Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 64) (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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Tonyia.
I have had a horrible experience with (M) . it took me a year to get off of it . I have had horrific side effects. I was taking it for hbp and it didn't even work at times..

Anyway; I am wondering have you tried any natural remedies such as magnesium , taurine, L Carnitine CoQ10.. I would suggest finding Dr. Stephen Sinatra or Peter Glidden on utube and watching them.. Dr.Glidden suggests that Afib could be a condition caused by the spine and back and nothing to do with the heart. At a young age I cant imagine going through this .. but doctors seem to be of no help. I would also look into Hawthorn but it does conflict with (M) so please be careful.. unless you are off (M) I am not sure you can use Hawthorn . I started using the tincture when I was down to 6mgs. of (M) and I am doing find.. It seems to help with racing heart and all..

Also I wouldn't come off of (M) so fast no matter what any doctor says.. this stuff to me was like crack and I had to lengthen the time I took it and wait in my house to see what happened.. so instead of cutting it I just lengthened the time I took it. it was rough for awhile but I did it.. after lengthening the time for a few weeks then I would cut it down but not too much.. I went down very slowly.. I did not do what the doctor told me but instead went down more slowly and yet still had horrific side effects but it was way better than what the doctor told me to do.

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Bee,
Thank you. I will check into the supplements. I have been off (M) for 3 days now since that was the instruction. I have been on cardizem. Dr. Told me the cardizem would slow the side effects of coming off the (M). It seems to be better today. He said coming off a calcium channel blocker was better than a beta blocker. Not sure if I'm trading one evil for another but the plan is once I have gotten off metoprolol then I'll wean the cardizem. I have still been having anxiety and high HR but today seems a little better. I am mentally exhausted. Currently I am iced into my house but once it thaws and I can get out I'll get some of the supplements. Thank you.

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Tonyia.
okay.. when you get a chance also check out amino acids .. look online or ask someone in the health food store.. when I was having the anxiety I found an amino acid called L Theanine.. it is good for stress and anxiety.. not sure what to call the adrenal rushes I had but hey sent me straight to the bathroom in the middle of the night.. I am trying things to see which works the best.. You can do.. I don't put too much faith in western medicine anymore..... but doctors don't want to hear natural cures..
so also when you get to the healthfood store ask about natural things for anxiety..

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Bee,
So I haven't tolerated coming off well at all. I can barely sleep for waking up with bursts of adrenaline and anxiety for no reason. Dizzy and short of breath with pending heart when I walk any distance more than like around the house. And I keep getting these weird chest cramps/slight pains. Doctor said it doesn't have anything to do with this but I think it's where my heart muscle is sore from the runs of tachycardia since ibuprofen seems to help. I also have a sinus infection right now which I hope is the reason I feel even worse in general. I have ordered some if the supplements since I am either working or snowed in this week alternately and the stores have been closing due to weather. Cardiologist told me to cold turkey all cardiac meds since I was having such a hard time by Sunday and take (M) as needed. I've had to take it 4 times in 24 hours but I'm taking 6.25 mg (1/4 tab) to help symptoms. My hope was that as I heal from the infection I wouldn't have to go back to a regular schedule and a higher regular dose but it doesn't seem to work. I started a protein shake with aminos in it 2 days ago but I'll look for the last one you mentioned when I get home. I hope once I start the supplements it will help. I have an appt for my old PCP Friday to get some labs drawn to check thyroid and such since I have a history of nodules and PCOS just to make sure I'm not jacked up from the bouncing around meds and all the problems that come with. Thank you for all your advice. How long did it take you to see improvement on these supplements and what doses are you taking of each?

