Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 36)
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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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I want to stop taking Metoprolol (25mg) and go back to Atenolol... Can I just stop? I've just been on it for a week and want to start Atenolol right away.

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But, long story short, my doctor told me the same thing when I was on 25 mg of Metoprolol. He said that I should just be able to quit with no problem whatsoever. As it turned out, I did a six-week taper, but that probably wasn't long enough, for I went through a terrible withdrawal period with several visits to the ER. Also, if I remember correctly, it took me about two months before my BP stabilized back to normal. I'm only about 10 years younger than you are, but there's no doubt in my mind that the Metoprolol has done a considerable amount of damage to my central nervous system, for I've become extremely sensitive to nearly any drug I take these days.

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Patty, how long have you been off of the Metoprolol?

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Re: Jimbo (# 1848)

I agree completely with your assessment the "doctors don't have a clue." I was prescribed metoprolol after a minor heart incident and within 3 months it had made me so anxious and agitated that I asked to get off. My judgment was getting poor, I was going to make drastic changes in my will, etc. Called the nurse, who consulted the doctor, who said okay--but issued no instructions at all to taper. (The MD did not react to the terrible anxiety.) The nurse commented almost as an aside "you're only on 25 mg so that shouldn't cause any problems with getting off."

What the doctor should have checked from the beginning is the interaction of metoprolol with antidepressants. I take three types and have for years, under the care of a psychopharmacologist. They were all listed in my chart. It seems SSRI antidepressants (my primary) can enhance metoprolol's effects 4-6 times. So why did the cardio not take that into consideration before even prescribing it? Getting off helped my anxiety somewhat but now I am running higher BP than ever--150s and 160s are routine. I feel pretty alarmed. Is this the way meto kills people after they quit it? (PS - I am a
74 yo woman--older women are supposed to be especially vulnerable to meto's effects, I believe).

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Re: Good2bhere 51 Male (# 1798)

Now off all my meds, blood thinners, beta blockers, statins. I feel great. Everything improved, though took a few months to detox from the meds. A few things that, I feel, really work for me. No Dairy, No vegetable oil (apart from a very little coconut oil for cooking), eating fatty meat (cooked in its own fat), eating lots of vegetables. No supplements or vitamins. Five months in from quitting oil, statins, dairy, and beta blockers, my most recent blood work results kind of speak for themselves. I'm happy with the blood results, and will see what results will be in another 3 months time. To summarize:

Blood pressure: Normal 114 / 70 (was about the same while on meds)
Weight: down 20kg (-25%)
LDL (bad cholesterol): increased +10% (always expected this result, after stopping statins)
HDL (good cholesterol): Increased +16%
Triglycerides (fat in the blood): less (- 40%)
HbA1C diabetic profile: down to 38 (from 46); Normal is less than 42, 42-52 is pre-diabetic, Diabetic is over 53

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Paul, sorry if I misunderstood your question, but do you realize that having the sort of chest pain you're speaking of is a direct result of Metroprolol dependency and withdrawal? Why take even more prescription drugs when the root of the problem is the Metoprolol itself?

I was never prescribed the drugs you're speaking of, but I did have a cardiologist prescribe a drug called Ranexa to treat angina. I didn't take it because I knew that the cause of my angina was from the Metoprolol. My point in my last post was to simply state that the vast majority of doctors don't have a clue as to how to get their patients off of this stuff once they've become dependent on it, and from what I can gather from your posts, you have many of the typical symptoms of Metoprolol dependency. My angina symptoms completely disappeared once I became free of the drug.

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If you've read my post above, I'm on Metoprolol. I tried to get off but had to start again after 11 days. But my question is, has anybody heard of PROCORALAN FOR ANGINA? Or Ivabradine? When I called my Dr. to tell him I was having chest pain after 11 days off Metoprolol he didn't call me back. His nurse did and told me to go back on them. I asked if he wanted to see me and her reply was he didn't say he did. I felt he should've had me in for a check and discussion on what do next. What an assembly line these doctor's run now. If someone has had experience with the meds I listed above please let me know. Thanks and good luck to all on this. It's for their input.

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Paul, sorry to hear of your Metoprolol trouble and for the late reply, but it might be a good idea to look back into this thread a bit, for there's a lot of information to be found here.

