Metoprolol Withdrawal (Page 127) (Top voted first)

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 Becky,
I too was on 25mg but only 1x per day for about 9mos. I would definitely discuss it with the doctor. I definitely had a smoother time coming off because I gradually got it out of my system. It's a poisonous drug and should be banned as far as I'm concerned. Even though you have only been on for a month it is still in your blood stream. Give it time to leave and go slowly.

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When I told the doctor that I had memory loss, but was starting to feel better they told me to cintinue on the meds. I felt so bad the night I had the TIA, I rested with the phone next to my bed in case I needed to call 911. I did start feeling better temporarily only to end up having to call 911 a couple of days later. Don't put off getting the medical attention that you feel you need, even if you have to go into the doctor's office or ER. Do it while you can still drive yourself.

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So glad to hear that you are doing better, and I am so glad you did not wait. Waiting is what got me in trouble. Take heart, I made a full recovery without another TIA or health issue, and it sounds like you will too. Wishing you all the best. God bless you.

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Last week my doctor changed my nighttime blood pressure medicine to Metoprolol. I had been taking Bystolic and was doing fine but asked my doctor if there was a generic because of the cost, but there is no generic for Bystolic. I started having a lot of problems with my hands itching and feeling bad. I looked up side effects of Metoprolol and the itching is one of the "rare" side effects. I didn't realize until I did this research that Metoprolol is the generic for Toprol which I had tried to take years ago and couldn't. I felt lousy so my doctor changed me to Bystolic. I guess I'll just have to pay the higher price for Bystolic because I can't stand feeling this way. I've only been taking Metoprolol for five days. Do I still have to bee weaned off or can I just stop taking it and go back to Bystolic?

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It sounds perfectly normal for anxiety and depression (sadly a side effect of this drug). It sounds to me your dealing more with anxiety and panic. I had the same fun combination. You can get a sudden fear for no reason and irrational thoughts which triggers the anxiety and panic. It is VERY scary to say the least! I was dealing with depersonalization 24/7 at one time also.... the crazy thing is depersonalization will go away when you just dont let it bother you. It is a natural occurrence that helps the brain deal with stress. But people like us who are over sensitized look for it and cause the symptom to stick around. Here is a website that literally saved me: anxietycentre.com get on there and pay the $10 to become a member. First go to chapter 9 and understand your symptoms then go chapter through chapter. I actually talk to one of their cancelers weekly... it was a huge help. I never want to go on medication again and was afraid a psychiatrist was going to put me on one. These people all dealt with the same things we are whether it was from a drug induced anxiety or just natural. JMO... I believe we are anxious people to begin with and this pill just brought the demon out :-( But that site and the cancelor has been a huge help for me. But just so you know... your not going crazy nor can go crazy from these awful feelings... they can just bug the heck out of your life until you learn how to deal with them so you can calm your nervous system down.

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Ive been taking 100mg of mteoprolol a day for about 5 yrs now for tachycardia. I dont have any insurance and usually go to an indian clinic to get my scripts. Well i ran out of pills the day before thanksgiving not even thinking. Its now been 4 days and my hearts pounding, hands shaking, keep getting really dizzy, and just feel wiped out. My whole body feels like its shaking. Is this normal? Im wondering if ive gotten this far if i should just stick it out and try to quit it all together but the clinic opens back up tomorrow. Does this get any better?!

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I'll try to post the link again if it will let me: ehealthme.com/ds/metoprolol+tartrate/tremor

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Evidently it can. From what I've read that's a common side effect of a lot of BP meds. I found several articles about it. Here is one:
heart-disease.emedtv.com/metoprolol/metoprolol-side-effects-p2.html
Hope this helps. :)

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I hear ya! I feel like crap everyday. No way to live. I told my dr. I was cutting the pill in half which would be 25mg. Alot better but not how i used to feel. I want off!

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I don't know how many of you are chronic and don't have much hope of ever being well again, but that's what's going on in my life. I finally accepted that there isn't a cure of my ailments, and have gone about finding as many things to make my life functional as possible. I always look for an easier way to get things accomplished, so that I may have a little energy to do something additional. I check the Mayo Clinic website for new information on what ails me. So far nothing medical, but people do leave "helpful hints" that have actually been helpful for me.
Medschat has also been very helpful. I've been in contact with many people who have very similar problems and have some great ideas to share. I hope you are finding your experience here as nice as I have.

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I checked my mg before I decided what to do. 100 mg! I know I see them everyday but I was shocked on reading box - 100 mg. So! I took
On board what's been said here about weaning and cut it in half for today. Will take other half tomorrow, check my BP tomorrow and continue on half 50 mg for a few days, then quarter the pill....

