Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 30) (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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Matt,
I've been off M for six months. I still have some anxiety issue from time to time. Also a little racing heart rate. Back to normal for the most part.
One month off was definitely the hardest time for me.

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I'm thinking I'm finally right. I have had no shortness of breath or feelings of tightness in my chest, or stomach issues for going on 3 weeks. I'm just hoping it doesn't show back up! Took me well over 2 months to finally feel normal! Hope everyone will start to feel better soon

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Matt once in a while I had a little nausea, but mainly anxiety, shortness of breath, and problems in my throat and feeling of someone sitting on my chest, once in a while I'm still feeling a little sluggish, but for the most part I'm feeling much better. I was only on this crap for 6 months, so I'm thinking the longer your one it probably the longer to heal! Keep us posted on your progress! Hang in there it will get better ??

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Yes same here that's all considered normal try not to worry to much about that the anxiety raises it more but I understand,it's frustrating our body will go back normal,it's just the longer u took it it may take longer,take magnesium pills and one a day supplement if u can

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Matt, about your doctor telling you to try Carvedilol: In my opinion: don't do it.

I was taking Metoprolol, Bisoprolol and Atenolol (3 different Beta blockers) for 1 year and a few Months ago tried to quiet (I was on Bisoprolol when I tried to quit). I didn't manage to make it till the end first time. I felt horrible on ALL Beta Blockers, and believe me: they are all the same. They have some minor differences, like on some you will have bigger headaches or bigger vertigo and medium breathing problems, while on other one you will have insane breathing problems and medium vertigo.

But they ALL work exactly the same on your body, by blocking adrenaline, slowing down the heart, lowering pressure and affecting your brain (adrenaline part again).

My opinion, if you'll try Carvedilol now, you will back to where you were a few Months ago. You will have all the same side effects again, and then you'll just try to wean off again in a few Months and you'll be through this same hell again.

I felt as bad as you for 2 Months when I tried to stop Bisoprolol, and I had HR around 90-100 for almost for 8 weeks, but also insane nausea, insane anxiety, I had problems with loud noises, problems with sunlight, and almost as feeling scared suddenly of virtually anything. I felt as if my brain was "deleted" when I stopped using BB's and as if my body now has to adjust to every single thing from the outside's world.

I felt horrible and it wasn't getting better, so my doc returned me to another BB, this time the newest one: Nebivolol (Bystolic). Do I need to say: the same crap again, the same side effects as on Atenolol, Metoprolol and Bisoprolol... Everything the same...

So, I threw into a water all efforts of 2 Months of trying to stop Bisoprolol. And now, a few Months later, I am trying to wean off from Nebivolol, so I have to go through the same process for the 2nd time. It is slightly less horrible since I know what I can expect (and I am less scared this time) and I am still weaning off to tiniest amounts this time (like: 25 Mg, then 20 Mg, then 15 Mg, then 12 Mg, then 10 Mg, then 8 Mg, then 5 Mg, then 2 Mg etc. And I am for 2-4 weeks on every level, no hurry this time, since it is so hard even when I am doing it this slowly...)

Anyway, again, from my experience: all Beta Blockers are the same. You should ask for a Calcium Channel Blockers or some other type of medicines who effect your body in a different way than Beta Blockers. Some people just can't handle Beta Blockers. If one of them don't suit you, you'll have more or less the same problems on all other BBs, this way or another. Plus, if you'll try to quit them again, you'll experience the same hell as today again for 2-3-6 Months.

If you are in this hell already for a few weeks, try to make it now till the end, we all hope you'll make it.

More about Cervedilol [including the most common side effects], from Wikipedia can be viewed at: Carvedilol Details

From what I have read about Carvedilol, you will have very strong side effects because it is a non selective BB. It actually blocks way more things in your body than classic selective BBs, like Atenolol, Metoprolol, Nebivolol and others.

