after getting off this medicine...I have vertigo also...very scary

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Tami
Yes I have had the vertigo and dizziness.......I feel as if I have just about every withdrawel side effect in the book ..
One night I had to hold onto the banister of the house to just get up the stairs and yes it is very scary..........and then of course the heart starts racing sometimes when I walk just to the bathroom.....Last night I woke up in middle of the night and felt the adrenaline rush which then after comes the heart palpitations but it didn't happen for once. I got the adrenaline rush but I breathed and tapped EFT through it and I calmed down.. It wasn't fun though and now I am exhausted..

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I have been off Toprol since Sept after taking it for over 10 years.Eating foods that have a lot of magnesium has helped tremendously.

Pumpkin seeds, seaweed, almonds, cashews, kidney beans, avocado, spinach, etc. I feel better and better each day as my body and brain heals..

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I am going to attempt to go off Metoprolol starting tonight. I have been doing the research and I can't believe that the problems I have had the last 5 years of my life could possibly be explained by the list of Metoprolol side effects- and no Dr.s picked up on this! I began it during my last pregnancy and it was around that time that I began having uncharacteristic social anxiety to the point of agoraphobia. My libido is gone, my thyroid went high and then low. My hair was falling out, and I had diarrhea for almost 2 years. I am weak, tired, and low energy. My joints ache. I also have had issues with my white blood cells and anemia. I am excited to start the road to freedom from Metoprolol but I know the road will be rough, still, if even a couple of the symptoms eases it will be worth it. I hope this will end my era of terrible health issues. I will try to update with results.

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Bee,
I went to the doctor (not a cardiologist) and he feels like I have an adrenal issue. He did some preliminary diagnostics and said it looked like my neurotransmitters were way out of whack. He went through the whole explanation but bare bones is that when they did an analysis of my heart rate and breathing with a strap around my torso lying then standing it showed parasympathetic and sympathetic systems were way reversed when dealing with stress. He told me metoprolol can block your natural production of melatonin (I've heard this before) and that it blocks adrenaline. This will throw your neurotransmitters and adrenal glands off and snowball into adrenal fatigue. He is checking a saliva cortisol analysis and then he put me on a medical grade amino acid shake. He told me the only magnesium that truly absorbs well enough do help your stores in your body and not just bandaid the problem and cause a BM is magnesium malate. He said it helps with anxiety, muscle pain, stress, etc. He said he takes 600 mg twice a day but that's just what works for him. He also said to take fish oil because it helps regulate the inflammation that comes with adrenal fatigue secondary to this mess. He said after a week on the supplements it should be a very small but noticeable change. He told me the brand of amino acid shake that has the right enzymes to help build your neurotransmitters, help adrenals, and you liver enzymes to help metabolize the meds more efficiently and also cut down of side effects. You can get it on amazon. (You can get everything he told me pretty much any health food store or amazon) He also gave me something short term for sleep to help me try to retrain my sleep habits since it's waking me up so much at night. I hope this helps. This doctor seems to be very much fix the problem, and less "that's not in my text book." If you're interested in the name of the amino acid shake let me know. I am starting all this stuff today so we will see how it goes on helping all my issues. He did tell me not to come off metoprolol at all until I can get some relief from other symptoms since metoprolol is the only thing regulating the adrenaline swings right now. Hopefully I'll remember to put an update later on how it's going in a week or so.

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I don't care what anyone says. That stuff is poison. It has been 2 years now and I am just now feeling like a human. It just ruined my life. I may be an exception but I really had a bad withdrawel. I hope I never feel like that again.

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I have also recently tapered off of Metoprolol after being on it for 6 months. Since stopping the medications I've had many of the side effects noted below - fatigue, nausea, headache, muscle aches. I have also started having a burning sensation up and down my entire body. I have never experienced anything like this before. Has anyone ever experienced that as a side effect? It is really freaking me out. It seems to change locations throughout the day - sometimes it is in my arms, most of the time in my feet, today my ear lobes. My cardiologist of course does not think this is related at all, but my chiropractor said of course it is related. Any thoughts? I feel like I'm losing my mind!

