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Metoprolol causing burning itching sensations for anyone else?

Posted , 8 users are following.

time2reclaim
time2reclaim

Since aobut 2 days in I have been experiencing a progression of itching and burning. I finally had ot change Dr to get off this med and it has been 5 days but I am still having the itching and burning. Anyone else? And what did you fo for it? I'm getting scared!

1 like, 32 replies

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  • elizabeth_12
    elizabeth_12 time2reclaim

    Posted

    I've only experienced withdrawal from atenolol,but it took months before I felt these effects subside. I've no experience of metaprolol, but I don't think 5 days is enough time for your side effects to subside. I'm no medic though! Youve been very brave to change go. I wish that I had done this years ago. I've had so much trouble with side effects from firstly bisoprolol and latterly atenolol. I feel so much better now. I'm sure that you will get this sorted. Take care. I wish I could be of more help.

    • time2reclaim
      time2reclaim elizabeth_12

      Posted

      I hope it gets better soon. Neither the Dr. or pharmacist are understanding how this feels. They don't believe the med can do this. I have no medical help here at all now. 

  • mike92384
    mike92384 time2reclaim

    Posted

    I'll guess it's been 5 days since stopping the Metropolol. I do hope you WEANED off that medication. Beta blockers cannot be suddenly stopped, or you'd be at risk

    for heart palpitations, etc.etc.

    I would suggest you get back to the Dr.

    • time2reclaim
      time2reclaim mike92384

      Posted

      I was on a low dose 25 and I took 1/2 doses for three days. I could not stand the effects so I quit. Yes it is rough, I am suffering with tachycardia every night. Oddly it was not too bad for the forst could days and got worse. Last night was rough, the burning is horrible still and the tachy was waking me up every hour or so. My adrenaline system is still wacky. I was only on this med about 3 weeks but it was wrecking my life. I had depression, the itching and burning, blood sugars were getting high, feet were hot and burning. Felt like I was getting used to the dose because in the beginning the heart rate would be capped off at night but it was feeling like it was a wearing off type of feeling so I think I was building a tolerance for this dose or something. Anyway I feel horrible and never will touch another BB in this life!
    • annie78444
      annie78444 time2reclaim

      Posted

      Hi, i know this is an old post, but thanks, this has been helpful, i had the same problems, it is good to know others have done, doctors do not seem aware.  i felt terrible on bbs, and cut back slowly, and as i did, my swollen ankles became more normal, but suddenly my skin was burning hot, feet, ankles, legs, shoulders, neck - after some hours of feeling unsafe it seemed to calm a bit  so i went to sleep, later woke literally burning,  thought of going to A and E, but just cooled things down with cold water and stopped reducing further for a few days.  Also suffered a blood pressure and pulse rate rebound, but this was nothing to having to deal with things a couple of weeks later - it took ages for the breathless feeling i had to go, i had loads lot of abnormal responses to any stress, my diabetes was upset, and i suddenly started gaining weight with no extra food, and am not yet back to normal . i also cannot imagine ever touching a bb again. i hope things are now ok
  • ann_c.04098
    ann_c.04098 time2reclaim

    Posted

    time 2reclaim,  Yes this happened to me during the summer when I went to the emergency room.  The on call physician upped my metropolol 100mg to 200mg, after all that' what they do.. I tried it for 2 days and it was awful, I felt like I was on fire.  What I did was to go back to my original dose of 100mg and it was much better.. Unfortunately this seems to be the standard procedure, up the meds and tell you to see your primary care physician.. This could be the drug wearing off in your system.. please stay with your physician to come off any beta blocker, it must be done gradually... Best of health to you

    • time2reclaim
      time2reclaim ann_c.04098

      Posted

      Did the burning go away quicky or last? I had been trying to get off this medication from day 2 but the Dr would not budge on anything so I finally changed Drs at about 3 weeks and got off it. 
    • time2reclaim
      time2reclaim ann_c.04098

      Posted

      It seems like it is taking forever for the burning and itching to go away. I had it almost 3 weeks on the med and now 5 days off. I was hoping it would go away when I stopped the meto darn it! I hope it is soon.
    • mike92384
      mike92384 ann_c.04098

      Posted

      annc.04098..you're very right!!! Coming off a Beta Blocker MUST be done gradually. I know this for a fact, because a very good friend of mine is a Pharmacist. She said the best way to do it, depending on the dosage of course, would be to cut the dosage, i.e. take just 3/4 pill for a few weeks, then 1/2 pill a few weeks, then 1/4 pill for about 1 1/2 weeks, then 1/4 every other day..then stop. If don't wean off beta blockers, it can cause heart palpitations amongst other things..the last thing you want. While Metropolol & Atenolol are both beta blockers, one crosses the blood brain barrier, while the other does not. 

      About 1 1/2 yrs ago, I was taking 25mg Metropolol 2x daily. The headaches I suffered were unbelievable. Actually, it frightened me.

      I went back to the Dr. after speaking with my Pharmacist friend. She told me then about the blood barrier thing...I went on Atenolol a year ago, & haven't had any problems with it. I only take 50mgs/daily, but again, no problems with it. 

      While doctors are very conversant with medications, they are not the specialists in that field. It's actually the PHARMACIST. When weaning, do it gradually, do it safely.

