Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 63)
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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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REPORT

Yes. It's still withdrawal. I stopped cold turkey for a 1 year and 2. The withdrawal have lessened but still persisted for a year. This last month has been great for me. Almost no depression or anxiety. No Xanax for a month. Just a little fatigue here and there. There are days I feel better than I ever have. I was on M for 10 years. You must take natural supplement and fix your adrenals, take magnesium. Do cleanses and enemas.

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Hi. I tried Atenolol, Metoprolol, Bisoprolol and Nebivolol, 4 different Beta Blockers in the last 2 years. They all have similar effects on your BP and HR and similar side effects. I am taking them for Spvt episodes. I tried to wean off from Bisoprolol a few Months ago, but heart racing was insane during a withdrawal and I had to go back on BBs.

I am taking a lower dose of Nebivolol (Bystolic) now (something like 6 or 12 Mg of Metoprolol, I am not 100% sure about conversion doses), but some side effects are again here, like with all BBs, too low blood pressure, feeling that your lungs don't want to breathe (even with pulse 70-ish), as if you gave a sleeping pill to your lungs or to a central nervous system which regulates our breathing. Even though doctors say that the dose is very low and that it shouldn't cause side effects or problems with a withdrawal (the same as they tell you with low doses of Metoprolol).

I tried to wean off/or too lower my dose from 2 BBs already (Bisoprolol and now Nebivolol, so it would be something like from 12 Mg of Metoprolol to 9 Mg of Metoprolol) and withdrawal was the same in both cases: higher pulse for weeks, insane anxiety (I even had problems with loud noises whenever I tried to lower my dose). It gets better over time though...

Anyway, if someone could help: did some of you who tried to lower your dose of Metoprolol also had huge dizziness when you lowered your dose? So, I wasn't dizzy before Beta Blockers. Also, I wasn't dizzy during BBs. But whenever I lowered my dose, I get some dizziness attacks after a physical activity: for example, if I walk for a few minutes, my pulse is ok (70-75-80), my BP is 120, but suddenly I feel as if I will faint because of how dizzy I feel (a feeling like you have zero blood or blood-circulation in your brain currently). Then I have to sit down and it gets better after 30 minutes of rest. And over time (a few weeks) those symptoms after walking get better and better. But then, if I try to lower my dose again (small amounts, like from 12 Mg to 9 Mg in Metoprolol measures, or from 9 Mg to 6 Mg after that), anxiety, racing pulse and dizziness after any activity kick in again.

I understand where elevated pulse is coming from when you lower your dose of Beta Blockers. And the same applies for anxiety when you lower your dose (until your body re-adjusts). And the same is with Blood pressure...

But does anyone have any experience or an idea where this dizziness is coming from? My BP before BBs was 130. My BP on a normal dose of BBs was 90-100. My BP now on a lower dose is around 110-115. So, my BP isn't high and it isn't low anymore. Actually, it would be logical to have dizziness at a BP 90-100, and not on a BP 115. Where is this dizziness coming from then? Thanks in advance, cheers

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I havent been on here much lately. I had a good week then hit me today. I have given up that its withdrawal. Something is wrong but I dont know what. I sat down tonight and just cried. I feel like ive given up. I dont know how else to cope. Im sensitive to everything that goes in my mouth. Im trying to work and raise two kids. Im done holding on hope that ill ever be okay again. Im 5 mo off today, no way its still withdrawal.

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I'm off that crap!!! Never again will I take a beta blocker!!! Caused nothing but trouble for me, emergency room 8 times, 6 times ended up in hospital having doctors and nurses tell me it's not from metropolol, and beta blockers, bull s***! I proved them wrong now that I'm weaned off it and don't take it anymore I don't have any problems like spiking blood pressure etc. Don't let doctors talk you into anything without doing some research first! They are not always right and won't admit it when they are wrong!!!!!

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Wonder how everyone is faring. I have had a very challenging few weeks. Everyone has been pretty quiet on here. Hopefully that's a good sign!

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Good to hear, Fuzzy! Wishing you the best!

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Hi Jimbo.....I am still slowly getting of the metop. I am down to 6mg twice a day and have been here for 2 weeks. I am taking my time! I feel okay, haven't had any psvts and my bp fluctuates as always. I never did take the cymbalta.....I hope the Dr. Isn't disappointed--my anxiety disappeared on it's own and I don't feel the need for meds. As for my aches and pains, I will go with an advil every few days. Thanks again for caring and answering my posts....

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John I did read on the warning label from my pharmacy that one of the side effects was a bad breath odor

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Sorry, only bottom paragraph re copper and anemia was supposed to post. Disregard the rest. Sorry folks!