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Matt, most of the withdrawal is gone. I dont have the severe headaches or nausea or feeling so terrible like i did. I am still having dizziness and some anxiety and medicine sensitivity. Thats what's left after 8 months. My heart rate runs 80-85 sitting and 95 standing. It gets about 115 with activity but it was 140. I do see improvement. I would say i am 75% back to myself.

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The headaches and nausea slowly went away. I definitely didnt wake up one day and they were gone. I have learned to take one day at a time. That was tough for me because i used to be a person that had to plan and look ahead! But with this withdrawal, i had to deal with the day i was in and not worry about tomorrow because that made my anxiety and depression worse. Dont think about what you will feel like tomorrow since every day is different for us. Focus on today and push thru. You will make it! I though i was going to die and i still have days i worry but not as severe as it was.

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Jumbo, had the same thing happen to me when I was on metoprolol , went to e r a few times with spiking blood pressure, sometimes 212/105 thought my head was going to explode! One doctor said the same thing to me, about psychological help , I wanted to get up and punch him right in the mouth! It seems like a generical answer when they don't know the answer themselves ! Once I got off all meds for blood pressure my blood pressure is pretty normal now, no more spikes in middle of night etc

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Matt, about your good hours, it means that you are slightly improving.
At first it starts with 3-4-5 hours on some days (not every day), then it starts to be a few hours every day etc.
The same as bad periods: at first you are feeling bad 24/7. After some time, you have 4 good hours and 20 bad hours, and eventually it goes to 12:12, then 16:8 etc.

Of course, you will still have bad episodes, for example, you can feel good for 3-4 days and you'll think that it is getting way better, and then for unknown reason you can have horrible 5 days in a row again.
But then, you'll again have 3-4 good days and the next time you'll have only 2-3 bad days after that.
It goes up and down all the time, but on larger samples, each new week is slightly better and better (on average when you sum all problems and their strength).

So, if you'll suddenly experience a few horrible days after this, don't fall into a depression, these ups and downs happen to all of us.

About nausea, this is my 2nd attempt of quitting BBs and I have tried to quit 2 different BBs in each attempt and I had nausea both times.
So, nausea is 100% from a withdrawal.

Also, Beta blockers mostly block B1 receptors in heart, but these drugs are not 100% cardioselective and they are blocking 100s of other actions related to B1 and B2 receptors in our body. So, BBs interfere both with B1 and B2 receptors.
(BBs mostly try to block only actions of B1 receptors, but the medicine isn't that advanced yet, so they are blocking lots of unwanted B2 mechanisms also).

For example, these are some mechanisms controlled by B2 receptors, which are altered by all Beta blockers, like:
1. uterus, Gi tract, urinae muscle, bronchi, blood vessels, tremor, glucose mechanisms
2. heart and vessels
3. eye
4. digestive system, insulin secretion from pancreas
5. Inhibit histamine-release from mast cells.
Increase protein content of secretions from lacrimal glands.
Increase renin secretion from kidney.
Receptor also present in cerebellum.
Bronchiole dilation (targeted while treating asthma attacks)

So, basically, while taking BBs, all of these mechanisms are altered to some extent and to some percentage.
And when we quit BBs, these altered mechanisms are trying to get back to their original state (before BBs).

So, about nausea, Beta blockers have some impact on digestion mechanisms, and digestion system is also experiencing a withdrawal from BBs.

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Matt, about symptoms of a withdrawal, I am still in the process. But for me, it was during both times something like this:
Biggest symptoms and pain: high heart rate (and inability to walk/do any activity due to that in the first weeks) for 30-40-ish days and huge anxiety over everything during that period. They were both like: 100% of their strength in the first week, then 90-95% (slightly weaker) in the 2nd week, then 80-90% in the 3rd week (with some days at 100% again), then 70, 60, 50% in upcoming weeks (again with up and down episodes, like a few days at 50% of pain, then 3 days at 100%, then a few days at 50, 70, 50, 70, then 100 again, then 50, then nothing, then 100, then 50, then nothing, then 50 etc.) It goes up and down in strength of pain all the time, but it gets better and better when you look at a larger sample. (It was like 100%, 100%, 90%, 100%, 100% in the first week, and let's say 50%, 50%, 100%, 100%, 50%, 70%, 50% in the 6th week, more or less. So, it is getting better slowly when you look at previous weeks.) I had the same feeling with anxiety also. It goes up and down all the time, but the same as with elevated HR and inability to walk, it gets (slowly) better and better with each new week.