The thing is, some of us obviously become very sensitive to this drug, and over time it can become increasingly difficult to get off of it. What the doctors either fail to recognize or to tell you is that some of us become highly dependent upon the drug, and it requires a carefully-planned weaning process followed by a withdrawal period in order to fully heal. With that being said, I'd highly recommend finding a doctor who's familiar with this kind of thing so that he or she can get you on a program to begin the process. However, that can be easier said than done. The healing process usually begins with the idea of slowly tapering your daily dosage. For example, if you're taking 25 mg per day, cut that back to something like 20 mg per day for a week or 10 days or until the dosage begins to stabilize. Once it stabilizes, then repeat the same tapering until you're down to something like 5 mg per day. We're all different, so it's something that you'll have to learn to manage on your own to some degree. The key is to listen to what your body is telling you. Once you're on the lowest possible dosage, you can likely go cold turkey, but it could still take a rather lengthy time period before you'll be feeling well.

This is my opinion only, but I honestly believe that this drug really isn't much different than becoming addicted to benzos, opioids, or many of the other addictive drugs out there. The problem is that it's quickly prescribed to many people who will unknowingly develop issues with the drug, but it also seems that the vast majority of doctors don't have a clue as to how to get their patients off of it. I was on it for only two years, but it took me at least six months to begin feeling somewhat normal again, and it took about a year before feeling fully recovered. The important thing to know is that you can do it, but just be sure to take your time while never allowing yourself to become too disappointed with your progress.

Wishing you the best!

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I took metoprolol 25 mg for 10 years and side effects progressed over the 10 years to the point where I couldn't hardly walk. I got a hold of my cardiologist and left a message for him to contact me, in which his nurse called me and told me to slit a pill in half, take it for two days and then stop and I'd be done. I felt good for 10 days. I went to my personal physician and he said to continue and we'll see what happens. Now I'm having chest discomfort and some pain, but not sure if it's withdrawals or what? Should i go back on the metoprolol or what? Getting access to doctor's today isn't easy and I think my cardiologist should have called me in to go through all of this with me. I can go on and on forever. Depressed and confused, don't know what to do...

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Hi Im on minax 50mg been on it for three years my feet went at first numbness and loss of balance then 12 months on i was driving one day and got very lightheaded nausea whet to emergency told me i had vertigo,2nd time to emergency told me i was on to much blood pressure tablets,now the 3rd time i went tested my heart,blood clots this has been going on for 12 months dizzy from as soon as i take this Minax everyday ive said to my doctor could it be the minax No hes Says it doesnt have these symptoms just want my life back

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I have now been without Metoprolol for seven months and still have symptoms every day with a heavy heartbeat preferably at the end of the day when I am tired. Take different spice medication to calm down and get to sleep. People on this site say it takes about a year to get the body used to handle adrenaline as before you started with Metoprolol. It is good to take Magnesium Taurate which calms the heart and even E-vitamin to stop pressure over the breast. It is really hard to stop. You must try to do it gradually. I think it is meant from the drug company to take the rest of your life, but for me it was given for very questionable reasons. Hope you can have support here and please read all text on this forum for Metoprolol. There is a lot of help.

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Hey, I am relieved to hear I am not alone going through these horrible side effects. I have been on beta blockers since December 2016 for mvp. Propranolol gave me weakness & lightheadedness so I changed to atenolol which then gave me tremors, cloudy head, blurry vision, insomnia & weakness. Then I was put back again on propranolol, yet still didn't improve until I was put on 25mg metoprolol succinate ER in August of this year (2017). I didn't find this drug in our pharmacies so I started taking metoprolol tartrate 50mg divided in 1/2 (25mg) morning and evening. Seemed to work well but only took this for a month then found the succinate (pink/orange in color) and switched to it. The first few days were hell but later got used to it. I also took it for a month. Then I went to buy it again and the one I am taking now is revelol xl 50mg. I do cut it in half. It's white in color. It has given me hell. I feel weakness, shortness of breath, painful left ankle, heavy arms and legs, raised HR and hypotension (106/56). I decided to lower the dose to 12.5mg for 5 days now and the withdrawal symptoms seem to be flowing in. But at least the BP has become normal. And the Doctor wants me to be on this drug for six months, I really don't think I'll manage. The side effects are too much. I am actually planning to completely go off this med. Anyone with mvp kindly advise on how you managed to live with this condition without being on medication. Looking forward to your response.