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Copper message was for Sandra. Look up copper deficient anemia. Most doctors DON'T think about it
"
SUPPLEMENT LIST

Before you read the supplement list (click on the hypertext to the left) read the following guidelines about taking nutritional supplements.

SUPPLEMENTING WITH ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS

Taking nutritional supplements is an incredible tool that we have at our disposal. However, this is a tool with the proverbial double-edge. While it's possible to reverse a deficiency, correct an imbalance of nutrients, and thereby restore health, it is also possible to unbalance our body's nutrients and create disease.

You will read in many books on nutrition about the need to keep the B complex vitamins balanced. There are four B vitamins usually mentioned that need to be taken in approximately equal amounts: B-1 (thiamine), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3 (niacin or niacinamide), and B-6 (pyridoxine). This is very good advice because taking large amounts of some, but not all, of these can eventually create problems.

What most nutritionists and authors of books on nutrition fail to emphasize is that virtually all nutrients need to be kept in balance and that taking any one nutrient for enough time can create an imbalance which creates health problems.

For example, I always had read that vitamin C is wonderful, protects you from a myriad of diseases including cancer, and the more you take the better off you'll be. Linus Pauling, the Nobel prize winning scientist, wrote a book on vitamin C in which he reported keeping terminal cancer patients alive for long beyond expectation by giving them very large doses of vitamin C, sometimes up to 50 grams or more a day. This is a very large amount considering that the Minimum Daily Requirement is less than 100 milligrams and 1 gram is a large amount.

In 1997 on the basis of this information I was taking 10 grams of vitamin C every day and feeling great just as I expected. However, in the middle of feeling great I developed hyperthyroidism, which as you probably know is a very serious disease. In my subsequent studies I found that taking very large amounts of vitamin C can deplete copper. As you will read elsewhere, I feel that copper deficiency is a key factor that causes hyperthyroidism.

Other nutrients seem to work the same way. For example, taking excess vitamin E seems to aggravate hyperthyroidism because it depletes selenium, the mineral that works with vitamin E. Zinc, which is on every nutritionist's "must take" list, can deplete copper if taken in excess without also supplementing copper. The minerals manganese and chromium work as a pair in various functions and taking either one of them without the other can deplete the one not taken. These minerals are important for thyroid health.

Copper and iron work together to form hemoglobin. If you become deficient in either one, you can get anemic--either iron-deficiency anemia or copper-deficiency anemia. Many people have reported to me that they have been found anemic by their doctors and been given large amounts of iron to correct the problem. Usually the anemia failed to improve. One woman took close to 200 mgs of iron per day for a long time and when her anemia didn't improve, her doctor put her in the hospital for an iron-transfusion, a process in which an extremely large amount of iron is given intravenously. Not only did this not help, but she became extremely ill and was ill for days."

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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE start taking 8 mg copper daily at night. Copper deficiency is a serious cause of non responsive anemia . Those IV infusions are going to make you deathly ill if you are indeed copper deficient. So scary

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Ack! Ive been referred to an Oncologist/Hematologist to get intravenous iron. I couldnt tolerate the pills because I am so sensitive to them. They made me so lightheaded and dizzy. So now I am scared to death about the IVs. If I cant tolerate a pill, whats going to happen?? I still think I am having leftover symptoms from the metoprolol but I am also severely anemic. I cant take any thing to help me through all this!! So frustrated and upset :(

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Kris,
Metoprolol is contraindicated in patients with asthma!!! There are other drugs that can be given. My doctor specifically ask about asthma. I had it as a youngster but not adult however I still keep track of any shortness of breath developing!!
I hope you check and read my comment. Asthma definitely means avoid or tread cautiously with Metoprolol!

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Fuzzy, Cymbalta? Really? I'm no doctor, but if you're HR is low, I would think that the first step is to slowly get off the Metoprolol first and foremost before taking any other medication......that is, unless you absolutely need another med to treat another condition. In an ideal world, once you're off the M, your HR should go back up to normal, and your anxiety should somewhat subside as well. Of course, it doesn't work that way for everyone, but it has for many of us. I may be totally off base by saying this, but I honestly don't believe that there is a drug that'll treat the ill effects of Metoprolol in those who are sensitive to it. I really tend to believe that a person needs to let it work itself out of one's system very gradually. I also believe that the side effects of other drugs may only enhance the weaning and withdrawal periods into a state that can feel much worse, especially anti-depressants. At least this has been my experience. If you're currently at 6mg twice daily while feeling stable for a week or more, you can likely cut it to 3mg doses and stay on that until you've stabilized for another week or two. From there you can repeat the same process again if you feel it's necessary. The important thing is to take all the time you need, and only you can determine how much time is really necessary. While I truly believe that modern medicine can work wonders for those in need of it, I also believe that the majority of doctors don't have a clue about Metoprolol and why some folks seem to have such a severe sensitivity to it. Sorry if this came across as sounding like a rant of sorts, but it kind pisses me off that doctors will prescribe medicine with known side effects to treat ailments for which they know little or nothing about.

