No Heart Problems, Not Allowed To Stop Carvedilol, Want Off
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Flew off the bed one morning, heart pounding, grabbed my jaw which felt hard as a rock. My left arm hurting and tingling with clammy hands. Saw one dr, had an ekg, all normal. She said it seemed like acid reflux because i would burp and the pressure on my chest would subside. Couple of days later I saw another dr because of the same issue but it lasted longer this time. He sends me to the er, told me i had a uti and was dehydrated. Sent me home one week later and my heart rate was fast again. Saw a cardiologist who prescribed carvedilol 6.25mg twice daily. Did an echo, stress, holt monitor for 24 hours. Test came back that my heart is doing what it needs to do and that i have a healthy strong heart. Only thing was holt showed an extra beat. He said it was normal and that usually everyone has an extra heart beat every now and then. Also that I fatigue very fast for a 41 year old, so he advised me to go to the gym. I asked then what was causing me to wake up gasping for air and feel my heart pounding so much that it makes my upper body shake? He said it could be my lungs and said i should see a pulmonary specialist. Dr. also suggested that i be checked for anxiety because to him I was an anxious person. I have never suffered from anxiety but I'm willing to be checked. So i asked to be taken of the carvedilol being that he told me that I have a good heart and he said no, that I'm probably going to have to take it for life! I don't have high blood pressure, only cholesterol and I'm pre-diabetic. Dr said if I get on anxiety medication that maybe I can get off carvedilol. The medication makes me sick. Extremely dizzy, tired, nauseous, tight chest, sent me to the er because I felt like the lights were turning off on me, then started breathing hard and fast. That had never happened to me ever in my life. It also makes my vision blurry, locks my pinky and index finger, which is very strange. I also find myself staring off into space like my brain gets paused. Dr said it does not sound like it's the carvedilol. I know it is but I know I need help coming off the drug because of the risk of just stopping. I don't want to be on heart medication after being told my heart is good and how sick the medication makes me feel. Could my family dr be able to take me off carvedilol or only a cardiologist? Sorry that I wrote so much but I need help and never have been sick for so long. Oh and I've been on carvedilol for 17 days. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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13

Hi, I sympathise with you . I was put on this tablet yesterday for Afib and ectopia which I've had for years, it's to replace Bisoprolol. I'm scared after all the side effects I've read about. It's meant to help my BP too but it's higher now. Going away in 2 weeks and worried as will be in Greece for 10 days...... Not much I can do about it out there.

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12

My wife, age 72, had takotsubo cardiomyopathy and had been taking carvedilol 6.25 2x a day since 2014. Then went into liver failure in 2017 and passed away in 6 weeks with carvedilol metabolized in the liver. Best to get a liver function evaluation every 8 to 12 weeks. I hope this helps you.

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11

oh you stated you are on metformin, look up side effects of this drug, everything you described

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10

I have a HUGE hiatal hernia. I was able to go off 2 medications by (don't poo poo this off) eating a Red Delicious Apple, must be juicy when my burning started. After 3-4 bites of a peeled apple it still amazes me how quick it works. So far, thank God, my trips to ER and Accute Care are done with for about 5 years. I also don't eat late/lay down after 6:00 pm. This might help with your acid reflux; it calmed me down knowing I could peel an apple, put it in baggy and take it with me anywhere. I know this is so simple, but Mother Earth provides us with a lot more than what "big Pharma" would like us to know. I also am a lung cancer survivor of 17 yrs this June, so I know what it's like trying to get a doctor to believe me when I'm in pain from nerve damage due to surgery, but I have a wonderful PPO. BTW, beta blockers are NOT for asthma patients; can stop your breathing (yes me) twice. Get a good pulmonary and G.I. dr. I wish you all the luck; I am NOT a medical person, just speaking from experience.

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9

Hello...I'm56 male, I had open heart back in 2011. I use the drug- this is my third increase of dose. I now take 12.5 mg twice a day. If you have only taken it for17 days...I really don't see why you can't wean yourself POF0a few days and stop all together. I don't think17 days is a lot of time to be on it. Also....get a second opinion. It sounds like you have a lot of things happening....take care.

Ronnie in Ohio.

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8

I believe u may be having side effects from Coreg, just a possibility. being a woman and we all know this Drs say we are crazy or have a UTI no matter our symptoms , let me tell u my experience much like yours , extreme fatigue , difficulty writing nurses notes , blurred vision , pain from head to toe , shortness of breath with little exertion , well being a nurse I took a list of questions with me and told the Dr my appt is not over until that list is answered with logical reasonings for feeling this way , our body gives us symptoms for a reason , not why do we have these symptoms is the million dollar question, I had a double cardiac cath, many echoes, swallowed a cardiac camera and had a cardiac MRI , dx: cardiomyopathy, CHF , left ventricle dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, along with severe arthritis , mac degeneration and cataracts in both eyes, all in my mid 30's, I am now in my 50's on 02 24/7 , coreg 50 mg a day from the beginning of my heart dx, breathing tx's, inhalers and etc 46000 dollars a MONTH for meds, I am now a hospice patient , so my advice to u , keep seeking until u find out what is wrong, listen to your body telling u something is wrong, never let a Dr call u crazy because u r sick or feeling certain symptoms , this is what i would start with being a nurse, the basics, ask for CBC with diff, liver pancreatic and kidney profile, x-ray of lungs, pulmonary function test, a walk test with pulse ox on for 5 min, a sleep apnea test w/o 02 on, a 24 hour halter monitor , then go from there , keep going sweetheart until u get a credible answer , btw, I had to dx myself with diabetes because the Dr refused to do bloodwork on me , I went home said a prayer and said my only other symptom is thirstiness but it was 100 degrees outside, borrowed my dads tester and hello 500!!!

