Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 14)

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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Hi,

I have never written in a forum before but after having such huge dramas with getting off this drug I feel really passionate about it and about sharing my experience. I'm only 30yrs old and very fit and healthy (I'm a personal trainer) but have experienced bad anxiety and panic attacks since I was a kid. A symptom of this is that I can feel heart palpitations and be very aware of a strong heart beat which freaks me out. I've been to cardiologists and there's nothing wrong with my heart, it's just the anxiety.

So my GP put me on metoprolo about 2/2.5yrs ago. WHAT A MISTAKE. Especially as I'm usually quite OCD about what I put into my body and usually do better research.

I was initially put on 50mg per day, 25mg morning and night, and my heart rate dropped really low, I was exhausted and quite depressed. So we dropped it to 12.5mg twice daily, 25mg per day. I did this with no side effects that I was aware of and stay happily on this for about a year.

I was feeling quite good and had been putting things into place to better manage my anxiety so I decided to come off them. My doc cooly told me to drop to 12.5mg once per day instead of the twice, for 1wk then just come off them.

At night I struggles a little with heart rate rises but it was bearable. The first day I was off them was a NIGHTMARE. My heart rate sitting down was around 120bpm and raised to about 140bpm just standing up. I only last a few hours and had to go back on and talk to my doctor.

My doctor gave me the crappest response. "well you must need them then." Uuuuuuh NO! I have a healthy heart, I did not go on these for heart reasons, so no. I don't need to be on them. Obviously this is a side effect. So - I sat in the car, cried, and realised I would have to do this as a very slow process which I have.

Over the last 8-10month I have cut down. I got a pill cutter an stayed on 12.5mg twice daily for a while. Then went to half that. 6.25mg twice daily (a sliver) and stayed on that for months. Then I even started breaking those into smaller peices for about 1 - 2 months. For about a week I started spacing them a little further apart until 8 dyas ago I had my last tablet.

Well, it went better than the first time but I won't lie it's not been fun.

My BP seems to be quite fine which I'm happy about but my resting heart rate can still sit around 100bpm. I feel fine though and I have read this is definitely a withdrawal symptom however I haven't been able to find any information on when that should go back to normal.

My first few days I had some real racing heart periods and some bad anxiety moments but I just had to ride it all out. I'm determined.

The things I've learned along the way. A pharmacist told me that we all have a natural Beta response and the younger and fitter we are, the stronger this response is. So basically the younger and fitter you are, the worse your withdrawal symptoms will be. YAY?

Also what many people don't realise is that Beta blockers actually stop the affects of adrenalin on your body which is why they work for me for anxiety, so for the time you're on them, your body isn't having to deal with adrenalin. It's still producing it, but it's blocked from actually doing anything, so if you've been on them for years then your heart hasn't reacted to adrenalin for that time. In my head, it makes sense that your heart rate will increase coming off them as it's now getting affected by adrenalin again and will take some time to get used to that being the norm again.

I really really feel for everyone here. I seriously have been so down about this - I feel like I have this healthy heart and could have been taking something that would give me heart problems.

Please don't accept it when doctors fob you off by saying "You must need it". It's just easier for them to say that. We can all do this but I think it's just about weaning off as slowly and as gradually as you can and then perseverance.

As I said I'm still dealing with raised heart rate but I'm hoping that will settle down soon. It stresses me and makes me really scared and anxious but I just have to have faith that my body is doing what it needs to do.

My best wishes to everyone on here - I sincerely empathise and hope everyone can get to a really happy healthy place.

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It took me 6 months to get off of this stuff.I was taking it for 10 years which I was told for MVP.I had serious anxiety my entire life.It got worse after the sudden death of my husband. (Still had 3 kids to raise under 18.. 2 with autism.)
I hated being dependent on this pill.If I forgot to take it, (50mg) I felt like I was having a heart attack.
I am 60 now.I am happy to say that I am toprol free. ....Each day I feel better and better.So glad I am no longer a slave to Big Pharma any longer.