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Oh; Rats Tonyia.. I feel for you............. When I was getting off of the (M) I was having the same symptoms as you.. I walked a few feet or even got out of bed and my heart would race .. I lost a year of my life staying in the house most of the time trying to figure this out.. I even got the angina, headaches, loss of breath, shakes, tremors, nightmares, palpitations, etc.etc. What I did was I came off as slow as possible.. I started at 100 mgs. and then I cut down to 75 which seemed okay but then I decided to do it more slowly so instead of cutting I lengthened the time I took the dose.. so if I took a dose at 10 am I sat in my bed and waited until 11 am .. and then I kept extending the time each and every day I took 75mgs.. After a few weeks of this my heart seemed okay so only at that time I cut down to 50mgs.. Then I would extend that 50mgs and then after a few weeks I would cut that down a bit.. Not much but only to 37 mgs.. This went on for months and I still was having side effects. I couldn't do much but I wanted to stay in and get it over with.. The key is to stay on one dose as you go down for awhile or until you feel stable.. I was on 50mgs. for three months. I was on 37 mgs. for a few months and so on and so on .. this took me a whole year . I took my last pill three weeks ago and even tho ugh I did it slow I am still experiencing tremors, shakes, racing heart and getting up in the middle of the night and having stomach issues but now the racing heart goes down rather quickly. praise God.. In the beginning I couldn't even get out of bed but now.

What I would suggest is going down slower or if you have to go back on the (M) and go down way slower. At one point I had a setback when I reached 75mgs. and then went down to 50.. it was too fast.. All kinds of horror stuff so I went back up to 75 again for a few months.. You will know how you feel.... when you feel stable cut back...You don't even sound like you are on a lot but this drug is like crack as I call it.. The body wants the drug. Its called detox and the body is used to this drug and its needs to become clear out of the body and that could take months or even up to a year.. I have been drinking lemons and someone also suggested to me to buy something called Limonene to clear out the liver.. look into that..

I am sorry as I don't know what else to tell you.........but again all I know is that we need to come off of this drug as slow as possible. Don't believe your doctor. Its your and your body and you know yourself.. Also I have read and heard that many people such as us are highly allergic to drugs and this drug is probably on that list and that is why we have so many problems.. Do not do this cold turkey.. I repeat do not do this cold turkey.. I had two episodes this week at night.. racing heart and ran to the bathroom with the runs... but atleast the racing heart stops but that was two nights without sleep.... Oh; when you get the racing heart get some celtic sea salt and put a teaspoon in some water and drink it down really fast.. if you need more salt then do more and more water.. or get a glass of water with ice in it. very cold ice and drink that down really fast or you can put your hands in a bucket of ice that will help also.........Uh!!! I hope I made some sense... let me know...

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Hi again Tonyia, I forgot your first post so I went back and re-read it and wanted to say that did the doctors know why you had this issue when you were 20 and then 30 ish..? then I was thinking you even had an ablation and that didn't correct the problem and then the doctor gave you more drugs? Why didn't the ablation cure the problem? How many drugs were you on and how long?

Anyway; I also forgot to mention that organic unsulphured blackstrap molasses helps with heart issues and racing heart... when I feel my heart is going bonkers I swallow a tablespoon of black strap molasses. That and like I said in the other post sea salt can help... I read and learned that the heart needs iron and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium.. Have you checked your electrolytes.?.. I would suggest when you see your doctor for the thyroid they check your electrolyte balance.. If that is out of whack you may get heart symptoms. personally I only use magnesium and get my potassium from food and calcium I don't really get much of but if you are going to the doctor anyway then check the electrolytes.. some people drink pedialyte to get their electrolytes.. I would think you need to find the causes of your issues and then go from there.. and don't tell the doctor what you are doing.. Just get the info... they don't believe much in natural cures .. and also be careful what you are taking as meds and even natural cures interact with each other. you can check interactions on the web.. also do you eat chocolate or sugar .. that could also raise your heart rate along with MSG and certain foods and chemicals.. Can you also tell me the amino acid powder drink you are drinking? you have to be careful of sugar and caffeine.. I had to give up caffeine and chocolate as it did not help with the racing heart ... So also look at your diet, what you are eating and drinking..