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I'm a 60 years old and been on M for about 3 years. 25 mg 1/2 twice a day. Also a diabetic type2 . Have blabber cancer for 6 years. They put me on M for high BP plus linsinaprol 5MG once a day. Was on a multiple drugs for the diabetes. I got off all of them because most of them may cause bladder cancer.( already have that ) I started a natural diet 3years ago. I JUICE twice a day and a month ago went wheat free. I now find out that M raises blood sugar levels and was told by my chiropractor to talk to my DR and about getting off M. I cut M by 1/2 again and waiting to see my primary in April. Wheat free diet lost 9 lbs .

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well I have been off the (M) for two months now and I am still waking up with palpitations on and off.. Cant sleep and trying to figure out if something is triggering this? Now I feel as if wow maybe I have something wrong with me but I know a doctor will only prescribe more drugs or whatever.. But at least the palps go down rather quickly but then the heart rate remains a bit elevated .. I drink sea salt in water and taking all kinds of supplements for the heart.. Taurine, Magnesium, L theanine, Olive Leaf, L carnitine, hawthorne,.. I am trying to have a life but when I do the side effects return.... Its very frustrating although I have to believe I am getter better. maybe I have lost patience.. Its been a year of weaning and two months off and although there is progress Its still frustrating... I also do energy healing work and meditations.. getting very tired of it all. I keep wondering if its this drug or something else I am missing... I so want to exercise and walk but still afraid although I try and do a bit of something when I feel okay.... I am also having stomach issues which who knows if its the drug or something new? thank you

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Glad to hear it TCM.... what Hawthorn and Motherwort do is to slow down the heart rate and calm the heart and its a food so its safe too...........Black strap molasses will send iron to the heart but don't take it everyday or take too much or go by how you feel.. I don't take it much except if I am having a weird day I will swallow a tablespoon.. it also has potassium which is good for the heart.. Our bodies need minerals if we are deficient so check the minerals you are taking in.. L theanine is an amino acid that calms the central nervous system and slows down the adrenaline.. good for you............ feel better.. but do please check all of these supplements and check with interactions..

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I was very interested to hear what you said about your legs - walking through concrete, etc. I feel my main suspected issue with M is the stiffness and discomfort walking. I find walking - a basic and most vital life tool - a little bit of an effort. I have two dogs and walk most days but I don't enjoy walking anymore. It feels like such an effort. I'm overweight but I carry it well and you wouldn't look at me and think "there's one who would struggle to walk". But i have to "drive" my body on a walk. Push it. I used to walk in a ladylike fashion and now i feel like i'm losing the ability to control the way i walk too. My gait. I keep challenging myself to keep walking. I zip around my house with housework but find longer walks an effort, legs feel comfortable. Strangely, yesterday it felt lighter and easier to walk around the supermarket first then through the forest - I'm currently just over 2 months into weaning down from 100 mg to 50 mg pd. I'll be very interested to see what today brings walking in town and with my dogs. Yes I need to drop a few kilos. Yes I need to work on my fitness. Yes I'm just turned 55 but I still don't think I should feel the way I do in regard to simple walking. I used to love walking now I find it a chore. But of course I can't really pinpoint when I started feeling like this vs how long i've taken M. I just drifted into this situation only waking up to Big Pharma in last two years. I've been on BP medication for 13 years but can't say how long on M. Anyway, the slow weaning will continue and I will continue to walk and cut carbs.

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Bee, thank you for your reply! It really helps! I'll check into some natural herbs for the heart, too. You know, though, I never had any idea that Metoprolol could create such havoc on one's system or I would have never taken them in the first place. My blood pressure just wasn't bad enough to warrant these kinds of side effects. I really trusted that my doctor was doing the right thing when he prescribed them, but now I've become rather angry about it. And, now my cardiologist wants me to begin yet another drug that requires weaning period to get off of them. It's really quite depressing. I feel for everyone who's posted here over the past few years.

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Jimbo..Oh; Dear. I am so sorry ..............well if you feel like you need the E.R. then go but not sure what they can do... anyway; I would suggest getting to the health food store or order something online. Tell the nutritionist at the health food store about your issues and they can lead you to buy the right supplements.. You need magnesium and some amino acids and you must look into this and take these things.. these things must have saved me while I was weaning.. You can also look into acupuncture and anything to lessen the symptoms.. all they will do in hospital is give you more drugs.. you don't want that.............I would highly suggest going down more slowly.. what is the rush.. It took me a year........because I wanted the least side effects and wanted to survive.......... hope you feel better soon........

