Question about coming off Beta Blockers

[krista1994]

On May 22, I went to the ER in A Fib. I was admitted over night and my heart finally snapped back into a normal sinus rhythm at 8:30 that night.

A little history:

I am 35 years old and I had been taking 50mg's of Metoprolol(sp) once a day for about a year for AFib and Palpitations. I did not like the Beta Blockers at ALL and was trying to wean. I had cut my 50mg pill in half and was on that dose for about 3 days when I went into the AFib. My doctor said that is probably what did it this time. Well in the ER they tried to get my heart rate under control with the Lopressor but it didn't touch my irregular hartbeat. They then switched to Ditiazem(sp) and that instantly lowered my heart rate but didn't touch the irregularity. The doctor I saw after being admitted came in to talk to me about my condition and what they were going to prescribe (I'm on Cartia 120mg's 2x's a day). I asked about my Beta Blocker because a) it was what landed me there in the first place and b) I had heard that you should not stop them "cold turkey". Well he told me I was on such a low dose that just stopping them at that point wouldn't matter. So I did. About 3 days after I quit the Beta Blockers, I started having a flutter in the morning. I told my Doc and he upped my Calcium Channel Blocker, it then progressed to harder flutters and now it's more like a "rubbing" palpitation feeling with the anxiety. Now almost 2 weeks later I'm still having Palpitations with exertion and my Anxiety is in FULL FORCE! I'm wondering if it's because I quit my Beta Blocker cold turkey and now am feeling the after effects? How long do these last? Will they end? Do I need to go back on the Beta Blocker? I'm really not liking this feeling and it's definitely not helping with my anxiety!!!! Thank you for any help! I'm going to put a call into my doc too.

[flowergirl2day]

Hi,

Has anyone been through this? I'd like to hear the answer as well. I have been off an alpha/beta blocker (Labetalol) completely for four days now. My 4week old headache (coinciding precisely with the first reduction by 1/2 daily dose of this drug to the day) which is present 24/7 got worse after discontinuing it completely on Saturday. I also experienced irregular heartbeat at times while weaning off of this med.
My face is flushed, my BP is up and not in the very healthy range. On the plus side, I can breathe normally again. Severe shortness of breath, developed over a period of time, was the ONLY reason for discontinuing this great and so very useful medication. I cannot think of anything equally effective to replace it with. Hopefully, the doctor will.

Flowergirl

[Lenin]

It is SO variable.

Some people can get off beta-blockers almost cold turkey with no problems while others seem to need MONTHS of weaning.

Best advice I can give is to go off so slowly that you don't see a return of symptoms. At the first sign of discomfort, then stay at that dose for as long as it takes til you feel normal before moving down again.

People with heart disease or angina should take even MORE care than someone with only hypertension and anxiety.

[Larry1971]

I'm going through it now and I'm worried because of all the bad things I've heard & read about tappering off beta-blockers. I've been on Metoprolol for about six years now and I went from 100 mg to 200 mg over that period of time. I was put on it for high blood pressure and then developed palpitations. As soon as I was put on this drug I noticed a lot of changes like my thinking got cloudy and it caused mild E.D. and that was hard to take because I'm young. In the last year I have lost some weight and started having breathing problems about 8 months ago. I started wheezing and couldn't breath very good when I was lying down and The doctor said it was asthma and put me on an inhaler but now I think it was because of not needing that much Metoprolol. My pulse rate was very slow at anywhere from 39 bpm up to low 50's. Sept. 18 my doctor decreased my dose from 200 mg to 150 mg daily. There was no change in my pulse rate so on sept. 24(my birthday) he decreased the dosage from 150 mg's daily to 100 mg's daily. I went back to him on the 26th because my pulse was still slow and he told me to cut down to 50 mg's daily. I thought that this was a bit much but he said that I'd be fine. I even called back at the doctors office for reassurance.(think I made them mad) Today I've been shakey and have felt panicky because I'm afraid that I'm going to have a heart attack like so many that I've read about. My blood pressure has been fluctuating from 144/62 to 127/86. It kinda scared me when my low went in the 60's. My pulse is doing better, though. Any feedback on tappering like this would be greatly appreciated.

[huckfinn]

ALWAYS TAPER OFF OF BETA BLOCKERS UNDER YOUR DOCTORS DIRECTIONS! Please, I stopped them abruptly a few years ago. I started back after 9 days because of TIAs and BP of 185/120. Pulse rate was also 120. My vital signs returned to normal, but I had an mi and stroke 6 weeks later.

I didn't know anything about this drug......

P.S. My mi and stroke were both due to blockages but, there could have been a connection with stopping the beta blocker abruptly.