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Loza .
I have been on (M) for two years for hbp and anxiety and after reading all of the nightmare info decided to come off... wow yes I have been doing this for ten months and still feel at times it was too fast... I was on 100 mgs. and now down to 12.5... I cut them which is tough to do...........I have had some horrific side effects and now concerned like you about the heart rate... I rarely go out because I am afraid of side effects.. I basically go out and do basic things but I don't have any kind of life right now.. I also cry a lot over this because I used to be a very outgoing and social person and now this drug is controlling my life.....when I wake up in the morning my heart rate is in the sixties which is fine.. Throughout the day it goes up to 73 but I am not doing much at all......so I am afraid to even take a walk at times or do something more for fear of hr going up too much............Oh; and I didn't listen to the doctors either.. I listened to my gut and psyche and the way I felt . Two doctors told me to get off in like two months.. I called one crazy and left with a prescription.. Never going back there................
Anyway; so if I take 6mgs. at 12: afternoon I am fine but like I said afraid to do to much.............then as the day goes on hr starts inching up at 8 pm and starts looking for the next 6mgs. pill so I take it...............but I hate living like this.. its been ten months of this.....but I know the slower the better and yet I hope I did it right.
but the good part is the side effects have lessened but I am still scared about this whole process.. and I am shocked they would give this to a 30 year old . how insane?
I am 60 and hate taking it........but I am a vegetarian with no heart problems. I was walking two miles a day and taking many natural supplements.. like YOu I never took an aspirin and keep wondering why or how the heck did I end up with this drug.

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I was put on this drug for high blood pressure it some what ccontrolled my bp,I started having SVT, some problems wit my heart , just last Wednesday I had a procedure done on my heart, the procedure was a success, and the doctors switch my Bp medication to some other brand omg what did they do that for yesterday I experienced the worst feeling I couldn't even stand up to walk to my bathroom which is just a few feet from my bedroom, I didn't know what was happening. I thought if the procedure was successful what was going on with me not knowing it was withdrawl from the metoprol so I called my cardiologist they made me a appointment to come right back in my heart was going crazy all day from that early morning my Bp was sky high the doctor did a EKG and ECHO it was normal heart beat it' was just beating way to fast it was up to 160 and it was freaking me out, come to fimd out they weren't suppose to just stop the medicine just like that they have to cut down on this medicine gradually, so they put me back on the metoprol so now each week I'll be slowly drop down to not taking any at all I never want this drug again I will be doing my research before the doctors give me any prescription but I have end this saying to God be the glory I'm doing good today I have Faith and hope that I will have a normal life in Jesus name Amen thanks for reading my story

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Hi, I too struggle with SEVERE anxiety and am 31 years old. I would love to chat with you if your interested as just reading your post helps me feel like I'm not alone in this world. I'm weaning off the beta blocker my cardiologist put me on but have only been on it for 6 weeks. Sending good energy your way.

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Hi Debbie.
I have fibromyalgia and was on pain meds for years, I wanted off, my doctor dropped me because it was easier to continue prescribing meds than the withdrawal. I decided to stop anyway and did so by advise online from others who had stopped opiates. I became very anxious and Dr prescribed metroprolol. I started having ringing in my ears I thought it was opiate withdrawal, but 5 months after being opiate free and horrible ringing in my ears, head and depression I looked up metroprolol. So after reading side effects I decided to get off, it has been as bad as the opiates. anxiety, depression, feel trapped in my home. How long does it make you feel this way?

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The first 6 weeks were rather difficult when I began cutting tablets of toprol.However, it got better each week.It took a total of 6 months to come off it. I am happy to say it gets better and better.I am calmer, less anxious.I have learned how to cope with the"anxieties of life" without medications.At 60 I am now vegan. I believe a healthy diet and removing wheat, dairy have helped me tremendously. ?

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Debbie. I have weaning off Metropolol for ten months and its been a rough road.
many side effects but I am getting better............I am down to 12mgs. and I don't even think its working much any more and I know 12mgs. is the last stop..Now a lot of it is in my head due to the horrific side effects.. I am afraid to do certain things but listening to my body and mind..

I do still have some anxiety and my diet is pretty good .. I don't eat red meat . I do cheat here and there but I don't eat processed foods or fast food .. I drink a lot of water...........I also meditate for the anxiety...

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Debbie thanks for your reply. Did you or anyone reading this experience depression and ringing in your ears while taking metropolol ? If s after getting off of it did that go away and how long did that take?

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Hi Folks, just wanted to update my progress of going of Metoprolol. I'm in my mid-40, was on a low dose (12.5-25mg per day) for 2 months for temporary sinus tachy, and my last dose was mid July 2014. So I've been off of it about 6 months.

I feel mostly normal now and want folks to know that it can get better. I still deal with anxiety (and expect to for the rest of my life now), but the anxiety symptoms are very mild compared to what it was due to the medication side-effects then as a withdrawal symptom. I had no anxiety issues before I got sick (I had no health issues before I got sick).