About other symptoms, I had only dizziness in the beginning, then it just goes away suddenly after 2-3-4 weeks, and sometimes randomly returns back for 1 day or for a few hours. Also, during the worst time (first 3-4-5 weeks) I would have nausea in the afternoon (it would go away by the evening, no matter what I would eat or do, for some reason.) Also, during the worst period, like first 3-4-5-6 weeks, I would have some strange pain in the whole body around heart and lungs, as if someone is sitting on you or as if someone is pulling your organs in a different direction all day long (like: someone is trying to pull your heart on one side, and someone else is trying to pull your lungs and organs in the opposite direction. As if somethings is trying to tear apart your organs inside of you. And you have that feeling of a strange pain around those organs and in all your muscles in that area all day long, but again the pain is the strongest in the afternoon, and usually goes away around the evening. It doesn't hurt late at night, strange.) Plus, I had a flu like symptoms and I was tired/exhausted during the worst period (like first 3-4-5 weeks). Nausea, this pain/tear apart feeling in the whole upper body and a flu-like symptoms would disappear after a few weeks. Like from 100%, to 50% and suddenly to 0%. Of course, there are still random days, like 1-2 days in 7 days when that pain comes back, but only for a few hours and it doesn't hurt as much as in the first weeks of a withdrawal.

So, in my case: high HR, anxiety=the biggest problems. It gets better over time, but these 2 persist the longest in my case, even for 2-3-4 Months and they have ups and downs all the time.

Other symptoms like dizziness, nausea, pain in the upper body and flu-like symptoms last shorter, like only during the worst period of 3-4-5 weeks and they disappear almost totally (while higher HR and anxiety persist for much longer and they lose their strength much slower).

There were some other, random new problems like headache, some troubles with too slow breathing, slight tremor in hands, numbness in feet from time to time, dry eyes, elevated BP, but these symptoms would randomly come and go and would last only for a few hours on some days (and they would come and go again on another random day with no logical reason).

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Matt, elevated HR, high BP and tachycardias from withdrawal are the most dangerous.
If your elevated HR while resting is getting better, that's the most important, you are improving.

About anxiety and nausea, it will get better, plus they aren't life threatening.
They are annoying, but they are minor problems compared to heart rate/blood pressure related withdrawal symptoms.

So, imo, you should worry mostly about your previous elevated HR problems.
When it will get lower, you will be able to walk and do more activity and automatically you will lower your anxiety little by little by returning to normal life (with those minor activities each new day).

So, anxiety should get better in two ways: first, it will get lower naturally as the time (withdrawal) goes by, like with all of us. Second, with light physical activity and lower resting heart rate, you will be happier, less stressed and scared and a part of anxiety will also go away with each new day/week.

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Matt, one more thing.
I had breathing problems (a feeling as if my lungs are sleeping and as if they forgot to breathe) during BBs. I had these problems (too slow breathing and too shallow no matter what I do) all the time during BBs.

I told to my doc that I never had these problems before BBs.
He said: no, it can't be. You probably have some lungs disease.
Then I went to all tests for Months, and my lungs are fine. But I still couldn't breathe normally.
A few Months later, I stopped taking BBs and my breathing was 100% fine, like before BBs.
My doc replied: strange, It was such a tiny dose, BBs shouldn't create these problems.