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Jimbo, I went to Dr. for my low pulse, which had pretty much stabilized after cutting metoprolol dosage in half and stopping my magnesium supplement. I walked out of there with a prescription for my anxiety and pain from arthritis...cymbalta 30 mg, to increase in 2 weeks to 60 mg! I took one pill and knew this was not the medication for me. I felt worse than i did on metoprolol... how did it go from metoprolol to cymbalta??
I will continue on my 6mg of metop. 2 times a day and will just have to tell Dr. that I could not tolerate the cymbalta!!

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I was on 25mg of metoprolol for 10 years for high blood pressure. I'm on day my 11 day and I must say it's the best I've felt in many years. The first 5/6 days were the most difficult. This forum helped me a great deal by knowing what to expect. It gave me reassurance these symptoms were all part of the withdraw. I cut my dosage back to 12.5 for 5 days then went without any. I saw my doctor on day 5 of my half day dosage. He said my dosage was low to stop them completely. I was waking up dizzy and with blurred vision and having blurred vision during the day , my blood pressure was low. This is why I started to reduce the dosage, prier to my doctor's appointment. Thank You to all who shared their stories, it helped very much. :)

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Just an update, been pretty busy, my project ends tomorrow. Everything went fine. I restarted metoprolol, took 25mg extended succinate from Dr Reddy's lab for two days.

Then I rethought the idea and split them in two. Probably a smart move. I take a lot of other stuff nowadays, supplements like choline, ALCAR, and PEA, curcumin et al.

My energy level has been high which I needed. The first two weeks went good but I wasn't satisfied. Then I revised my work process and by last Friday I found myself on the verge of finishing my scope of work a week before the deadline. (I have a tremendous amount of self control when put under the microscope.

I try to live right, think right, and the outcome was more than everyone expected. I need the money. I worked even harder. They want me to work from home, I have some time off, for at least a few weeks.

The only issues which may or may not have been metoprolol related was not quite sleeping as well as I should have, The other difference was a huge appetite. Fortunately I had a kitchenette and an expense account which I stayed well within the limits but still eating like a king, with healthy stuff I usually can't afford.

My plan is to stop the metoprolol in a day or two. I will get home and get rested. Tuesday is my semiannual appt with my primary md. He is very orthodox and I think he wants me back on the statin, at least. But he doesn't call those shots,my cardiologist does. My concern is my diet on the road. Hopefully I have gained weight. I had to eat more to feed my brain. That's where it goes.

All the best to the people in this thread who have big problems with metoprolol. I will touch base after I get home. All is well on my end.

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I had those things to, yet my Dr. Said it was just acute tachycardia.. i got these symptoms after raking acyclovir for shingles.
Has anyone went threw the same symptoms? My life has not been the same either. I'm on 6 Mg of MT Tartate and have symptoms coming off, numbness right arm, occasionally pain in chest, joint pain in right shoulder, tiredness and dry cough. My lungs are congested more but I have asthma. It gets worse o ming off. I have had no rapid heartbeat and was doing great at 12.5
Dr, thinks I'm ok now. Have not stopped yet the 6mg, should I cut in fourths?

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Lauren, you gave me a little hope today. Thank you! Do you get any lightheadedness still?

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Fuzzy, for what it's worth, some doctors seem to "get it" when it comes to the issues we're having and others don't. I have found that the majority of doctors fall into the latter category. More often than not they want to prescribe alternative drugs as opposed to treating the source of the problem. My hunch is that most of them don't even know what the source of the problem is. Pretty pathetic, if you ask me. I was fortunate enough to be in a position to avoid any alternative drugs, and I felt all along that the ONLY solution was to get off the Metoprolol once and for all. One doctor told me that "we need to listen to our own bodies, for only we can truly know what our bodies are trying to tell us." That's perhaps the best advice that any doctor has ever given me. I just found that if I kept my weight down, eat properly, and exercise daily, that my BP and HR would eventually settle in to where it needs to be, and it did. If your BP and HR are within the normal range, I would definitely continue with the weaning process while avoiding any other medications unless it's absolutely necessary.

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