Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 33)

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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Hey okay I have been on metoprolol tartrate 25 mg for 3 weeks now for anxiety and HR okay I was wondering will it be hard for me to come off of it since I haven't been on it long

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Hi Jimbo: I don't know either on the review process. Some of my posts are posted within a minute, and others won't come up for days. I usually receive an email when someone posts, but sometimes they'll go to my junk mail.

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Hi Jimbo: thank you for opening up on the suicidal thoughts with this stuff. I have had off and on depression for years. When I went from 50 to 25, I had some physical symptoms, but when I went from 25 to 12.5 2 weeks ago is when the anxiety and "downer" thoughts and feelings kicked in. This past week I went from 12.5 to zip, and by Tuesday (I stopped on Sunday), I was ready to take a bottle of Xanax. I truly like, trust and respect my present doctor, but she said that I shouldn't have any problem weaning. If I wasn't reading these posts, I would not have been prepared for any of these side effects, and I would have just gone back on the meds again out of fear. Such a sad situation...but I am feeling a little better today, which is why I'm posting...and I thank all of you for all of your posts and encouragement and knowledge.

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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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Hi All: it's me yet again...has anyone weaned off of Lisinopril? I'm not ready to go off yet until I recover from the Toporil weaning, and I don't know when that will be :-(... But next I need to get off of Lisinopril...I've looked for threads on it, but none are good like this one. Thanks again

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today is 33 days. I have the funky head thing. My pulse is still all over the place particularly when its hot out. I'm not sleeping well again, and am somewhat irritable. My BP is fine. I agree Toonces that there should have been some serious discussion of these side effects both before starting and before weaning from this stuff. My (old) doctor did neither and in fact, didn't even tell me to wean off it! If not for the support of the forum, I wouldn't have known what to expect, or had the confidence to continue. I am better, and do more each day with more confidence. The occasional side effect does surprise me, but I was told that it could take a month or more for drugs to get out of your tissues. I'm patient, and forward is 1,000 times better than where I was. I am encouraged by my good days and accept the bad days for what they are. They are fewer and further between. I'm so grateful for all of your comments. My anxiety is gone, and there was no major depression but I know what that's like. I would wake up and my first sensation was a fear in my stomach and anxiety before I got out of bed. This hasn't happened in a while. Toonces, you are in the worst of it. Stay strong, and if need be just lie down and rest. You will pass through this hell period. It took me several days in a row of what you are describing. You can do it.

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Is it okay to drink Grapefruit juice and orange juice and Epsom salt while on metoprolol tartrate

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Yeah, Toonces, I hear ya! I really can't express enough how much the folks on this website have helped me. It was very comforting to find some people that had the same problems as I had when I had no other place to turn. Just hang in there! You'll start feeling better soon!

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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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Im finding that I still have shortness of breath and still getting dizzy spells 2 mo after metoprolol. Sound normal?

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Not really . Are you on any other medications? Anything? What's your bp? Are you in shape? We need a bit more information.

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I'm not on any other medicine. I am a bit out of shape, this medication has had me to where I can't do too much or exercise. I am 165 pds 5'3. My bp is 120/80. Usually pretty good. I've had a chest xray and they say its good. When I first was withdrawling and having the shortness of breath, I broke down and took a small sliver of metoprolol and the shortness of breath went away. It has made me have shortness of breath since I first got on it. So, I assumed since I still have it that it either caused asthma or its still withdrawal. I was on this medicine for a year and a half.

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Metoprolol is contraindicated in people with asthma history. Used with caution but you need to see the doc who prescribed it before changing dose. Be careful with it. Good luck.

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If taking a small dose seems to improve your symptoms then I'd say it must be your body trying to adjust without it. If your electrolytes are all ok and your bp is good, I'd give it more time. I wouldn't panic. Assuming you don't feel faint and if the dizziness is just slight, I'd just be patient if it were me.

Some people seem to have trouble adjusting if they take it for a long time but it's not the drug itself, it would be long out of your system by now.

I have been off caffeine so long that when I drink any, I get dizzy. So pay attention to what might else be contributing.

But it's like I tell everyone.. If it concerns you too much, ask a doctor. You know your body best. The fact that taking a little metoprolol helped you leads me to believe it's an adjustment issue that should resolve itself over time.

Try one thing, if you are allowed to take an asprin, maybe take just half a baby asprin and see if your dizziness improves. I doubt it will but I'm just curious.