When I said that I am extremely tired on BBs and that I can't walk longer than a few minutes, he said again: maybe you have problems with hormones, some blood disorder etc.
I did all tests, and everything was fine.
When I stopped taking BBs, I could walk again normally, as before BBs.

I don't know, probably 8 or 9 out of 10 people don't have any problems with BBs, especially on lower doses and this is why docs don't believe to our stories.
But you can find 100s of people here with more or less EXACTLY the same side effects even on lowest doses of Beta blockers, and again, 100s of people with EXACTLY the same withdrawal symptoms, like too high HR for weeks or for months, anxiety which they never experienced in their life, dizziness, strange nausea, headaches etc.

Majority of docs will say: withdrawal will be gone in 2-3 weeks.
But please, read again this thread from a page no1 and you will find 10s of people who had withdrawal issues for 3-6-12 Months.

Either all these people are crazy or each person is different and some people have much bigger problems with BBs and with quitting them.

I trust more to people on this topic who were actually taking BBs for years and who then had to survive a withdrawal.
If your withdrawal, too high HR and strong anxiety lasts for 3-6 Months, docs will usually say: you are crazy and you have a psychological problem.

Well, then this is a topic with a lot of crazy people with exactly the same withdrawal symptoms...

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The metoprolol made me SEVERELY depressed and anxious. That was one of the major side effects that caused my dr to immediately discontinue my use and then it got 10 times worse when she stopped me and that's when I started the Xanax. Probably saved my life. My dr actually told me to put metoprolol on all of my allergies forms so they won't ever give it to me again. I we on it for just over a month, lost 20lbs in about 20 weeks (and I'm a little person, 5'1, 120lbs BEFORE the weight loss) my hair started falling out, I slept like 3-4 hours a night and when I did sleep I'd wake up in a panic attack from night terrors. I had major problems breathing and the more they gave me in the hospital the harder it was to breathe (but because my oxygen levels were remaining normal, they said it was fine.) since when is not being able to breathe fine? It would actually cause me to have panic attacks (fight or flight). I started losing control of my limbs, especially my arms, they were constantly numb and week. It was awful. Then the withdrawal and rebounds were no better. In the end, my problem was outside of my sinus node so they really shouldn't have given me the beta blocker or CCB because they don't work for where my rhythm malfunction was. They were actually making my symptoms worse being on them. My heart rate was out of control. I was off of them for two weeks when I finally seen my electrophysiologist and she had caught on my original holter monitor that I had atrial tachycardia in my right side and not the SVT or palpations that the hospital was medicating me for. Not even a regular cardiologist could give me an answer. I had an ablation 5 days later after she told me that CCB and BBs don't work for the kind of rhythm problem I had. That was 6 days ago and I feel almost back to normal. Electrophysiologist are where it's at. lol. I asked her about being evaluated for some kind of adrenal tumor and she said that someone who has one, their blood pressure is very high and I have really low pressure. So if you were thinking about an adrenal tumor, if your BP is normal, it's not likely at all. There's actually a 24 catecholamine U/A your dr can perform that could tell you though, maybe if you bring it up to them?

http:/­/­www.healthline.com/­health/­catecholamines-urine

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Hi, Matt

I am glad that you finally had some good days.
About bad days, they always come back, but you'll see, they will be weaker and weaker, as if "good days are winning" and bad days are losing the battle.

At first it will be: you will feel good for one afternoon. They you'll feel good on the next day's afternoon also. Then you'll have 3 bad days after that.
Then you'll have 5 days in a row with good afternoons.
Then you'll have 2 horrible days again.
Then you'll have 2 good days, from the morning till the evening.
Then one neutral day.
Then for no reason 3 horrible bad days again.
Then 5 awesome days after that.
Then 2 horrible days.
Then 8 good days.
Then 2 horrible days again.
Then 8 good days again etc.

But you get the point. At first you will feel good only for a few hours, or during an afternoon/evening on some days.
Later you will have 1-2 good days.
Then eventually you will have 3-4-5 good days in a row (and then a bad day) and then again 5 good days.