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7

Hi Carol! Carvedilol, also known as Coreg, is a Beta Blocker. There are many of these medications. They are designed to regulate your heartbeat. This is useful for individuals who have cardiac issues. It is also used for panic attacks and anxiety. I can tell you personally that when you have a classic panic attack, for absolutely NO reason-- it feels like your heart is going to explode out of your chest AND you cannot breathe. You get tunnel vision and muscle cramps. It's very difficult to tell the difference between a severe panic attack and a cardiac emergency. Doctors have difficulty. If the Cardiologist genuinely believes you have Panic or Anxiety Disorder but no heart disease, this is why he is pressing you to remain on the medication OR get something for anxiety!

What I do not understand (or agree with) is why the Doctor hasn't explained this to you! He cannot order you to take meds for anxiety! That's ridiculous! You would be much more comfortable without those attacks. But you deserve a full battery of tests to determine what they are. AND someone should explain what is going on to you every step of the way! Whatever happens is your choice!

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6

I am 69 and all my problems started around 45.....same issue you are having. I was going back and forth to doctors. All doctors said nothing wrong. Keep pushing those doctors.....because now they did a calium test and it 450.....it was clog arteries all this time and now my heart can not be repaired because coronary artery disease extently......to far gone. Keep yelling louder and louder to those doctors.....they should have caught it as many doctors I was seeing.....do your own research.....

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5

I had a similar experience with metoprolol. It created more problems than it solved, including provoking previously-undiagnosed asthma. Cardiologists just wanted to keep adding to the list of meds rather than stopping the one causing the issues. It was a nightmare after taking 25mg 2x/day for six months, but I finally managed to stop it on the third try.

I'm not a medical professional, so I can't give you advice. However, I can echo what others have said: It's your decision, not your doctors'. If they won't help you, find someone who will or do your own research on how to safely stop. In my case, I refuse ever again to take some drugs precisely because of the medical industry treating me like a hostage and refusing to help me implement the decisions I've made about my own health.

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4

If this was me, considering the short period taking this medication, I would wean myself off. I'm not a doctor nor a nurse so I can't say if this is a good idea or not for you. However, you shouldn't have any difficulties coming off this at all. You really haven't been on it very long. I tapered off other mess myself but everyone is different. No one can force you to take anything. Your own primary doctor could advise you if he wants to. He might reply with talk with your cardiologist since he's the one who prescribed it. GO FOR IT! If you take it once a day, cut the pull in half and take half everyday for a week, then half every other day, then every two days, etc.... This is a long way. You could do it Alot faster if you wanted.

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3

From a male viewpoint your symptoms could be anything. Sounds like a familiar set of symptoms i went through at 38 yrs old. To find out from a great Primary care dr. I had an inherited blood disorder ..born with it (Hemochromotosis). It's an iron in blood disorder, not a disease. Men get affected typically worse than women from complications of high iron or iron overload. It makes your blood as thick as molasses which deposits iron between all joints in the body typically locking finger joints causing numbness, disorientation, heart disease, liver failure & arthritis early in life, etc. A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST FOR IRON LEVELS & total iron binding count (if elevated) will determine how to proceed. Last test is D.N.A. of blood to see if you have the double Y gene associated with Hemochromotosis. Women dont typically see problems because they menstruate each month. As they hit 40+ yrs then start early menopause women feel the effects of high iron etc. Treatment is simple ..although sounds medieval is a removal of blood via a blood donation per doctor's orders as often as once a week to get iron levels down to normal 0-250 etc. Once this is done then periodic phlebotomys every 30 to 60 to 90 days for life. Whatever the iron destroys in the body or damages is non retrievable. So get tested as soon as possible from simple lab work. I myself have been aware of its complications for 20 plus years.
MANY DRS. OVERLOOK THE OBVIOUS & A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST WITH A FOLLOW UP D.N.A. TEST WILL PROVE OR DISPROVE THE PRESENCE OF Hemochromotosis. Good luck on your search. I hope i gave you a direction to find answers.

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2

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond to my post. I was taking 6.25mg 2x a day of the carvedilol. Since Friday April 14 started taking only one 6.25mg per day. Since then I'm able to get out of bed and do little house work and walk more than what I used to be when taking 2 carvedilol pills. My mind is improving but having strange dreams at night. Still wake up with my upper body shaking from what feels like my heart pounding.

Usually I can feel a fast pulse after I eat and when I lay down to sleep with pressure on my chest but then (excuse me for this) in both situations I start to burp and the pressure and fast pulse stop. Other medications I'm taking is ranitidine 150mg 2x per day and metformin 500mg 2x a day, aspirin 81mg once a day. Fish oil and vitamin D.

I've been calling the cardiologist all week to tell him I want off the medication but still no call back. This coming Thursday I'm seeing my Dr. I hope he can help me come off carvedilol. Also going to speak with the pharmacists and see if any adive on how to stop or type of side effects that might happen.

How long were you taking carvedilol for and at what dosage? What process did you use to come off the medication? Did you have any side effects? Were you placed on a beta blocker due to heart issues or other health issues.

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1

Okay, to begin with, no doctor can force you to continue taking any medication. They can prescribe it and recommend that you take it, but the final choice, in any given circumstance, is yours.

Given the time you've been on the Carvedilol, the FDA lists the typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, increased urination, and hypotension. In that short of a time period, there shouldn't be an issues with stopping it, but I am not a doctor, so I cannot and will not tell you to just stop taking it. I can only give you factual information and advise you to speak to your doctor.

Are you on any other medications?

I was on Carvedilol for awhile and it made me absolutely miserable, so I had to stop it, as well. I couldn't even tolerate a tiny dosage.

How much are you taking?

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