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Stopping Carvedilol (Coreg): When will the effects wear off?
Hi everyone,
I am glad to be a part of this community. Please foregive the long post. I was wondering if anyone has had a hard time while being on and going off Carvedilol (Coreg).
I am an active 45 year old mom of a young child. I have always tried to eat healthily and keep in shape (I do yoga, pilates and, run about 5k 2x per week). My BP has always been pretty good, but since my 40´s it has gone up a bit (heredity factors play a role). My BP and heart rate also "spike" when I get stressed or anxious, but for the most part are pretty level during normal times. I do have anxious moments, but I would not say anxiety has been a major life problem. At my last check (Feb 2016), and after wearing a 24 hour BP monitor, my cardiologist suggested I start Carvedilol 6.25 1x per day (quite a low dose) for the spikes and to keep the heart from getting too excited. I agreed that maybe it was a good idea and started over two months ago. Other than stimulating rapid bowel movements, I did not notice any side effects at first. I would say about three to four weeks into taking the Carvedilol, I began not sleeping well. I also noticed my heart pounding, like a bass drum, slowly and steadily, at times. Then the heart pounding began to wake me up at night (it turns out my HR was down in the high 40s at night). Some nights I even felt my chest muscles vibrate, as if a phone on silence mode was on top of my chest. I started to notice this more and more and then I would have a few normal nights, so I figured I would just talk about this at my next cardio check (booked out in June). I also noticed I was getting more and more anxious. I wasn't too sure why little things were beginning to bother me. I thought it was hormones, PMS, whatever, and started looking for someone like a therapist to talk to.
The previous week was bad. I woke up from a few nightmares and I started to panic in bed, just woken up from sleep. I had three nights of waking up to panic attacks and body shakes. The experiences made me very nervous. At this point I started looking into the side effects of Carvedilol and I was seeing not only chest pounding, but in rare cases reported effects of nightmares, visual disturbances, tremors, anxiety. I also know one does not simply stop a beta blocker, so we talked about tapering down. I tapered down for four days, and then I got in to see another cardiologist on Monday and he said just stop immediately. The effects are rare, but they have been noted. Going off this medication has been frightening. I feel weak and shaky all the time, and I get sporadic periods of pounding and muscle tremors in my legs, anxiety and fuzzy vision. I frequently get so cold I begin to shake. Yesterday I went back to the clinic for an EKG (normal) and some blood tests (including thyroid) and everything was normal. I am just assuming this is my body reacting and readapting itself after being on beta blockers. It has only been five days, but I am wondering if anyone out there has had similar experiences. How long did it take you to feel normal again? I ran a 5k just two weekends ago and yesterday I could hardly take a walk. Thanks for listening.
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@lmaxj Im so sorry about your plight. I too was on that for many years and i find it interesting it affected you that way. I am curious tho was there any other med changes about the same time? You mentioned vivid dreams and my first thought was when i was quiting smoking and took chantix. The dreams were horrible and i had to stop that drug. But 10 years and no issue then over night it got real bad. I prey you get relief soon.
Blessing
Dana
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1 ReactionHi, This drug has been a nightmare for me. I will never let another doctor prescribe a Beta Blocker for me. I actually found this blog because I was searching the side effects of weaning off this drug. I have been feeling horrible since July 31 when I had to go to urgent care because I developed an allergic reaction to the BP medicine I had been on for 10 plus years. Just to let you know I have the same symptoms that you have. My right-hand tremors, a break into sweats, my heart is jumping around and unsettled in my chest, the fatigue is horrible, I have vivid dreams and I am praying for these symptoms to go away. It's also hard for me to concentrate to do my job. I have rushed the weaning process because I just can't put this drug in my mouth again. I also learned that Beta Blockers are not the best treatment for African Americans, which I am. I had to request a Calcium Channel Blocker from the cardiologist. I was taking a high dose of the drug twice a day and feeling like a zombie when I awoke in the mornings with blood pressure numbers still uncontrolled and running high. I just pray that when I awaken in the morning I will start to feel normal again. I hope that you feel better soon too. God Bless.
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2 ReactionsHi! My name is Maddie and I can testify that Coreg is a heart failure medication that can destroy a bodies funtion. Coreg came out around 2006-2007. At that time, my cardiologist decided to put me on Coreg. He and his partners were so excited about this new beta blocker. It was going to change the world. However, it almost destroy my life: physically and mentally. Your symtoms concerning your side of effects from this medication is the same side of effects I experienced.
In addition, I was raising 2 children, as you, as a single mother, besides going to radiation treatments each day and physical heart theraphy, at the same time. You see, I was diagnosis with cancer two days after doctors discovered I had cardiomyopathy.
Of course, after being a heart patient since 2005, I have found cardiologist's are not educated enough on the side of effects of heart medications they prescribed and how much to prescribe to a patient. And the best person to go to is your pharmacist, which I did.
He worked with me to back me off the medication to see if my symptoms would regress and they slowly did. It took about two months to really begin to notice the difference. My heart that was beating like a drum, slowly disappeared. Besides fuzziness and light headedness. In 3 months, the depression went away and within 6 months I was beginning to feel human.