    • ann_c.04098
      ann_c.04098 mike92384

      Posted

      Mike, thanks for that information.. I was on Atenalol and also Nadalol several years ago and I don't ever remembering having these kinds of problems... Not happy with metoprolol er at all and am going to look into this blood barrier information.. I'm in the habit of speaking to pharmacists, they know much more than physicians when it comes to drugs...

    • mike92384
      mike92384 ann_c.04098

      Posted

      ann c.04098...You're absolutely right!!!! Beta Blockers MUST be SLOWLY stopped!..otherwise, a person can experience rapid heart beat, etc..even to the point of heart attack. It's best to stop by taking 3/4 pill for a week, then 1/2 for a week, then 1/4 for a week, then 1/4 every other day for a week, then stop. I got this info from my Pharmacist.

  • Tee19
    Tee19 time2reclaim

    Posted

    Metoprolol has been the worst medication I've ever been on. After a year of not knowing what was making me sick we found out it's this poison. I have never suffered so much and now after so much I found out it was this medication which I was given for hypertension. I've always ran but high and I believe I in fact have white coast hypertension I have MS so it's hard to know what's wha. Unclearly this drug ruined my life. I was 5"8 145lbs after losing a lot of weight from the pesky steroids I was given initially for MS then this drug in one year (despite healthy eating) packed on 30lbs and gave me a list of horrific side effects to include swelling chest pressure burning in arms sleep disturbances extreme dizziness depression I never thought possible. I'm slowly tapering off as no one warns you how risky stopping this drug is. Into week 2 of taper and it's hard

    I have a tough time with MS but was never this sick

    Also doctors hand this crap out like nothing despite FDA warnings. Anyone else go through this?

    Thank you for your time

  • mike92384
    mike92384 time2reclaim

    Posted

    First of all, try not to panic. What you're experiencing COULD be the start of a nerve problem. I'm experiencing burning sensations along the bottoms of both feet, they turn deep red, then I have pins/needles the odd times in both legs. EMG & NCD came back normal, although they do not check for small fibre neuropathy. My Neuro said that according to the EMG & NCD results, I don't have peripheral neuropathy. I see him in 3 days & will press him further to find out what's going on. MRI of the lumbar spine, cervical spine & brain...were ok except there are things going on in the cervical (neck) spine, & a few things in the lumbar, but the brain is just fine. So you see, things going on in the spine can make you think there are problems in the legs,arms, etc.

    See your doctor...this could be a nerve problem starting.

    • ann_c.04098
      ann_c.04098 mike92384

      Posted

      Mike, I do remember once last year when I wound up in the emergency room and the doctor doubled my Metoprolol from 100 mg to 200 mg, I had to go back to 100mg after 3 days because of the itching and burning.. Now with that said, if you can please look into your nervous system, all problems start in the spine, I think you may find some answers there...
    • mike92384
      mike92384 ann_c.04098

      Posted

      You're so right, ann c.04098! I have recently had an MRI of the lumbar, cervical spines & the brain.

      There are issues in the cervical spine, whereby there is severe right neural foramen stenosis, & moderate cervical canal stenosis. There is broad osteochondral bar which is greater right eccentric.All these at C4-C5. At C5-C6 there is broad osteochondral bar with mild spinal canal stenosis & mild neural foramen stenosis. C6-C7 again broad osteochondral bar with minimal spinal canal stenosis & mild left neural foramen stenosis. The rest of the cervical spine is unremarkable (normal). I think the area with the severe narrowing is causing a lot of my problems...sore neck, sore shoulders, etc. 

      Lumbar says at L3-L4 disc bulging. Moderate bilateral facet hypertrophy, worse on the right. Mild spinal canal stenosis. No significant neural foramen stenosis. At L4-L5 we have mild-to moderate facet hypertrophy with minimal disc bulging. No significant spinal canal stenosis or neural foramen stenosis. L5-S1 Grade 1/11 spondylolisthesis. Mild spinal canal stenosis. Moderate left & right neural foramen stenosis. Oddly enough, a previous MRI approx. 20 months old stated there was SEVERE narrowing at L5-S1, so my mind asks..which is it. Bone openings don't open more on their own. If anything, they worsten. 

      At the time of my Neuro appt. in June, his opinion was that the L5-S1 wasn't the cause of the burning, pins/needles sensations in my feet/legs. He was going on the results that were 20 months old. By the way, the MRI of the cervical spine done 16 months ago is different from the one taken in Aug. Of course there is worstening in the cervical spine now. Again, the question in my mind is..what in HELL is causing this burning????? Could it be from the cervical spine?...Does the cervical spine send sensations to the lower limbs? See why I have these questions?

      I'm sure you're sorry you asked. lmaaaooooooooo

       

    • ann_c.04098
      ann_c.04098 mike92384

      Posted

      I'm not sorry at all that I asked Mike..  You seem to be on top of things, so with that said, you will be able to explain to the chiro what's going on.. please have your nervous systems looked at or at least speak with a chiro

    • mike92384
      mike92384 ann_c.04098

      Posted

      Thanks, ann c.04098...I supposed I'll have go get some courage going. My Chiro recommended a fellow who specializes with the Atlas subluxation, but again I'm nervous of more damage being done.

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