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Jimbo, you wrote, "Then my PR dropped from an average of around 65 or 70 to around 50, and I began to experience dizziness, headaches, chest pain, tingling in my left arm, etc., etc. For whatever reason my BP remained fairly normal." What's PR?

Metoprolol is a beta blocker, which is short for "beta-adrenergic blocker", i.e., it down-regulates the sympathetic nervous system, which means it inhibits the fight-or-flight response. This helps to control blood pressure and/or palpitations in those of us for whom these conditions are the result of chronic stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which isn't everybody. The trouble is, sometimes you actually need the sympathetic nervous system to kick in, and when it doesn't, you have trouble.

Example: Some weeks ago I had to drive for several hours and, for various reasons, wasn't able to stop for a meal. So I missed lunch and dinner and didn't have any free time until 10 pm. Normally (i.e., without M in my body), I'd just be very hungry under these conditions. On this occasion, however, I found myself so weak and lightheaded I thought I would faint. Reason: When you don't eat, your blood glucose goes down and your body uses the sympathetic nervous system to signal to the liver to release stored glucose, to bring it back up. But the M inhibits that process, and the result is serious hypoglycemia, which can itself be scary. Then the fear makes me start sweating and I'm on my way into a full-fledged panic attack.

Or I'd get up in a hurry from my desk and start walking at a brisk pace to do something. A minute or so in, I'd feel that lightheaded weak feeling again, because the M was interfering with my body's ability to signal my heart to work harder.

At the gym, it would take me forever to "warm up," but the gym is a controlled environment and I'd instinctively remain within my M-inhibited comfort zone. If I were a cyclist, needing to do sudden surges of high-intensity exertion, I think it would've been ugly.

Anyway, what seems to happen in many of us is that when you reduce or stop the beta blocker, you experience an exaggerated sympathetic nervous system rebound. After the M is out of your system, it's as if that beach ball that you were holding under water (your heart activity), comes flying up and out of the water, and the least little exertion or mental stress causes you to experience a full throttle state of fight-or-flight arousal. At least, that's what I experienced on the third day after my last half-dose.

In my case, this rebound effect didn't last too long, but I think that's in part thanks to some of the suggestions I read here: L-theanine, magnesium, blackstrap molasses, hawthorne. Meditation is very helpful too. Just knowing that you're not unraveling but only experiencing a rebound is a huge help. Fear is our worst enemy.

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Thanks again for all of your help, Bee! It's really appreciated! I'll definitely look into a more natural approach to remedying these things. You're right about the doctors, too, for I'm unable to get any information from them without feeling as though I'm insulting them. My ultimate goal, though, is to simply get off this drug simply because I no longer need a BP med. I never imagined that it would be this difficult.

As far as taking my time, I may not have that luxury unless I'm willing to lose work over the next couple of months. Plus, I'm very active in cycling, hiking, walking, etc., and now I can barely walk the length of a single city block. I've never had to be as confined to my home on a daily basis as I am now, and I'm just losing my patience. Perhaps it'll take longer than I hope, but I honestly don't see why it should take me any longer than about two more weeks as long as I continue to wean myself off carefully and consistently.

I've also read the majority of the postings on this thread, and what really baffles me is how some people can literally go cold turkey with few or no side effects while others need to wean themselves off over a rather extended period of time. I know everybody is different, but there really isn't a clear and consistent withdrawal pattern.

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It has been 15 days since I have not had a beta blocker. I stopped taking Bystolic 5 mg on 5/5/15. I was on Bystolic for a week. Prior to that I took Metoprolol ER 50 mg for 14 nights. The last time I posted on here was on 5/11/15. All of the side effects have gone away except insomnia and anxiety upon waking up which last throughout the morning. I was prescribed Amlodipine Besylate 10 mg (Norvasc) and took it for about a week. Norvasc did lower my blood pressure but did nothing to help with beta blocker withdrawal. I had a rapid heartbeat up to 118 bpm. I called the Cardiologist and he put me on Diltiazem 120 mg (Cardizem). I have not taken it because I'm afraid of side effects. My pressure has been fine since I have not taken any meds for the last few days.I don't know about Western medicine myself. Goodluck to everyone. I don't care what the docs sya about beta blokcers leaving your system in a few days you will still go through withdrawal symptoms. Some more severe than others.

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