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Toprol XL (metoprolol) is a good drug. I need it and I take one 200mg XL tab daily without incident. After my heart surgery, I wanted to take all my cardiac meds at once and the surgeon prescribed INDERAL 40mg QID (easy if you're unemployed). My brother suggested Toprol XL; he consulted my cardiologist regarding the dose just to be safe. Treating crazy surgeons should be a sub-specialty of Psychiatry. They prescribed a "past-its-time" drug, VASOTEC TID. Easy to get over on even a doc who's full of Dilaudid. Again, y brother checked the dosage and prescribed MONORAIL (FOSINOPRIL), However, when they wrote for Tylenol E3 after I felt I went ten rounds with The Incredible Hulk, I lost it. I could always blame the meds, but I knew exactly what I was saying and what to meant: "You gotta be s***ting me!" Tylenol #3. You might note that the "Dr in front of my name stands for MD and PhD. Unless you want to face charges of Gross Negligence in the Practice of the Professional for failing to provide appropriate analgesics post-amor surgery, you WILL WRITE for Percocet (only 5mg the) Disp. #150...Sig: 1 or 2 tabs q4-6h prn postoperative pain." I'm a nice guy about 99.5% of the time, but my Mom always said I sounded like the Wrath of Gd or at least his Underboss St. Michael the Archangel when I really was angry or outraged. But they wrote that script.

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If proper withdrawal protocols had been observed, you wouldn't e going through all this. I think you typed LORAZEPAM in error. LORAZEPAM (Ativan) is a bento and I think it comes in a 1mg tab as the lowest strength. You could get .5mg; the tabs are scored. What kind a doc is this? Im hoping he's not a Board-certified Cardiologist because, if so, he is at least guilty of Gross Negligence in the Practice of the Profession (that's our charge here in NYS); could cost him his license. Whatever the type of doc, he/she committed Malpractice. I know more than the average shrink about cardiac meds because both my mentor and I are "cardiac patients". I needed an Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Aortic Arch Resection replacement of the Aortic Valve when I was only 30! (Hereditary stuff we all just forgot about testing for, including my big bro, who also got hit and he IS a Cardiologist.) I don't know all the meds, but also take Toprol-XL (metoprolol) daily. This one is one the doc, unless you abruptly discontinued you meds with consulting with the prescriber.

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I misspelled that brand of Amitriptyline, which I've always called Elavil and always prescribed as ENDEP, because it came in a four-way scored tablet. As a chronic migraine/migraine variant/m, uncle con traction HS sufferer, I asked my docs even back in college to try Elavil. I felt better overall, but even 300mg/day didn't touch those chronic headaches. How I made it through college, med school, etc, with only about six years of surcease, taking lots of meds, is probably a function of knowing enough about those drugs to RESPECT them. For about five years, I took (in addition to anxiolytics, Ambien/Deysrel for sleep and sometimes Thorazine 50mg for nausea and vomiting) an average dose of 60mg of Oxycodone DAILY. We balanced me out so I could function with brand-name Dexedrine tabs or Spansules. We tried really shaking up our cocktail; there was an underlying MDE and Panic Attack/Generalized Anxiety Disorder, besides. My mentor, my own excellent shrink and I'm not bad at this stuff myself, tried different combinations of ADs, including the Court of Best Resort, Torfranil. I suggested cutting the Topfranil (a tricylic) and adding VIVACITY (porotriptyline), an energizing tricyclic. It was introduced the same year as Elavil by Merck, but not much publicity. My idea, so I research. Found a positive research study in two Peer-Reiveiwede journal and faxed it to both my docs. There was an additional ¶ or two taking like 2 small double column inches on the last page. I didn't read it and I didn't fax it. What I missed was the VIVACTIL and DEXEDRINE cam cause exacerbation of amphetamine's therapeutic and adverse reactions...but not right away. It takes the same length of time for VIVACTIL to reach therapeutic blood levels, even though it seems to giver you more get up and go within five days. A couple of weeks passed and, one morning, I started showing all the signs if too much speed! Not fun especially with a titanium heart valve and HTN. Since the only variable was VIVACITIL, I called a pharmacology prof at my med school. He emailed me links to an article of two. Now, we're supposed to taper just about ALL Ads, but I called my shrink and asked if I could just STOP, He told me that I faxed the the whole of those articles and we not missed it. I wrote my own damned script. He said, "CPZ is the best amphetamine antagonist; you have any?" Yes, for mirage related nausea. He told me to take 150mg and stop the VIVACTIL cold. It worked, but I was covered by other ADs.

