Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 90)

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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JR- mine is moderate to severe so they have me on Humira. With my medicine sensitivity, you can imagine how rough I feel 24/7.

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Tracy, how long did it take for your withdrawl symptoms to disapear?

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Hello,

I just found this site and I am relieved that there are others out there that understand! I was on Metropolol 25mg a day for 6 months for High BP; I started to experience side effects like weakness and lightheadedness and two times i felt like passing out, so i weaned off of this med about 2 months ago. I weaned off in a 2 week period, but the withdrawal has been horrible! I have been weak, short of breath, anxiety (which i never had before), suffered a panic attack and almost passed out, heart palpitations, no energy what so ever, stomach clenching, mild headaches, body soreness and fatigue.. just so many side effects, I've been off 2 months now, will things get better back to normal? How long have you guys suffered withdrawal symptoms? Any info is greatly appreciated!

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2nd Post: Trying to wean myself off more gradually. Went from 2 pills a day to 1 in the morning and 1/2 at night. Then down to 1/2 in morning, 1/2 at night. Now down to 1/2 in morning 1/4 at night. 2 weeks at each level. Having stomach problems I did not associate with withdrawal, but after reading others posts, may be an associated symptom. I am having occasional bouts with anxiety, which is not unusual for me, and use clonazapam to get through those. I have used conazapam before, and know I can wean myself off it successfully when this roller coaster is over (if it ever is!!). Reading some people are still struggling after 2 years is discouraging.

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Hi Anthony- I only took metoprolol, for 1 1/2 then tapered off over 3 weeks. The side effects from the met were horrible. No the withdrawls are no better. I have experienced all of the side effects you mentioned...today is 10days w/o. I am starting to notice my anxiety & palpatations are easing a little. I have moments thought out the day, that I feel normal. I'm hoping this will all clear up soon!

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Hi Kris thanks for the reply! I understand there are moments when i feel fine but then the anxiety kicks in out of nowhere and i feel short of breath at times throughout the day aswell!.. I am 2 months off and still having random flares of these withdrawal symptoms, they are not as bad as the 1st month, im just hoping they keep on easing off soon.

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I never imagined a medication would make your whole body lose control like this.

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I just started a taper of this drug on Monday. Been on it a year. Couldn't figure out what was making me so sick as I have MS and chalk everything up to that. I always ran a little high on my BP but when I go to appointments is way worse I truly believe I have what's called white coat hypertension some may dismiss it but my blood pressure is always off the chart whenever I'm in a medical facility I ended up in the ER the other day. So sick it's hard to put into words. Well it's the metoprolol succ ER. I was in 100mgs. 50 in am 50 pm. It's done nothing much for the BP. What it has done is given me 30lbs and very sick. I'm on a 6 week taper to get off the drug. I never should have agreed to take it. Hope to do ok as I'm told withdrawing from this drug too fast is dangerous. Anyone's thoughts on this are appreciated. Thank you

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Starry
I was put on this for high blood pressure also, but did nothing for me at all. I was on it for 6 months and tapered off over a 3 week period. Coming off this horrible med will be tough, but you just have to be patient and remain calm. I am now 3 months off of thid and i am barely starting to feel my normal self again, i still get random palpitations every now and then and a little weakness and fatigue, but it is a whole lot better then the first 2 months which were horrible! Just keep in mind that things will get better as the days go by.

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Jimbo. How much X did you get. I'm on the lowest dose. Have been for a year and only use 1/2 at a time if I need it never developed any dependency. Are you on a higher dose? Takes me 4 to go through 30 tablets Rx. Could they have started you too high? It's helping me get through the taper of the poison better known as Metoprolol hope you are doing better

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Anthony, I have been on Beta blockers for 2 years. But I was weaning off slowly for around 7-8 Months.
I am now off drugs for 7 Months, and lately I have been feelinng 90% normal.

Anxiety and panic attacks lasted for 5 Months, lately I don't have any problems. Or if I get a surge of adrenaline, I just tell to myself: come on, nothing will happen, you are healthy. And then, I am able to calm down myself in 2 minutes and I am fine after that.
When I was in a withdrawal, I wasn't able to calm down adrenaline, and after any event, I would need 20-30-60 minutes to calm down.
Now, my body can calm down naturally (the same as before Beta blockers) in 1-2 minutes.

So, now, if my HR jumps to 120 (let's say that something scary happens), HR will go back to 80 over 120 seconds.
But while I was in a withdrawal, if something slightly scary happened, I would have needed like 30-60 minutes to calm down and get my HR back to 80-85 from 120.

So, yes, it gets better slowly over time.

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Starry, do it slowly.

The thing with a withdrawal is that symptoms go up and down for Months, and they don't start in the same time.

For example, it often happens like this: 5 bad days, then 2 good days, then 7 bad days, then 2 good days, then 2 bad days, then 4 good days, then 4 bad days, then 5 days.
And then you slightly have more and more good days. But still, even after 3-4-5 Months, you will randomly have 3-4-5 bad days out of nowhere and you feel almost as bad as on the 10th day when you have just quit the drugs.

