Quit beta blocker cold turkey

02-22-2005, 08:32 AM

Today is the 5th day that I haven't taken my Ziac which is a combination bp med of bisoprolol (beta blocker) and HCTZ. I stopped taking it cold turkey. I've had a lot of unpleasant side effects from it, but on thursday was the last straw. I was diagnosed in December with Oral Lichen Planus and I've been trying several different meds. to help it. The meds. just aren't doing much for it. After research of my own I found out one cause of OLP can be bp meds. especially beta blockers and HCTZ. Of course, the Drs. never mentioned this or suggested taking me off of them and trying different meds. Anyway, on thursday my mouth hurt me so bad that I just sat and cried. I told myself that I'm tired of feeling like this and I have to do something. I just want to see for myself if it's the meds. causing it.

I take my bp meds. at night and wednesday night was the last time I took it. Well, I've been taking my bp quite often during the day but only recording the morning and evening readings which are:
120/75, 116/80, 121/80, 104/75, 110/76, 117/75, 120/83, 133/87, 119/76, 126/78. What do you all think? The readings look good to me all except the one at 133/87 and I had just drank coffee earlier and I had been fussing at my kids, so it probably wasn't a good time to take it. The worst day was Sunday I woke up early that morning and felt a rapid heartbeat it only lasted a few minutes and it also happened a couple more times on Sunday. However, my heart rate has been averaging in the 70s the rest of the time. It was in the 50s on the beta blocker. I've also had headaches does anyone know if this is a withdrawal effect of beta blockers? Also does anyone know if the beta blocker is out of my system? It has a half life of 9-12 hours.
I've had more puffiness than usual under my eyes, but I think that's coming from not taking the HCTZ. So far I haven't noticed a change in the OLP, but I feel better physically I have more energy and I just feel happier.

02-22-2005, 09:07 AM

You've been lucky. Others have stories of stopping beta blockers cold turkey and ending up in the emergency room. You are the exception rather than the rule. I would not advise anyone to quit a beta blocker cold turkey.

02-22-2005, 10:37 AM

So far so good Lavenderfields. After 5 days the abrupt withdrawal won't hurt you; it's usually a problem for people with angina or rhythm difficulties for whom beta-blockade is performing double duty!
Keep good records for a month and see if they continue as good as they are now.
Be careful of the salt because the thiazide was doing the work of keeping it down; there's usually a rebound. Wait it out. I find things settle down from days 7-14 and get to a steady state. Then determine whether your numbers are good enough.

I hope you can do without the pills.

02-22-2005, 01:19 PM

You were lucky to not have side effects from stopping a bb cold turkey. When i stopped toprol xl cold turkey, i ended up in the er.

Good luck to you.

02-22-2005, 02:05 PM

Gosh, I didn't realize some of you had ended up in the ER quitting cold turkey. Had I known that beforehand I would have been too scared to do what I did. Thanks for the responses.

02-22-2005, 04:43 PM

I didn't even know i was suppose to wean until i found this board. By that time, i had already stopped toprol xl and had been rushed to the er. My bp spiked to 236/110 boy was i scared.

I did it again in Oct. of last yr and ended up in the er. Finally, i've thrown out the toprol xl two bottle of them.

02-23-2005, 07:09 AM

jtu - how long after you stopped the toprol xl did your bp spike that high? Today, is the 6th day for me, so far no big spike. I took my bp a few minutes ago and it was 120/82. My heart felt like it was beating really fast this morning, but when I took my pulse it was 80. I guess after having pulse rates in the 50s on the beta blocker 80 would feel really fast.

02-23-2005, 10:18 AM

Lavender, you are so right. your pulse spiked suddenly probably shocked your system. I was off toprol xl for about two days when i noticed the spiked bp. I waited about a week b4 going to the ER. It was horrible. The er doc gave me a nitro patch and the lowest they could get my bp was 140/80. They kept me overnite for observation.

Now i wean with all my meds.

02-23-2005, 01:55 PM

jtu- oh how horrible I would have been scared too death if my bp spiked that high. The doctors just don't give us enough information when they put us on these drugs. They should tell us the common side effects and let us know whether or not we need to wean or at least tell us not to suddenly stop taking the meds. What really gets me though is when we are having problems after going on a drug and we tell the Drs. and they either tell us it's not the drug and they try to look for other reasons or they just give us a blank stare like we're crazy.

02-23-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lavenderfields

jtu- oh how horrible I would have been scared too death if my bp spiked that high. The doctors just don't give us enough information when they put us on these drugs. They should tell us the common side effects and let us know whether or not we need to wean or at least tell us not to suddenly stop taking the meds. What really gets me though is when we are having problems after going on a drug and we tell the Drs. and they either tell us it's not the drug and they try to look for other reasons or they just give us a blank stare like we're crazy.

Lavender you are right again. Today i went to my endo and discovered the reason my bp spikes is bcuz of a kidney disorder. I am so angry right now. I almost a yr i've been asking them for certain tests( creatine and bun tests) but to no avail. All i've ever been told is my kidneys look good. Now today, i overheard my endo asking a senior dr if she should order a 24 hr urine test. Then i overheard him say something about bun and creatine. Then i heard him say, well lets see how her kidneys are b4 we do any of the other test. I think im going to a new d. Enough is enough. This same clinic(located in a well known hospital) managed to ruin my liver as well.

02-24-2005, 05:54 AM

jtu, you have really been through a lot. I think I would find a new Dr. These are major organs that they're dealing with. I would think the endo. would refer you to a kidney specialist. If not, I would ask to be referred to one.

02-24-2005, 01:04 PM

Im not sure what the problem is yet. I wrote a letter to my gp and cardio today requesting info. I want to know what the 24hr urine test, creatine and bun tests show before taking any further action.

I was normal six yrs ago until i went to a free clinic. I got what i paid for and then some.

02-25-2005, 05:58 AM

jtu - I hope that when you do have those tests that everything turns out okay.
I had the 24 hr. urine test done a couple of years ago. I had a CT scan for stomach problems I was having and it showed a growth on my left kidney. I was really nervous and scared at the time. The 24 hr. test came back just fine.
I was diagnosed with a benign growth there is some long medical name for it but I can't remember what it is. I have blood work and urine sample checked every 6 months and a CT scan done every to 2 years just to keep a check on it. So, hopefully everything will turn out just fine for you.

Quit beta blocker cold turkey

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