We decided I needed to check in for a few days and work up the right meds. We thought this would be easy. However, I know what truly harmless comments can become in docs' and nurse's notes. I told the truth and THAT wasn't serious enough. I had to have homicidal or suicidal ideation or report having attempt either. I know I'd have to report something like this to the Office of Professional Conduct. I didn't need my practice or Rxs monitored and possibly restricted. My buddy who lived and worked in my apartment building, older than I said, "Report the symptoms of an MI. I just had one, which isn't unusual as my age, but no on would dare not to admit you. Question is WHOM; you know, I CAN bring you to the ER and give your symptoms. Get your shrinks on board and have them call me." THAT worked. One of my drinks is a DO and has the equivalent of certification in Family Practice before he completes his degree and enters Residency. Besides, in my own hospital, I had a lot of friends who wouldn't take exhaustive notes if I asked them not to do do. I insisted my reading my chart about QID; any patient can; they legally are the property of the patient. I only stayed five days, enough to get the meds on track and learned that I should swap out the Dexedrine for Ritalin because of a possible/problem cardiac issue (QT interval; possible/probable PVCs. One of my brother former students was the Attending Cardiologist and he flew in to make it look more cardiologically reasonable than the situation really was. Can you imagine NOT being NUTS ENOUGH TO FOLLOW YOUR SHRINKS' RECOMMENDATION TO COMPRESS INTO ONE WEEK WHAT WOULD TAKE ONE MONTH TO DO OUTPATIENT? Can you imagine having to admit to something that could compromise a professional license just to BE admitted. Yes, I had the money or a private psych hospital, but they invariably tagged it "Substance Abuse" and wanted to detox and treat it as such. That also would need to be reported to the OPC and my advice to docs going into rehab was top surrender their licenses TEMPORARILY. They always got them back, but this was a matter of public record. I'm not a "Substance Abuser" and my ability to practice psychiatry was not at al impaired. How nuts is this?

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What kind of i**** doctors are you seeing? This beta-blocker stuff is in like Pharmacology 101. Doesn't anyone ask questions, such as "Why? Should people taper a drug they've taken for a long time?" If you accepted the rather bizarre directive without a murmur, you all must share the responsibility for your plight. If I have a patient on beat-blockers (I write for them for anxiety symptoms, "stage fright", symptoms that reflect anxiety about presenting before a group etc. In THIS case, unless the patient is in a long-run Broadway play, I will order Inderal 20-40mg PRN.

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While most of the onus is on the prescriber, patients should be encouraged to ask questions. I understand today's "assembly-line" medicine all too well. I've taken Valium and Xanax NOT continuously, but I wanted a psychiatric once over. (My friend is the spouse of an Attending Psychiatrist at Bellevue Hospital and she thought was primarily looking for a competent doc who would prescribe what I needed, no questions asked. Turned out Internist Dr. Bernard Shayes was an excellent doctor in all ways and I was honest about my history. Since I told him I usually took Valium or Xanax (insurance covered brand names), he asked if I minded Xanax because it was less sedating and I told I preferred Valium because of my tendency toward Muscle Contraction ("tension") Headaches. Fine. I and just taken a new position — big pay raise, full responsibility for two large hospitals Depts of Psychiatry and I figured a booster shop of therapy and maybe changing sleep-aids might help. I usually don't refer to myself as "Dr." in these settings. I inadvertently did and said I was an English professor. I NEVER saw so many so much SEROQUEL, Depakote/Depakene and other "hot mood stabilizers other than times I met colleagues who work for big drug companies "give me the tour." She had preprinted script blanks for PRODIGAL, NUVIGIL, AMBIEN, LUNESTA, SEROQUEL and a few others. Her her of triage was to watch her video and check off responses. I left my page blank and wrote: "The is obviously designed to spot symptoms of Bipolar, Hypomanic or Major Depressive Disorders" and I have none of the above. (Later a. MDE would rear its ugly head, but not for a few years). My primary complaints are chronic anxiety and insomnia. She stermiuned that I needed to take Seroqul in 25mg increment HOURLU until I achieve "prefect sleep." Seroquel is an atypical antipsychotic, probably the safest of the new kids on the back then, and useful PRN in management of Bipolar Im Disorders. She thought I was taking a "huge amount" of Xanax (1mg QID brand name). She was a grad of the medical school at the University of Heidelberg, true, but her English was fluent — almost. She diagnosed me with a Bipolar Disorder. I wondered if I was absent from my Residency that year! Ands she loaded me up with Seroquel and Depakote samples. I stayed silent, but said I have no indications for taking Depakote; I couldn't hit her over the head bight my Vitae, so I just sid "So I won.t". My domestic partner REALLY has a Bipolar I Disorder and Depakote in al his forms caused him great distress. She wouldn't change the medication, so I did and found aa colleague or a colleague who said, "Joe, that's just nuts. I'll squeeze him in." HE didn't want to question her either. I told her that HE questions ME and I have better creds than SHE does. She missed on of the warning signs of Diabetes, but seemed to know her physical medicine. Seroquel "knocks yo ass out" as one of my adolescent patients said. "If you want me to titrate upward ad start at 8 pm. when do I get to have my life?" She wrote a script for Xanax — to "withdraw" me and she a) wrote it incorrectly and b) allowed some Medo or Express-Scripts jerk to get her to permit substitution. Bezos are always hard to find quality generics in lieu of". I politely pointed out that herLAtinate syntax was specific 1/1/2 pills QD (daily) instead of 1-1.2 pills QID (four times daily). She told me I didn't understand how dangerous Xanax is and how much safer Seroquel was. Sicilians have high boiling points, but enough is enough. "D you know what he 'Doctor in front my name signifies?" "You're a college professor of English/" "Almost true. I'm a MD Yale and PhD, Pharmacology, Cornell and as multi-specialty Board-certified psychiatrist." Now, you sit down and shut up. I took her dry erase market and asked what my Dx was? She gave me something that literally was an OXYMORON (i.e., "the anxiolytic [anti-anxiety drug], Desoxyn [methamphetamine]). I really do have a BA and an MA in English, so I read her the Riot Act concerning the made up DDx's etymology. It doesn't exist. Sure, I said, someone we up apparently meaningless abbreviations and terms within the profession, but our Oath requires us to be honest with patients — and does the law. "Why didn't she tell me or LJ that Sequel is an atypical antipsychotics with long-term adverse effects roughly equal to those of the traditional psychotics?) "The same tactics with Zyprex created a generation of late-teen/early 20s Type 2 Diabetics. I should know. I treat some of them.).