About symptoms, they can often kick in like this:
Week 1: resting HR 100+, high blood pressure, palpitations, feeling sick, problems with breathing, random pain in body, ankles, abdomen
Week 2: resting HR 95, high blood pressure, palpitations, feeling sick, breathing problems, nausea
Week 3: resting HR 90, feeling sick, breathing problems, some nausea, headaches, dizziness, some anxiety
Week 4: resting HR getting better (85), some breathing problems, a lot of dizziness after any activity, a lot of anxiety
Week 5-10, random HR problems. Dizziness, a looot of anxiety.

So, in early weeks, you will usually have elevated heart rate, palpitations and high blood pressure.
Then later you will get things like pain, nausea, headaches, dizziness.
And anxiety will kick later, but it will stay with you the longest, for a few Months, while headaches, a random pain, nausea and dizziness will be gone after 2-4 weeks.

After 1-2 Months, people usually have only: random heart rate problems, palpitations, breathing problems and anxiety. And then, these are slightly subsiding over time.

Drink a lot of water, rest, take Magnesium.
You can also take some Valium in early weeks to calm down your body, since it will go crazy.

Good luck

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Bob
Thank you for your reply! Yes i am now 3 months off and im starting to feel better than the first couple of months. I am going through som days of palpitations right now that come and go, but hopefully soon my heart will steady out! Other than that still have mild anxiety attacks but nothing compared to before! So im still having mild symptoms, but geting better. And yes patience is what we need, things do get better with time.

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Hi Anthony,

Thank you for replying. Greatly appreciate it. It's tough. My HR so far is 65-72. BP. 140/90, highest is 150/100 but that's lower than before I was on a full dose. Worst at docs office was 180-200 over 98-110. Anxiety I'm used to. I have pretty awful PTS from being a flight nurse in OIF/OEF so I have Xanax on hand if it gets bad but I don't use that med regularly. Only if needed. I'm such a non Med person and wish I'd researched this better as a Nurse to boot but have been ill with MS and my husband (Marine) was wounded in combat so several tough years since all that happened. The anxiety just blindsided me one days. Years of going through the war and keeping it bottled up. Every time I went to the doc my BP was crazy high and I suffer from awful dizziness here and there. So I just agreed to the Med even though I felt I truly have white coat BP and the anxiety. A year later I'm sicker than I've ever been. Praying to get this poison out of me. If you don't mind what were your BP readings? Thank you so much.

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I agree with you Anthony 200%
It's the worst drug I've ever been on and I've had tough drugs for MS

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Starry,

I was put on this medication because i had high blood pressure only at the doctors office, but when i would check it at home it would be fine. I should have never started this medication. At the doctors my BP readings where 144/90, 157/88, 140/87, 137/84... at home my readings where 124/74, 121/73, 126/80, and the highest at home 134/82. I told myself i suffered from white coat hypertension, High BP only at the doctors... just keep praying and be calm and patient, things will get better! I highly recommend this organic tea called Hibiscus Tea, it has amazing health benefits including controlling anxiety and lowering blood pressure! I have been taking it for 4 weeks now and trust me it has helped me tremendously!

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i started taking metoprolol in january of this year only side effect i had was tiredness i have never had high blood pressure in my life i am 55 i had 2 stents .one was in my L D A. and another artery of my heart i took metoprolol intill a week ago cause of the sideffects my employee health insurance made me start useing their mail order pharmacy in june of this year so 3 weeks ago the side effects started messing with me really bad and i stoped taking it you wouldnt believe how it did me i am finely getting over it i would tell anyone not to take it.

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Hi, had my heart attack last year, stented and discharged. Prescribed 47.5mg MS. Weird thing is like most here, experienced the side effects, and felt my health getting slowly worse. Last month decided to quit MS, decided to quit cold turkey. I like many here have had the withdrawal side effects. Being 50 and generally fit, I battled through this. On reflection is not a good move and suggest those who are considering the move to read this thread, seek medical advise, and take small steps.
Anyway, now feel much, much, better.
Some suggestions, I did, which may help others.
1. Quit smoking (10 month now).
2. Quit Drinking - Full stop, No Alcohol at all.
3. Quit Soda's and soft drinks sugary type. Occasional Diet drink, though very seldom.
4. Quit Dairy products, will try and avoid as much as possible.
5. Try to avoid processed foods, snacks, ham/turkey/sausage, cheese, crackers, cookies etc.
6. Changed diet from almost 80% meat to now 90% vegetarian. Minimal consumption of cooking oils.
7. Reduced food intake to 1 x meal per day. Fasting between meals. Desert is fresh fruit.
8. Drinks are water/soda water with slight taste flavour added.
9. Exercise, for me about the same.

In addition to quitting MS, I've also quit the statins. Kind of looking at myself as a type of experiment. I'm happy with the blood results, and will see what results will be 3 month time.

Wishing all here, good health, and success.

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I have been taking Losartan 160 mg for 5 yrs. The dosage has been adjusted many times. When I started my bp was 252/115. Went to ER. Thought I was gonna have a stroke. Lately, my bp is all over the place. Could wake up with high 180/90, take meds, stabilize and then start bottoming out by mid afternoon. Bp could be 90/60. I've read a few of you describe these symptoms. Anybody ever resolve this problem?

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Has anyone tried clonidine? It is an alpha blocker, but serves to block adrenalin, similar to beta blockers.

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