Metoprolol. Tapering off. Side effects. Horrible drug!

Posted , 120 users are following.

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 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? I can't wait to be rid of this poison in me. My anxiety is off the charts

I can't believe I agreed to take this Med. I trusted my doctor. Never again. Have been to ER very sick 3 times. Even ER doc said it's not a good Med to treat HTN of any kind

Thank you for your time

12 likes, 571 replies

Report / Delete

571 Replies

Next
  • Edited

    Well not exactly what you felt but yes I did have some very unpleasant side effects. I got rhinitis, tinnitus, and acid reflux. Everything went away except for the tinutus and yes I hope I don't ever have to take it again either. Mine was for cardiac arrhythmia.

    Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      hi, i got acid reflux and lots of abdominal cramps/gas - these are on my  PIL leaflet - and have now gone, but it was only after 6 months that i got persistent ear pain, for over 3 months, still have, do not think i would call it tinnitus, it started with balance issues, which have subsided,  i had not connected this as a possible effect, but have now seen that bbs are ototoxic, but not sure what this means, thanks for the info, will check out
      Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      Thank you Maribel. How long did you take it and are you off it totally? I wish I had never heard of this or taken this drug

      Annie below mentioned ear pain and I have it too but never associated the two. Thanks for your help

      Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      Well let's see...like 2 months I believe. My dosage of meto was 175mg 2 times a day. Figure that. Me too I wish there was something different to take for these situations. You welcome hope you get better ?

      Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      Thank you. I was on 50mgs twice a day for a year. My taper schedule is 4-6 weeks. Hoping it doesn't get too ugly.

      That's an odd dosage you had. Thank you again

      Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      Hi wondering if anyone can help? I was originally put on Amlodipine for high BP and heart rate, both occured after I took a diet supplement and heart attack type symptoms. My EKG was normal so my primary referred me to a cardiologist. Amlodopine helped bring my BP & heart rate down to a normal range. Went to the cardiologist and he said to stop the Amlodipine and put me on 50 mg a day of Metoprolol Tartrate. I immediately began feeling terrible side effects, blurry vision, couldnt focus, head fog, etc. Went back to the cardiologist and he said I could stop taking, didnt have to wean, though I did wean. I went to 25 mg a day for a week, then 12.5, then 6.25 & added Amlodipine back. A few days off the Metoprolol, I had my stress test and echocardiogram, which was actually last Fri. Both came back normal. I felt fine at first except for some indigestion/heartburn which is also a side effect of Amlodipine so not sure which is the culprit. Today, a week and a day off it and I am feeling very jittery inside yet Im not shaking and my heart rate is elevated, its around 85 bpm. Just wondering if this is due to the adrenaline coming back and would this happen a week after being off of it & suddenly or is it a progression and that could be why Im feeling it now? I was only on Metoprolol for 2 weeks so I didnt think I would have too many rebound effects. On top of it my BP is getting higher, it wasnt at first but today its high 120s / high 80s-90 even though Im taking Amlodipine (which kept it down before taking Metop). Also Im very flushed, I look like I have a sunburn and my face is hot. Does it seem odd to have such effects while on it such a short time? Anyone else experience this?

      Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      Metoprolol can really mess up your system. I was also on it for roughly two weeks and over a year later I am still shakey and my body hasnt returned to normal yet. It looks like it caused permanent damage. I have a constant migraine since coming off it and also have tinnitus which will not go away. I trusted a doctor who put me on it but I didnt need to be on it. This drug ruined my life. All those symptoms are definitely rebound effects.

      Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      Thank you for your reply Charles. Sorry to hear you are still dealing with the effects such a long time after. But also happy to hear someones story of just being on it for the same amount of time as me. Honestly I have no idea what are effects of Metop or Amlodipine, its so frustrating. Ive been trying to taper down the Amlo now that Im done with Metop and its been so hard! I literally only take about 1.25 mg a day, half of a 2.5 mg pill but it I try to stop, I get chest pains which is so scary but they go away as soon as I take a pill. Seemingly a withdrawal effect. I started taking a natural acid reflux pill with ginger and ACV which has helped with the heartburn but the chest pains scare me into taking it. The past few days I tried to take a half of a half, like .6 mg and my BP is creeping up. Today is the highest its been, 130/85, I know still not high but not sure if it is an effect of trying to come off and it will stabalize or not. Its so so frustrating! Like you I dont think I needed any of this! My BP spiked due to a diet supplemennt but I dont think I needed any of these meds and now Im suffering its effects!

      Report / Delete Reply
  • Edited

    my whole experience, 13 months since started nebivolol, on it only 4 months before taper of a few weeks, but repercussions due to all the ill health ongoing, like you i no longer trust any doctor as try to discuss and you get little help.  it is possible that people like ourselves with autoimmune conditions may be more affected by bbs, i do not know - i do not have your condition, but 2 others - one still affected, and yes, i have gained weight, but after stopping, nothing is the same as when i started.  if you are weaning off, take care as you will prob have more adrenalin/other hormones circulating than you have ever experienced, and any stress will increase these to levels that are hard to handle, you may also feel very odd indeed. hope things work out
    Report / Delete Reply
  • Edited

    Tee i agree, it is a horrible drug with lots of side effects... I take it because I have a fib.. however, I do not bleieve the numbers of 140/90 are the correct numbers for everyone.  I still use 100 + youar age to be correct..  Personally I don't care what the medical profession says as many of them are wrong and the new numbers have been put in place by the drug companies..

    Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      Until  a few years ago a system was in place for decades that a persons BP was measured by 100 + adding the persons age.. it was considered normal.. of course now it makes the doctors and drug compaies happy to sell drugs by lowering the number considerably for everyone regardless of age.. Really?  How can they sit there with a straight face and say someone age 20 will have the same blood pressure as an 80 year old.. I don't buy that.. and of course  they will cut us some slack by saying "the new research" says it's ok for elders to have 150/90 bp.. All this research is to make money and often funder by these companies to "research" and make money...

      Report / Delete Reply
    • Edited

      I agree with you lock stock and barrel. Thanks for explaining it. Makes sense to me. All this so-called new research is just nothing more but to pad the pockets of these pharmaceutical companies anything positions it is absolutely sickening what medicine has become
      Report / Delete Reply
    • Posted

      I'd love to hear from people who posted awhile back, and ask how they're doing now after some time has passed.

      I'm tapering "myself" right now and it would be so helpful to know this was really the cause of most of my symptoms and that it was the best decision to go off and get your self back in the end. (If possible)

      Do you know what I mean?

      I'm not a pill person and the fear of very high BP made me have a lapse in judgement and go on this horrible drug. This started after a very traumatic time in 2020 and probably never needed these drugs. These doctors are clueless and have no idea, or don't care in the least, what they do to you. after countless specialist and tests to try to find out "what's wrong with me?" Nothing coming up on any test made me do my own research and #1 was get the hell off BP medication.

      I take many supplements that help BP and the "so called normal numbers are simply not accurate."

      your BP can go up & down and it can be higher and FINE that way, as you age. The 120/70 is a young healthy persons BP. Not necessarily "too high" for an older person even going to 150/90. I've always, always had LOW blood pressure so seeing high numbers scared me of course, but I still think it was also trauma.

      Anyway, Id really love to hear from those who are off these drugs and how they're doing with none of them.

      Any stories welcome.

      Thanks a lot.

      Report / Delete Reply

Join this discussion or start a new one?

New discussion Reply

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the forums to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the forums are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the forums is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.

newnav-down newnav-up