Propranolol withdrawal symptoms?

[wr6969]

Hi all. I was wondering if any of you have had similar experiences to mine in terms of propranolol (Inderal) withdrawal.

Today is my second day off propranolols (previously twice daily; 20 mg each dose). I am slightly hypertensive (untreated BP of 120/90s). I was started off on 20mg propranolols twice daily (with Xanax 0.5mg twice daily - for anxiety, and Valium 5mg once daily) about 10 months ago and 1.5 months ago voluntarily ceased taking the Xanax and Valium due to all the bad press both meds had in the press. I changed doctors at around that time as well (the previous doctor did not want to consider changing my meds although the medication combo above did not really stabilise my BP as on good days it could be 110/70, on bad ones it was around 120/90). The new doctor then recommended a calcium channel blocker felodipine (Plendil) starting at 2.5mg 2 weeks ago, and increased it to 5mg last week while stopping my propranolols by reducing the dosage from 20mg twice daily to 20mg once daily for four days, then cold turkey on the propranolols, and as mentioned above, the last of the propranolols was taken two days ago.

This morning, about an hour after taking just the Plendil, the following symptoms surfaced:

(1) palpitations with pulse rate in the high 90s, peaking at around 108 beats per minute. Felt at times the heart was "skipping a beat"

(2) felt slightly dizzy but this feeling did not persist

(3) pulse rate at rest was around 96. The slightest physical activity would raise this to the 100s, for example just getting up from the sofa to get a drink from the kitchen

(4) slight tremors in both hands

I haven't taken my BP for fear that it may be high, although it didn't feel that way (must be the Plendil doing its job). If the BP reading was high, it would probably freak me out even more and elevate the pulse even higher. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif

I was wondering if any of you have experienced the following withdrawal symptoms from propranolols cessation, and what you did to alleviate them.

I am an Oriental male, 35 years of age, non-smoker, do not drink alcohol and exercise regularly on the treadmill three times a week. I'm not overweight either according to the Body Mass Index calculator.

Sorry for the long post http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/redface.gif, and thanks in advance!

[Sillyme03]

HI

You sound like you have the same symptoms that Flamaest talked about
[url="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum57/HTML/000875.html"]http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum57/HTML/000875.html[/url]

I am on my second day of non Toprol use and I anticipate symtoms to come. I think Propranol is also a beta blocker like Toprol. If so what you have is normal. Try searching for user under Flamest, he has been a big help to me in this withdrawal and even being on Toprol process.

You may want to call your Dr., but mine said there really should not be withdrawal symptoms, but I learned from this and another board, that some people do get them and they are the High heart rate and anxiety. Hang in there and if its worse, call your Doc to double check.

Sil

[wr6969]

Hi Sil,

Thanks for your response! Yes, I do believe that Toprol is also a beta blocker like propranolol, but I'm not certain whether it is a selective beta blocker or not (propranolol is non selective - for more information on whether a beta blocker is selective or non selective, do a search on Google ).

If what has been described by flamest applies to me as well, then I don't have cause for concern. My problem is that stopping the propranolol while just starting the calcium channel blocker (Plendil) has a double whammy effect - because propranolol cessation may result in increased heart rates, and Plendil has also been known to increase heart rates for some patients! So, a double whammy for me to handle, something very unpleasant as you can imagine!

Anxiety also probably explains the tremors that I felt as well as the palpitations. After all, the worse the palpitations get, the faster the heart will beat due to the increased anxiety, right?

Anyway, I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow, and I'll ask her whether I'm coming off propranolols too quickly. Just keeping my fingers crossed that the Plendil will control the BP better than the propranolol...

[zip2play]

wr,

A couple thoughts.
Plain vanilla proprolol (not extended release) is the fastest of the beta blockers wearing off in a couple hours. Add that to the fact that 2x20mg is an extrememely small dose and I'm willing to bet that any symptoms you feel is due to the calcium channel blocker (side effects are many and diverse).
I've gone on and off doses of 40, 80 and even 120 mg propranolol with no noticeable withdrawal.


I'll bet the Xanax and Valium withdrawals were no piece of cake though. THAT can be anxiety producing. Congratulations.
They are both very good drugs but OH so habit forming/addictive.

[wr6969]

Thanks for your response and thoughts, zip2play.

Today, to avoid what I felt yesterday, I decided not to take the calcium channel blocker (CCB). At the doctors, my BP reading was 130/95 which was worrying for me as I still can't believe that the diastolic number has gone so high for a person my age. The agreement I had with the doctor was that I'll continue taking the CCB (Plendil) but in smaller doses first, ie. 2.5 mg once daily. We will then increase this to 5 mg in a week's time if there are no noticeable adverse side effects.

I didn't have any major incidents today (ie. no repeat of yesterday) apart from the normal symptoms associated with hypertension, ie. some pressure in the eyes and a mild headache, which went away with some sleep. I do feel slightly more energetic though having come off the propranolols. I hope the side effects will wear off soon.

Your comments about the "extremely" small dosage of propranolols may not apply to me, I think. I am an extremely "medicine sensitive" person, and even with 2X20mg of propranolol, my heart rate went from the mid 70s to the low 60s, with no substantial change in blood pressure. If this is not the case, then my mind must be playing some nasty tricks on me!

And I'm also very glad to have come off the Xanax and the Valium - they were really playing havoc with my mood and desire for life!

Will try to keep the board posted on any progress I make...