The best person to handle this kind of crisis is yourself. We know how our bodies are accepting new medications that doctors prescribed and working with a good pharmacist is someone everyone needs on there heart team , not just a good cardiologist.
Today, I am on Metoprolol and have no side of effects. It took me 10 years to find the right doctor to listen to me and build a great relationship with him. What I found, be direct at your first meeting, like an interview and ask them directly, how much do you know about the side effects of the heart medications you are prescribing and how often do you review those medications.. And finally, reach out to your pharmacist they are a GREAT resource everyone should have in their back pocket. I know, my family practice has a pharmacist on staff which I can call if I have issues with any medications I am taking..its great..
In other words, you have to your own advocate when it comes to your own health, because you know how your body is accepting those medications. And don't be afraid, to walk away and get a second opinion or new Doctor. We only have one life!
In closing, the very best to you and your family, with Gods Warm Blessings, Maddie
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1 ReactionHi, Nelle (@nelle49), I'm responding to Amanda's invitation to share my experience with Carvedilol. Your medication was almost identical to mine before you began phasing down Coreg -- 50mg in two doses daily, 40mg of Lisinopril (a cousin of Telmisartan), and 10mg of a diuretic (mine is Amiloride). I'm also taking Coumadin (5mg) and Atorvastatin (10mg), but they're not relevant to my blood pressure or pulse rate. Overall, I don't find your pulse rate -- including its rises during exercise -- to be much different from mine, even though it has risen as your dosage of Coreg has been reduced. Your wise choice of scaling Coreg down over time with guidance from your doctor was a smart move. I'm not into that, because my BP remains steady at the top of the recommended maximum for people my age (85). I'd give a buck to be able to reduce (or change) my BP meds, but that's not in the cards. Your situation probably differs from mine and is well understood by your doctor, but since you're concerned about it, you might benefit from an exchange of views in a personal discussion with your doctor. Anxiety is an important symptom of hypertension and deserves to be addressed as much as your physical readable symptoms. A steady daily exercise regimen is another objective of my medical team (which includes me). And we periodically discuss whether and how to change my medication. Over the past 25 years, my doctors have prescribed a variety of 12 different meds, and I have acquiesced because the changes were upgrades to match changes in research results. I hope you and your doctor can move into a state of stability and comfort with minor adjustments indicated by your situation. Martin
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1 ReactionHi @nelle49, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Congratulations on effectively managing your blood sugar with proper diet and exercise and getting your blood pressure under control. I'm sorry to hear about your current issue with your elevated pulse due to the Carvedilol tapering. @ashby1947, @wigreenthumb, @predictable, @fireguy8891, @rois4richo and @jfperrone have all used or currently use Carvedilol and I invite them to share their experiences with you.
Did you decide to contact your physician? If so, did she recommend anything?
I have been taking 50 mg (2 -25 mg TID, 1 -40 mg Telmisartan and 6.25 HCTZ for about five years. I’ve gotten my Blood sugar normal thru low carb diet, lost weight (eating at home for months) and exercising more. My BP came down dramatically. My doctor has been weaning me from Carvedilol for weeks. From taking half for two weeks, to 1/4 for two weeks to 1/8 for two weeks. She was mostly worried about my pulse going up. And it has been somewhat faster. High 70s low 80s. This week she had me stop the 3.125 TID. I only took the 3.125 at night for 3 nights then 3 nights ago stopped it. So no Carvedilol for three days. I’m not happy with my pulse. E.g. sitting here it’s 89. If I go up one flight of stairs it will be 115. If I walk into another room it’s 105. I get a little out of breath. No heart disease that I know of. The pulse does come back to the 80s quickly when I sit. Will this adjust and come down to high 70s low 80s or should I call her and see if I should go back on at least one 3.15 once a day? Or is there another beta blocker that’s milder than Carvedilol. My blood pressure is still very good. Seldom over 120/80 and usually more like 110-115/70.
Hi @latishabritt, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Has the half dose made a difference these past few days? Did you have anxiety before starting this drug as well?
Thank you for your post. I am taking a 12.5 twice a day but it has been horrible. I actually have higher BP and anxiety attacks more it seems while on this drug. I called the doctor and he suggested taking half a dose for now. I'm trying to slower get off it but I feel all of the side effects just like everyone else. I'm so happy it's not just me. Praying for you all. I'm going to do the same as you and just make lifestyle changes. No more drugs while I'm in my 40's . Coreg was by far too strong for my heart. Thanks again everyone for these post. They do help others.
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1 ReactionIt is my PCP. The nearest endocrinologist is several hours away and they don't take my insurance. Basically I'm stuck with the doctor I have for the time being
@shersh I don't understand why is your Dr. giving you a heart medicine for thyroid ? Isn,t there any other Dr. you can see even a PCP would be better then the one you have seems like he is doing more harm then good unless he knows Coreg will help your thyroid I never heard of this and I,ve been in the medical profession for 35 yrs.