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I will say this though Anita , if your shortness of breath gets too uncomfortable or concerning, I'd definitely seek medical attention. It's not that I'd panic over it but breathing trouble can be a real aggravation and can make living really tough. And I don't want that for you. Possibly a simple inhaler can off occasional relief but you would have to ask a doctor. I haven't had much experience with them.

If you have a pulse indicater which displays your oxygen level in your blood, I'd check it when you are having trouble and see what your oxygen level is. You can get a cheap fingertip monitor to tell you. If it's falling below 90, I'd go get it checked.

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I meant Sandra, not Anita. My apologies.

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One more thing Sandra. Just as a simple precaution, try the Epley maneuver and make sure your crystals are aligned. They most likely are but it's simple to do and there are YouTube videos to show you how. If you are having chronic dizziness, I'd always try this first and go from there. It never hurts even if it doesn't help you.

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Thank you Tony! Ive been off 2 months but I cant help but think im still in an adjustment period. I heard they can take a very long time.

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You are welcome. I wish I could help you more but it's hard to guess sometimes. Everyone is so different. Dizziness and breathing issues with metoprolol range from common side effects to allergic reactions. But since you no longer take it, and you feel relief taking it, I'd say it's adjustment.

But you know, metoprolol, when it's working, it reduces the amount of work the heart has to do to accomplish the same result. I think some people's bodies over time adjust to this. Then when you stop it, your heart suddenly has to do more work than its accustomed to and this is what takes time to readjust to.

It can make it hard on someone who's heart is in less shape too. You know, some walking and very light and gradual excercise might benefit you. Just conditioning your heart a bit extra might alleviate part of what you are feeling. But I'd go slow. Any chest discomfort and I'd rest and just progress gently. No need to hurt yourself. Maybe your heart just needs a little time to get used to doing more. It's hard to know. But if your oxygen level is good and you don't feel faint, no numbness in your extremities, no chest pain or pressure and good bp, then I wouldn't panic for sure.

I know when I was taking losartan potassium , it started to effect my breathing and I had to quit taking it. And I understand that worry you are having. I was also concerned. But it did go back to normal and I'd like to see the same for you. I know the relief I felt when that weight was lifted. Every tiny thing can make you stressed.

Staying calm, as hard as it is, is best. Just the other day, I got down to .375 lorazepam and I had some chest pains . It kinda scared me but I kept telling myself it's the drug, don't panic. And it did go away .

But I tell you, if you get too concerned, go get checked out by a professional. That's always best if it gets too concerning. I admit, I'm one of these people who thinks modern medicine can do a ton of good but I just wish they wouldn't overprescribe so much. Sometimes that just makes life harder and really doesn't help. You can almost tell the great doctors from the bad ones by how quickly they will throw you on a drug without being certain you really need it.

Metoprolol is like that, if you really need it and it works with your body , it can greatly improve your life. Otherwise it's living heck to take it.

After all I have been through, every time I see someone struggling on here, I just want to given a hug a tellem it'll be ok. My heart goes out to them.

Right after my second hospital visit , I at down and made recordings to all my kids telling them how much they r loved just in case things went bad for me. And I really felt they might. I was a wreck. Cried and cried in those tapes. When I go bad and listen to them, I can hardly bear to hear my own words. Fortunately I'm still here and I remind people to stay calm because I myself have lived in some really dark and lonely days. When I was on all these drugs, I was such a mess that I'd just go sit outside in the sun and try and stop crying.

That's when I couldn't help but think of Shawshank Redemption... When he said... Get busy livin or get busy dying. So I put everything I had into improving and getting off these drugs except if they were absolutely necessary.

My doctor the other day said he couldn't believe the changes I've made in my lifestyle and that he wishes everyone would do that.

It's gonna be ok Sandra , just hang in there darlin.

I'm pulling for you, I truly am.

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You're never supposed to stop metoprolol abruptly! Doctor should have lowered your dose SLOWLY!! i.e. 200mg rice a day would go to 100mg once a day for 2-3 WEEKS, then 50mg, then 25mg.... I take 200mg a day and forgot for 4 days- I thought I was losing my mind!! Blurry vision, headaches, restlessness, fatigue, heart rate in the 120-130 range and confusion. You must have felt awful! I hope you called the doc or saw someone to lower your dose slowly. Take care!!!

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