Metoprolol. Tapering off. Side effects. Horrible drug!
Posted , 123 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 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? 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
14 likes, 576 replies
Drew59 Tee19
Posted
Tee, congrats on weaning off this medication. It is wicked! Here is my story: I am 60 yrs old, slim 170lbs and have been running 5-8 miles per week for over 2 years. After taking massive doses of ibuprofen for 2 months for a Piriformis injury , I began to have multiple PVC’s. After a few days of continued irregular heartbeats, I was at work and became disoriented and extremely anxious with a fast heart rate. At my GP’s office, my BP was 171/110. He gave me a Clonidine to reduce my BP quickly and Lorazepam to calm me down. 20 minutes later, I began to feel better. He prescribed Metoprolol, 100mg in the morning and 50 ER at night. 3-4 days later, I began to feel awful. After checking on-line I realized I had most of the side effects: constant headache, ringing ears, nausea, confusion, extreme anxiety, trembling hands, cold hands and feet, periodic rushes of heat up to my head, memory problems, slight sexual dysfunction, light-headed, dizzy and sleepy. These continued so I asked my GP and he said he didn’t think they could be side effects. I went for an echocardiogram and stress test, both came back fine with only 1 PVC. My new cardiologist didn’t think I was having medication side effects either so I was convinced my BP was so high that it was causing all of these problems. A couple weeks later, it was so bad I almost passed out and I rushed to Urgent Care who did an EKG and found nothing but I was sitting there eyeing the trash can as a possible vomit receptacle. I lost 20lbs over the next month due to eating very little. After reading over and over about the side effects, I knew that the medication were causing my problems. GP took me off the 100mg but left me on the 50mg ER. I still had the same side effects. Then after coming to this website and reading all of these experiences, I decided to wean myself off the meds. After 3 weeks of taking ½ of the tablet and since my high BP was artificially raised due to the large doses of ibuprofen (which I stopped taking 8 months ago) I just stopped taking the Metoprolol. I did have a few mild withdrawal side effects but resisted taking the medication anymore and worked through them. I checked and recorded my BP several times per day before, during and after stopping and it was usually in the 125-135 over 70-80 but also fluctuated much lower at times throughout the day. No difference between taking the meds or not taking them. After being on this for 7 months, it has now been 17 days and I feel almost completely back to normal. I still have occasional slight ear-ringing and/or tiny headache but nothing else. Exercise, especially running and brisk walking everyday and a better diet has been a tremendous help. Keep listening to your body and do what is best for you!
suzette31954 Tee19
Posted
Tee and Drew, congratulations on your choices. I have been totally off for a very short time and the side effects are becoming less and less. I am most grateful for the honesty of everyone's comments and their backstories. sending healing thoughts/energy to you....
holly9035 Tee19
Edited
everyone I need help.ive been on the metoprolol for 3 months. I felt better when I got off it but now every blood pressure med they put me on is making me veryI'll. .I have pain in my veins like burning, flu symtoms, very weak can't get out of bed, stomach pains. headache, dizzy. feeling like I'm gonna pass out, chills constantly. I got the exact same things on the metoprolol. when I came off of the metoprolol when I came off of the metoprolol they put me on hydrochlorothiazide and I felt like myself again but I ended up in the hospital because it wasn't controlling my blood pressure on my pulse. so now they are trying me on different calcium channel blockers and they are all making me sick the same way. I'm having so much panic and fear that I'm never going to get better and that something is seriously wrong. I feel like I'm dying. I don't know where to go from here because if I stop taking the meds I end up in the hospital with a high pulse and blood pressure. I don't understand why everything is making me so sick but I can't live like this anymore I have no quality of life. has this happened to anybody else? And what did you do? does anyone know any good natural ways to lower my blood pressure and pulse?
DANI27663 holly9035
Posted
I've heard it takes a while for one to get use to the medication and side effects. Bring it up with your Dr. for sure. I've been taking a homemade tea its garlic, ginger, apple cider vinegar, lemon, and honey for my blood pressure. I think the concoction comes from India. some people boil it but I'm just taking it straight. its advice if you have a weak stomach or stomach ulcers not to take it. some people also cant take it on certain medications. I hope you get to feeling better real soon. I was miserable on metoprolol and it was horrible getting off of it. My Dr. didn't seem to happy with me getting off of it.
chris26350 holly9035
Posted
i feel for you holly. i tried calcium channel blockers too (amlodipine) and i quickly developed breathing issues on the second day. 3rd day i started getting palpitations (100bpm) again after brushing my teeth or any similar effort activity. i fared better on diovan 40mg (switched from losartan 50mg) but that gave me shoulder pain after a month but without the horrible breathing difficulty and palpitations. i have to mention that my shoulder had a prior injury which from time to time would have pain upon forward raising of my arm. i hope you'll feel better soon i will include your healing in my prayers (all forum members).