She has a Psychiatric Nurse (properly credentials — MSN, etc.) and she indicated I could address my progress and thoughts to her. I did and she explained that nurse had no time for patients, just for calling in scripts and handling insurance companies. He had my journal entires nd asked if she could shed them. I told her that not only could she shred them, it would be no get loss if she follow them into the shredder. I was outraged enough that she was doing assembly-line psychiatry — DDxs varied slightly, but the tx was the same — either you had Narcolepsy or "Sleep-Work Cycle Disorder" (I don't write for Provigil or Nuvigil, so I don't know the hype. If a patients requires an amphetamine, that;'s what I prescribe) or your choice of about three diagnoses that call for drugs LIKE Sroquel and Depakote. I came home and found my DP writing in pain — GIm pain — b because of the Depakiote. My friend, who lives across the hall, is a pediatrician, I treat her kid and her. With three kids and her pediatrics practice, she does carry a medical bag. I saw one of her kids in the hal and said, "Fia? Mom home? Well, then is her medical bad home?" It was. Bring it fast. I gave LJ a shot of Compazine and a shot of Morphine Sulfate. He was in that much pain. That was right before the showdown. I told her that my memory is excellent, my psych and writing skills were better and I knew several members of the Disciplinary committee of the Office of Professional Conduct (like Susan, my meds friend). I did that; LJ affirmed by deposition. And her nurse was told that either she tells all or she'll never practice again. Thankfully, this madwoman had her licensed revoked, was fined $25,000 and I wonder how Columbia University could possibly employ her. I had no trouble getting scripts and I called my mentor and he said he'd "cover" - I had been his patient, no worries.

With drugs that SEEM to not require a tapering warning, we are ESPECIALLY ACCOUNTABLE to provide one. Patient are more sophisticated today. I now some docs are impossible togged on the phone unless you're calling on your way to ICU, but asking the doc about coming off a drug used long-term is a logical question.

I ask my own Cardiologist and Psychiatrist questions if I'm unclear or something pops into my mind. I was somewhat pissed off reaching the last "new" cardiologist I tried out because he was a "Center Stage Doc" — talked the whole session, told me I didn't need Tylenol #3 for the residual arthritic-like aches and pains I suffer below my hip, post-serious accidents and "I won't be your drug supplier." I quite an eminent NYC area big hot in psychiatry. U know, when I was a med student, I actually had a bottle of Ambien stolen by a cleaning woman. (Ambien's been around a while.) When I called him, he could tell I was nervous because I had an problem with Rx drugs a LOT stronger only a few years before as an undergrad.) As I fumbled, Doc said "Joey, you ned a new script for Valium? What's the pharmacy number? And don't be so damned nervous if something like this happens. If you were going to scam me out of a script, it sure Hell wouldn't be for Ambien!"