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Many years ago, in my twenties,I was briefly on Inderal (another beta blocker) and my lipids went crazy. A few months after discontinuing the medication, my numbers were back in normal range, with my total cholesterol having dropped 97 points.

For the past few years, I have been on metoprolol and experienced similar cholesterol problems, though no doctor would admit that there's a possibility that metoprolol is causing the jump. I recently started working with a new doctor, who immediately suggested a connection, especially in view of my experience with the prior medication, and have phased off of metoprolol.

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Hi Bee, I just read your post and I am kind of in the same boat. I have only been off metorporolol for 5 days now but when excersing or going upstairs I get a really all over weak feeling and short of breath, do you think this is from that? I had it while I was on this horrible medication and that's why they took me off but pharmacist says no that's out of your system in just 2 days you need to be checked but I had my heart checked and was told everything is fine. I have anxiety and this just isn't helping. Thanks for any info you can give me. Can you also e-mail me a response I stumbled on this site by accident, glad I did, but not sure I can find it again. Thanks-Deb {edited for privacy}

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Sorry. Forgot to say how long on Metroprolol. It must be a couple of years. I know I have been "switched" re beta-blocker twice as some of them give me a dry annoying constant cough. Overall I have been on high blood pressure medication for 14 years.

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...and it all begins on the very first day of life with the newborn HepB vaccine..By the time child is 3 about 49 vaccines are given..These vaccines are loaded with toxic preservatives like aluminum , thymerosol and formaldehyde etc. The child may be sick before he even comes out of the hospital.Big Pharma sets you up to be a lifetime customer....There is no money I'm the healthy..

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Ruby,

yes the (M) is poisen.. I took it for two years... Just weaned off of it and its been almost a month and still heart rate goes up for now reason.. still getting some shakes and tremors but getting better.. I haven't had much of a life this past year.. had to be in a lot due to side effects and could just do basic necessities of life. but its been a nightmare... I am so frustrated as I cant have a life yet... Like when my heart rate gets elevated I start taking a bunch of things.. Backstrap molasses, magnesium, L theanine, sea salt etc. and it goes up if I just walk up the bedroom stairs. so I how can I go out and feel normal? I am so afraid to take a walk although I do walk around in stores a lot . I am so afraid to exercise.and I miss it so much... I cant believe its been two years for you.. makes me even more frustrated when I hear worse stories.. there was nothing wrong with me except high blood pressure but I can get that down with natural things.. Now I have more issues due to this drug...

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I had another night of the shakes and tremors and then heart rate going bonkers. couldn't sleep and heart rate all over the place.. Then I had to run to the bathroom three times with diarrhea... I am not sure if the diarrhea is associated but thinking its the adrenal rushes ... Palpitations but thank God they go down faster now.. I am still shakey and afraid to check my heart rate.. feel like when this happens I got hit by a mack truck...........I am sort of shocked as I did all the right things.. Weaned off very slowly within a whole year's time and did it very carefully and read a lot about it and assumed I did it right and now its been a month and still getting this.. I also take things to counteract the affects but sometimes they work and sometimes they don't... an expert on health on another health board told me that the drug remains in the body for months until its all out and to get something called Limonene to get the drug out of the liver as it could be stored big time in there.. As the drug releases from the liver that is what the side effects are.. I just assumed the drug would go out more slowly.. I am kind of surprised.. but I did drink some lemons yesterday to see if that would help... I guess it didn't.. I am sort of freaking out because Now I cant tell what is the drug and what isn't and no I am not seeing a doctor... As per others advice I am also using Taurine, Magnesium L theanine, COQ10 and some other things but that is my regular vitamin regimen ... Thank You

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Just read about all the problems that people have had getting off metoprolol. I have never liked taking any medicines, not even aspirin. However, a short hospital stay put me in the clutches of internal medicine doctors and cardiologist. I have only been taking metoprolol for a couple of weeks. Would stopping cold turkey now cause any or all of the problems others have posted? I am wondering about Lipitor also. Been taking it for the same amount of time.