The first 3 months off the meds was extremely difficult and challenging. The progress to getting better is SLOW. But I wanted folks to know that it is possible to get your life back after getting off this med.

God Bless you all!

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Joyce. wow you only were on that M for two months and you had such side effects?
I have been getting off this drug for almost a year and it has totally stopped and controlled my life.. been on for two years and a year trying to get off.. I feel now I am addicted to it .. I am doing 6mgs. now which means nothing except to my brain which is addicted to this drug. I have had the most horrific side effects.. Last week one night I woke up with severe palpitations and I couldn't breathe at all. I couldn't get any air in at all.... I couldn't even make it to the bathroom to pee . It was so scary.. I then drank some water and sea salt and tried to calm down. It felt as If I blacked out at some point.. I went back to bed............the heart rate calmed down but it took a few hours after that for the heart rate to go to normal whatever that is.. Thank God and not to jinx myself its getter better but the fear is still here with the side effects and all.. I just deal with the anxiety best I can and keep saying to myself this will pass.. I have been using Frankencense oil and it seems to calm the nerves. I rub the oil on my neck and chest.... I cant even go into what this drug has done..to me.

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Amen to Bee. I can't comence to tell you what all this drug did to me and is still doing after i have been off of it two years.I tell every one to just let me die before they put me on another medication that will do me like this Metoprolol. I feel like it took years off my life.

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I am so sorry Joyce and I am trying all kinds of natural remedies right now for my hbp. I hope and pray I wont have to take another pharma drug again.. I have been practically house bound for a year and so afraid to have a life right now because I don't want to get caught with these side effects while I am out .. I have had the runs, shakiness, tremors, anxiety, racing heart, headaches, depression, angina, etc.etc.. I believe the trick is to get this stuff out of the system.... sorry you have had this for two years.....there must something to alleviate this.. I am thinking of trying acupuncture.. I do EFT now tapping and it seems to help. check utube for EFT tapping.

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Michael, I have had same symptoms, but they do get better. I have found for myself and reading from this site and others that metropolol isn't a medication that you stop abruptly. you need to wean yourself off of it, it seems that the weaning process is different for everyone depending on age, dose and time taken etc. I went for four days without it and had to start taking it again. I was on 50 mg twice daily for about a year, after 1 month I am taking 12.5 every other day. It seems to be going well. SINCE IT IS A BETA BLOCKER, your body has to readjust to the surge of adrenalin again and that adjustment period is variable depending on the person.

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Hi... i just wanted to say it does get better sooner or later. I went threw the worse of it for a year because my doctor told me to keep taking even to the point where I felt like walking into traffic.but I hung in there and now after a year I'm fine with just a little bit of anxiety. I hope you feel better and stay strong

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I was wondering if anyone experiences like a head zap or buzz feeling after getting off this medicine...I have vertigo also...very scary

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Tami
Yes I have had the vertigo and dizziness.......I feel as if I have just about every withdrawel side effect in the book ..
One night I had to hold onto the banister of the house to just get up the stairs and yes it is very scary..........and then of course the heart starts racing sometimes when I walk just to the bathroom.....Last night I woke up in middle of the night and felt the adrenaline rush which then after comes the heart palpitations but it didn't happen for once. I got the adrenaline rush but I breathed and tapped EFT through it and I calmed down.. It wasn't fun though and now I am exhausted..

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Hello
I would like to share a story . One day I had gone out and done a few errands and I had some anxiety.. I didn't take my usual 6mgs. I don't really take it until later in the day.. I was sort of rushing around a bit.. Anyway; when I got home about 3 pm omg. the horrible adrenaline rush, anxiety , heart rate went up.. I felt as if I drank ten cups of coffee.......It lasted for a few hours Until I took some crumbs of the (M) . before that I tried everything in my bag of tricks to feel better and nothing seemed to work.. all kinds of calming things..........I am trying to figure out if this happened because I was rushed or stressed or what? I have not had any kind of life for almost 11 months because of this drug . that is how long I have been weaning off and its been a horror show.. I rarely go out except for a few things here and there.. So now I am more afraid of going out and don't know what to do.. any ideas??
thank You

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Have you tried taking magnesium and taurine? I find it helps me. I have been off Metoprolol for almost 3 weeks. I still get anxiety issues but taking those 2 together seems to help.

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Jane. Yes I have been taking about 900 mgs. of magnesium a day and 500 mgs. of Taurine a day for months now.
thank You

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