However, you're right. Our responsibility is to EDUCATE and NEVER ASSUME a patient CAN or WILL read that Patient Guide, either! Point taken, Tony.

Editor's note: We do not verify the credentials of our users and nothing stated in our forums is intended to be taken as medical advice.

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I'm a MD/PhD who can't believe the way some my so-called colleague "practice" medicine or patients who take no responsibility for their own medications. This comes from a MD, a PhD in Pharmacology, five sub-specialty certs in Psychiatry and almost 30 years of experience in all. I am an Executive Chief of Psychiatry for two large hospitals that have merged into who now is a gigantic "health care system." and, having had a sweet private practice handed to me by my mentor, I have the tome do donate two days to a LBGT Clinic run by a respected Institute in the NYC area. I also get to use my "juice" to "terrify" some 3rd year residents into volunteering! Just another doc, that;s me.

Editor's note: We do not verify the credentials of our users and nothing stated in our forums is intended to be taken as medical advice.

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Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Aortic Arch Resection and Valve Replacement, HBP, Type 2 diabetes, MDE (in remission), GAD and Panic Attack Disorder w/o Agoraphobia don't count! Having to watch my mother die as the sequelae to a series of strokes was easy, since I was cursed with the knowledge that comes from specializing in an area very, very close to Neurology, so I could read every scan, every EKG, and the only thing I could do was throw money (private room, private duty nurses; calling in my own friends who have privileges elsewhere, but whom I consider the best; a few even flew in from London and Cali) at Grim Reaper. I'll just have a team of my excellent neurosurgeon buddies replace and route her entire cerebrovascular system? Piece of cake! Easy for my sister, too. A Sex Crimes Bureau Chief for 12 years with a 94% Conviction Rate, she's used to winning. She did even better in private practice because her contract permitted hero choose which defendants charged with anything remotely like Child Abuse, DV or a Sex Crime will defend. She took 18 months off from her practice — OK, she had the money, but the point is she had to live with this every day and now, months later, had her "nervous meltdown" (actually an Abreaction Episode or that's what my mentor's generation called it). My luck, she gets a shrink who is an i****, an i**** I can fire for poor professional judgment. My sharp, tough little sister won't listen to the prescribing mistakes her doctor has made, but the pharmacist had the sense to call me. Struggling, me? No way.

Have your pity party elsewhere, lady. Nah, it was easy for me. I have the keys to the medicine cabinet and lots of friends who will prescribe whatever I want and pharmacists who will defer to my position and expertise in filling those scripts.

POINT: You shouldn't have to "struggle" to withdraw from or DC any beta-blocker. It's easy, but it's not taught in high school. Your doc has the responsibility to guide you and follow Hippocrates first dictum: "Primum non nocere." First, do no harm. There should be no "road to travel" and that 12-Step-esque groupthink. Would make any English professors ears curdle Discontinuing beta-blockers is SIMPLE INTERNAL MEDICINE 101.

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Why do I noe seeing anyone stating he went back to the prescriber or another cardiologist for guidance? I never even heard in passing of beta blocker about withdrawal until I hit this page. Every licensed MD should know this. Ayers, the original developer of Inderal (propranolol, the first Beta-Blocker) hasp in bold face caps that warning in EVERY medical journal ad and every PDR listing since the early 70s! Patients shouldn't t have to get "surprises" like this. What would you think if I had a patient taking Xanax 1mg QID x 18 months. He tells me "I don't think I need it any more, Doc?" Would I just say, "Cool. Stop today. You'll be fine." We all know he wouldn't be in about 12 hours from his last dose and this is an average dose. I even mention it in passing when we discuss :withdrawal syndromes to my psych Residents, Chief Residents and the Associate Chiefs at our other hospitals. I don't do it in a condescending way just is passing. I'm wondering how in the world this could happen — honest! Can someone hazard a guess?

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Did you see any decent shrinks? You don't always have to quite your job because of Mood Disorders. (If you wanted to, that's another story.) Affective Disorders (anxiety- or depression-based are common in cardiac patients.) I had open-heart surgery and I was thrilled to have survived a procedure with an 80% mortality rate! The most negative emotion I experienced was boredom, since I couldn't work after I felt well enough to do so. Of course, I was young (30s) for that procedure and Im sure that made me an anomaly. They key here is in the CORRECT MEDS in the RIGHT DOSES. Did your VA shrinks seem "on the ball" or what? I've had to clean up their messes in the past.

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