Good periods will last longer and longer, and when bad days return, they usually won't be as bad as in early Months, plus you will experience only some side effects.
For example, if in the first Month during bad days you had high heart rate, high BP, nausea, dizziness, headaches, pain in the abdomen and anxiety, now after a few Months, during bad days, you will have only some moderately elevated HR and some anxiety.

Majority of other symptoms will be gone and these 2-3 which are still here (usually elevated HR for a few hours on some days, and anxiety) will be weaker and weaker in each new week.

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Saw an endo for the first time today. He did not think my anxiety was due to over production from the adrenal glands, but is sending me to get my catecholamine level tests via blood to make sure.

However he thought 4 months of withdrawal from M was too long to continue experiencing anxiety and that the M probably had been masking the underlying high anxiety. Logical but wrong, I believe. If It did not return to the reduced anxiety level after going back on it, (which I did for a month) then how could that be masking it?

He asked me if I would consider taking a beta blocker again. They all ask that question and my answer is always the same.

Never.

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Hello my name is Anthony Bryant, how about a month-and-a-half ago I started having heart palpitations, I was so scared I went into the ER 3 days in a row, they put me on beta blockers Metoprolol. This seemed to calm my heart down each time, but it's funny when they checked my heart out everything was normal EKG Echo for my heart, even my blood work and thyroid was fine, the doctors told me sometimes people's heart just beats off Rhythm sometimes, so they prescribe a pill form of Metoprolol, all together with the ER and the pills was one week on this drug. On my last two days of that week I took half a pill only. Then I completely got off upon my research I found out that magnesium citrate help me out dramatically it stopped my heart palpitations, but just being on that drug Metoprolol 4 that one week, I had some chest discomfort, night sweats lightheadedness, but it did go away, if anybody is dealing with heart palpitations and anxiety attacks please look for magnesium citrate, organic gmo-free. I hope this helps, Halleluyah

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Thank you Bob... I am trying hard to wean myself off the metoprolol tar. But, the rapid heart rate and high blood pressure honestly is scary. I can't hardly sleep at night. I'm awaken with my heart beating out of my chest. What i dont understand is why? Why do these Drs prescribe these meds knowing that it's hard to wean off? I mean i have never done drugs. I dont smoke cigarettes or drink. I barely take Tylenol. And here I am "addicted" to this? How is this fair? Is there no such thing as patient's rights? I mean really, do we not have a say when it pertains to our well being? This is all confusing for me. I just want to feel normal again.

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Took metropolol for 9 months 50 mg daily it was off and on with this pill some good some bad very unpredictable side effects finally I said enough the doc is weaning me off 1/2 the first week then one on one day off the second week and now off totally for 12 days and still feeling side effects to some degree .
Awful medicine

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Sandra,

Glad to hear that you are feeling better....it also gives me hope at 8+ months. Struggling with depression but managed to get my taxes in. My heart rate, BP and anxiety are all still abnormally high.

Let is know how you are doing from time to time.

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Hey all! It's been a while since I've posted but, for what it's worth, I've been off this awful drug since June of 2015, and just yesterday I had one of my rare anxiety bouts that just came out of nowhere. I've had many of these bouts off and on since I quit, but until yesterday, I hadn't had one for three or four months. It just goes to show that it takes a long time for some of us to entirely rid ourselves from this drug.

Sandra, I also have a high sensitivity to nearly every drug I take. Before having Metoprolol issues, I used to guzzle multiple cups of coffee without any problems whatsoever. These days, however, just one cup will send me into an anxiety frenzy, at which time my BP goes through the roof along with having chest pain and general anxiety disorder. I strongly believe that this drug has fouled up my central nervous system to some degree. To what extent, I'm not sure, but even though I'm about 20 months of being free from beta-blockers, I still continue to have issues on occasion.

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