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To everyone ;
What I would do is try and find alternatives for the high blood pressure and yes I would think no matter how long you were on it please wean of off it very slowly.. While you are weaning off of it find other alternatives for high blood pressure. There are many out there......if you don't find an alternative then add some other less insane medication and add natural things .. these things lower blood pressure but everyone is different. Find the one that works for you .. Apple cidar vinegar in water lowers bp.. Organic braggs ... Magnesium lowers bp, L Carnitine, L Argenine, Olive Leaf, Beet root juice, Taurine, COQ10, BComplex, Niacin, Vit.C , Vit.D, Hibiscus Tea lowers bp, Sea salt in water can lower bp, Alpha lopic acid lowers bp.. look up natural cures and add these in and see if the bp go down and then wean off the medication very slowly.... try all kinds of things as one size does not fit all..Also bp is very tricky... Check your diet, weight, exercise... Even losing ten pounds will lower the bp.. low salt and lots of veggies and drink a lot of water all day long.. sometimes being dehydrated raises blood pressure.. exhaust all natural cure and see what happens.. sometimes combinations of meds and natural remedies are good but I would not take beta blocker.. but all meds have side effects..
do you own research..............Oh; also stress can raise bp so maybe meditation is in order.. I know that EFT tapping lowers the blood pressure.

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22 AUGUST 2014 My last pill. Today 09 MARCH 2015, I'm still not 100%. I was only on it for a month! 25mg a day. DR had me quit cold turkey. I still wonder if I may die from my heart. BAD DRUG! DR's dont really believe it, or dont wanna admit. I try to stay off all RX now, and take strictly over the counter. Vitamin, Fish Oil, Baby Aspirin, Folic Acid, Glucosamine.

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Melissa
I have the burning mostly in my chest. I haven't taken any in over 6 months. All the nausea headache dizziness etc. has gotten allot better or gone away. The burning really scares me though. of course my cardiologist says it's unrelated months ago, and other Dr's that know him won't comment.

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Derek, I had similar symptoms a few years back & acupuncturist said it was Adrenal Exhaustion....doctors just sent me for heart tests which all came back ok!! I researched Adrenal Exhaustion & with the help of a natural nutritionist, I am back on top of it! I am still trying to wean off some of the meds the docs put me on (which haven't helped & are difficult to get off)!!! Google Adrenal Exhaustion then find a good natural nutritionist.

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BEE: are you doing anything to heal your gut? Take some probiotics. I was having some major stomach issues and severe anxiety and started taking Diatemaceous Earth and apple cider vinegar and my stomach healed very quickly.
I am now down to 25% of the original dose of Metoprolol and eager to be done, but taking it slow. I am sleeping better, and am actually quite fatigued but I am just assuming it will take time for my body to readjust. I didn't have palpitations with this drop, I'll post results again after I drop the final 25% down to zero.

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Hi
Yes I am drinking apple cidar vinegar and dandelion tea and chanca piedra herbal tea for the gut and expelling stones and drinking beet root .. I also drink lemons .. I haven't done the milk thistle but I used to take probiotics but haven't done that in awhile. I just don't want to take too many things ... I believe my gut is getting cleaned out but it seems as if it takes awhile... but will look again into the probiotics.

I will start walking again Joyce.......I am just so afraid of my heart rate going bonkers as it still does at times for no reason at all. I could just be sitting around and it goes up for no reason and then I am very uncomfortable and cant sleep even with taking the L theanine and magnesium and Hawthorn.. I have a really good resting heart rate so when it goes up just sitting it is very uncomfortable and it is hard to get it down.... Oh; and I also drink a lot of water...

thank you ..

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Bee, where I'm from, some heart centers have a consultation where they monitor you while excersizing and can help you develop a plan. You need to know your target heart rate so you don't over do it. I monitored my heart rate when I started working out in a hospital gym. I didn't have heart issues while excersizing. Most of my heart issues happened when going or being in a resting state.

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