Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 66)

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

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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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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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Good to hear, Fuzzy! Wishing you the best!

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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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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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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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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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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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Danny- was the anxiety the worst part ? I have been off 5 months too and now taking Lexapro but its been hard especially since it makes you feel worse in the beginning. My doc does not want to give me xanax or and of those type of drugs for now .

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It was all bad. Varying levels of depression, fatigue and anxiety all over lapping at different times of the day. It was hard to function. My doctor prescribed Xanax. I researched it and was scared to take it but was desperate. I needed to function and go to work. The Xanax really helped control my anxiety. I was able to sleep and function better. For months I thought, "well now I'm going to be addicted to a new drug." But no. As my body normalized I needed less Xanax and now haven't used it for a month. (after tapering off, I was dosing every other day and so on). I have been taking rhodiola and its helped over time with the anxiety.

As for the depression and fatigue, I tried anti depressants for a week and didn't like the side effects. I just prayed it would get better.. It did. It just took more than a year and days of doubting what I had weren't withdrawals anymore. I can feel my body trying to heal itself now. It's just takes time. I was on M for so long. I don't feel guilty about the Xanax anymore. I'm actually thankful because it helped me sleep and function.

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Hey JR, I was wondering how you are doing. I saw Lauren posted and Is still putting up a good fight. I was doing pretty good until I think I over did it at the gym the other day. Now the anxiety has reared its ugly head a lot stronger than it has been. Prayers for all.

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Cjj88-i have been struggling pretty bad with the anxiety . I started taking lexapro again but have to really give it some to kick in . Last i only took it for 3 weeks . I need to give it a full 6 weeks . Every thing else is normal and but anxiety is horrible when it kicks in. How about you taking anything for anxiety ?

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The doctor prescribed Ativan but I am scared to take it...just fighting with it the best I can. I'm sorry we are having to deal with this.

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