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Unhappy (# 1840) --

Keep at it Unhappy.. I did the same thing, then took the dose once a day (12.5 mg metro tartrate) for a week then went off altogether on Oct, 21.. 3 days ago.. I feel much better but am now adjusting to not taking this poison .. I take no other drugs and believe it or not, I go to the chiropractor to bring down the BP.. IT WORKS.... Like others here I'm glad to be rid of this problem and ask myself why would I want to take a drug which is mfg'd in India, a place where the water isn't fit to drink? I also fired my doctor for not helping be get off this drug...

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I am having same symptoms & I was wondering myself how long before the dizziness goes away? It's been 9 days since I stopped metoprolol.

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Re: Shanny (# 1840)

Even after the meds are out of your system your bodies adrenaline needs to readjust. That's what metoprolol does to your body. It blocks your natural adrenaline and now your body does not know how to deal with its own natural levels. That's why you need to wean off the meds very slowly.

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I am glad to see the post. I started metoprolol 4 months ago 25mg once a day. The symptoms of depression anxiety dizziness and extreme drowsiness , drove me to the point of stopping the drug. I tried to stop cold turkey because I didn't think I would have withdrawal because I was not on the medication for a long time , it instantly ran by blood pressure and heart rate very high. I got back on and after 2 weeks went down to 12.5 once daily and my blood pressure went up again very high , I decided to stop again cold turkey and the symptoms from stopping landed me in ER twice because I thought I was having a heart attack. To be exact my symptoms were chest pain, palpatations , shortness of breath, irregular heart beats, anxiety, shakiness, hot flashes, increased Heart rate, dizziness , extreme tiredness . I though it was difficult adjusting to the med, the affects of coming off were almost unbearable. What's ironic is my cardiologist told me there are no effects of coming off the metoprolol. I am a registered nurse in the Emergency Room , and I was shocked to hear him tell me this. Yes it true the medication leaves the body in about 35 hours after you take the last dose , sometimes longer depending on your metabolism, but understand it's not the medication in the system that's causing the symptoms, it's the medication not going in your body anymore that's causing the symptoms. Just wanted to say that because a lot of people are worried about how long it takes the med to leave the body , probably thinking it causing them these symptoms.

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Been taking half of 25mg of metoprolol titrate in the am then other in the pm want to come off this drug because of side effects what is the best way to stop this drug

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Re: Darlene (# 1836)

I'm not sure why they put you on this med but I do know that the doctors and pharmacist offer no works of assistance when you are trying to get off of it. They are quick to put you on this horrible Med but do not want to take any responsibility for helping you come off of it. If your doctor is like all the others I would say that this is why you are still waiting for a phone call. I have to take action on my own to get off of metroprolol. I was only on 50 mg once a day for a year but did not see the some of the side effects that were slowly coming on over time. Some very stupid doctors prescribe this Med for hypertension which should never happen. I cut my dosage in half for two weeks(25mg) and then in half for another two weeks (12.5mg) and then in half again for another two weeks 6.25mg. I am not saying that it was easy because there are still side effects but they are much more tolerable. Even at the end of this weaning process when I went off of the Metoprolol completely I still had some side effects for about another 3 weeks. All through this process I was having widely fluctuating BP and a High Heart rate sometimes around 115 for long periods of time, slight Angina and the scariest was the Anxiety Attacks that would come and go. During the weaning process the Angina stopped and the Heart Rate came back down by the end of the first two weeks. When I cut the dosage in half again these withdrawal side effects came back but stabilized within a week. The last two weeks side effects were much milder. when I went completely off the Meds after this last step my BP and Heart Rate were fairly normal but I still continued to have mild Anxiety Attacks for about another two weeks. My doctor now has put me on Lisinopril (5mg). I found that with he 5mg dosage my BP was actually too low so I had to cut my dosage in half to 2.5mg. I am now starting some activity and may not have to stay on this Med if all goes well. Hope my story helps because I doubt if the doctor that prescribed Metroprolo to you will. Final word of advice! If the doctor tells you to just stop taking this Med DON'T DO IT !!! You must wean off of it or you could find yourself in Emergency!

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I am happy to say that my abstinens from Metoprolol is almost disappeared after seven month of terrible problems. I have stopped taking Hawthorn and only take one pill of e-vitamin, which is a normal dose compared to the six I took when it was wearst. I hope it will stay so. Thanks for all help here.

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Re: Steve (# 17)

Very good point. Hopefully the JAMA and FDA will get this message and get serious about it.
I've been on Metoprolol for 3 wks and have developed chest pains (never suffered chest pains before), breathing sifficultues, bowel movements are tan and grainy.
I want off of this stuff but to date I'm still waiting on a callback from my doctor. It's been 3 days.

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