holly9035 chris26350
Posted
I just don't understand why all these meds are making me so sick. im scared because if I don't find one that doesn't make me stick then I'll be sick for the rest of my life. I feel like I'm poisoning myself every day. im shaky, weak and chills constantly. I have no quality of life. why does my body reject all these meds? my doctor looks at me like I'm crazy. what medicine are you guys taking now for your blood pressure/pulse?
holly9035 chris26350
Posted
also does anyone know if you have to wean off the calcium channel blockers like you do on the beta blockers? and do you go through bad withdrawals from them too like the beta blocker withdrawl?
TFree holly9035
Posted
Hi Holly,
I've been on 12.5 mg of Metoprolol SUCC since July 2019 after episodes of my heart racing due to low potassium and low vitamin D. I've felt horrible on it and I'm starting the weaning process. I'm doing 12.5 mg every other day at the moment (just started on Monday). I've attempted to stop twice and had blood pressure spikes, episodes of my heart racing and spiked anxiety. My cardiologist hasn't been much help because he says I'm on a low dose and to just stop. When I met with my primary doctor she said do every other day for a few weeks and then every other other day and then stop. What has helped me a lot with blood pressure, anxiety and pulse rate is magnesium supplements (glycinate & Malate) and increasing my potassium intake (foods and supplements). I also started taking a b-complex and 5,000 IU of D3 with vitamin K2. We don't realize how vitamin and mineral deficiencies (even when we are on the lower side of normal ranges) can affect us. If you get anything on this list of things to help... Magnesium and Vitamin D3 are super important! Blessings!
julie32801 TFree
Posted
Hi, I am new on here and read your post. How is your taper going? I am at the beginning just started taper from 25mg to 12.5 mg twice a day. Have had most all the side effects and sickness that everyone else has experienced. Hope you are feeling better and doing well.
TFree julie32801
Posted
Hi,
I did a 3.5 week taper of 12.5 every other day. it was rough. Dizzy, headache, tired, few episodes of palpitations but I made sure to take enough magnesium and potassium to help combat it. No major blood pressure spikes. I monitored that. Focused on staying calm, deep breathing and getting out of my own head. Tried not to think about it too much and enjoy the day the best I could. I have been off completely since Christmas. last weekend started having cold symptoms and have been fighting a cold all week. It's starting to get better. Been kind of focused on feeling bad because of the cold. It was a lot of sinus pressure, congestion and headache so I could have been having some symptoms this week but the cold overshadowed it. I do carry it in my purse in case the need arises but so far 1.5 weeks free!!! Thank God!!! Just taking it one day at a time. 😊 You can do it! I was on it for almost 6 months, 5 months when I started the taper. Tried to stop twice before but doctor told me to just stop because I was on the lowest dose. Tried that twice and had blood pressure spikes, anxiety through the roof and palpitations. Happy I took my time. I was going to try every 2 days for a week or two but decided to just stop at that point and see how I felt. Blessings!!!
julie32801 TFree
Posted
That is wonderful you are off it:) That has to be such a relief! They say there is a lesson in everything. I am trying to prioritize life and manage stress differently. I've taken off from my work until this improves. Glad you are feeling better. That gives me hope to get through this too. I appreciate you getting back to me. Please feel free to keep in touch. Yes, Blessings!!!
TFree julie32801
Posted
I took 3 months off from work when I first started having the anxiety, panic attacks and other symptoms. I totally understand where you are coming from with everything. I know it takes time for our bodies to regulate themselves off of it completely. Wish I never took it but you are right there is a lesson in everything. We should keep in touch.
frances73096 TFree
Posted
how are you feeling been off my beta blocker already for 7 weeks even though i feel better compared to before i feel like im still a long way from being normal ..... took propanolol 40 mg a day for about 5 weeks and stopped cold turkey had anxiety hbp and no hunger loose stools but its gotten better we will see only time will tell ......
TFree frances73096
Posted
Hi, I am feeling A LOT better! More good days than bad ones. This week I've actually felt the best. Almost normal... It sounds so weird to say. Anxiety is less and if my heartrate does speed up it resolves itself rather quickly. 2 weeks ago my vitamin D was checked and I'm at 59 from 18 where I started in July so that might be helping too. God Bless! I tried to stop cold Turkey and it was rough. Tapering down the month of September helped me make it through. Blessings on your Journey!!!
annora10089 holly9035
Posted
I thought I was all lone, but yes I going though this now all the medications are making me very sick. I wrote all about it some where in this comment thread. i feel hopeless too.
glen34537 TFree
Posted
how are you feeling now ?