How did you wean off Metoprolol?

I have had a really tough time trying to find a blood pressure pill without side effects. First I developed a cough from Lisinopril, then he put me on Losartan then Olmesartan, etc. After two years on those, my joints were in excruciating pain. My sister said to look at side effects when I told her the Orthopedics couldn't really find a cause. Sure enough, on not as common side effects was joint pain. He changes me to Toporol XL (same as generic Metoprolol), and within a month, all the joint pain is gone. After being on Toporol for a couple of months, I start getting this really bad pain in my side. They did CT scans and there is no reason I should have this pain. Then I look up side effects and there it is, on rare side effects or less common was "side pain". I'm just beside myself! So I go back to the Doctor and he has now changed me to a Thiazide diuretic (Maxzide) while weaning me off Toporol, but my blood pressure is now really high. Although I did sometimes have heart fluttering at rest (usually middle of the night), the Toporol did help with that. After reading this group, I wish I had never been on the Toporol because I have since found that going off can cause your BP to spike higher than before. What used to be 135/85 HBP with no medication is now 150/100 on the diuretic. He is now adding a calcium blocker and I'm worried that has it's own set of problems. I'm only 58 and I'm just wondering if any of you had any of these same problems with the pain in the side. Or has anyone been on the calcium blockers and any problems I should be aware of. I think I'm just overly sensitive to medication and am working on my weight (220) so maybe one day I won't have this problem.

I also take the Metropolol and I am weaning myself off of it slowly. I now take 1/2 of the 25 mg pill in morning and 1/2 of the 25 mg pill in the evening.

Hello @nancynana4,

I am sorry to hear that you are having so many problems with the Metorporlol. Have you talked with your doctor about your desire to change meds? It is very important not to go off a med without first consulting your prescribing doctor.

I had problems with Metorporlol as well several years ago. Not quite the same as your side effects, however, when I called my cardiologist he substituted an older beta blocker called Atenolol. It works quite well without the side effects.

Will you call your doctor today?

Could you list a link to an article about Metoprolol being the worst beta blocker on the market, I simply don't see that. My Cardiologist doesn't prefer it, at least the Succinate Version, but I'm fine on it, succinate and all. The hospital put me on it and my family doctor keeps me on it. But I had taken Inderal LA for years, and when I went into afib was on Acebutolol (rather than Inderal, which later was switched to Atenolol, then switched to Acebutolol, this over a period of many years) in a large dose, but I didn't notice any problems with Metoprolol Succinate, save before they raised the dose high enough. I left the hospital on 200 mg Tartrate, I asked my family doctor to prescribe the Succinate, and technically, my Cardiologist told me to take 400 mg Succinate as 200 mg in the morning, and 200 mg in the evening. But I take, with my family doctors guidance, 200 mg Metoprolol Succinate in the morning, 25 mg Metoprolol Tartrate at 2:00 PM, it gets me through the afternoon more smoothly, and the pharmacy spoke with the doctor, most people don't take most forms. I then take 150 mg Metoprolol Succinate in the evening.

I take 200 mg Metoprolol Succinate in the morning, 25 mg of Metoprolol Tartrate at 2:00 PM, and 150 mg of Metoprolol Succinate in the evening. That's a total of 350 mg Metoprolol Succinate AND 25 mg Metoprolol Tartrate. Plus I take Coumadin, Phenytoin, Zocor, and Singulair, and that's the short list.

Beta Blockers are known to calm people down, they've been safely used where people experience effects of Adrenaline, such as performers might have before going on stage. I'm not dismissing the symptoms you have, medications can produce idiosyncratic reactions in a small number of patients, but if you were prescribed Metoprolol to tame a fast heart rate, you likely will need to be taking something. My heart, I feel every irregularity in the rhythm, well, practically every one, but many people don't feel anything, despite how fast, or irregular, their heart rate is.

Your doctor, and you, must make decisions on what medication you should be taking. Don't rely on Forum Discussions, they can help, but you need to tell your doctor the problems you're having, and if necessary, try something else under his guidance.

Hi, so how are you now without metoprolol? Did everything work out fine?

I had this a few years ago and I had the same side effects. My doctor prescribed it because sometimes my heart rate goes very high, but I just couldn't tolerate it. My son in law had this too and had to give it up.

Hi @nancynana4, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like you're having a very rough time. Might I suggest that you call your doctor first thing in the morning? You'll want to let him/her know how you are feeling and that you suspect these symptoms are because of the medication. @sue225's right that 3 days isn't very long to judge. @suzanne2019 is also right that drugs can cause side effects. Everyone is different. And no one can tell you what you should or shouldn't do. That's between you and your doctor. Your doctor uses medical knowledge and evidence to make a recommendation. Only you can tell the medical professional how it effects you. There are choices. I hope you'll call in the morning and report back what you learned.

@nancynana4maybe you should stay on it a little longer: three days isn't enough to decide. Maybe your body will adjust. I have been on the metoprolol tartrate for over three years to control an arrythmia. I had different side effects for 10 months! but I liked how all my pounding and fluttering and racing sensations vanished. My doctor tried me on bisoprolol , atenolol, metoprolol and I chose the one which at the time was the least offensive in terms of side effects. And eventually my body gave up rebelling against the drug. Let your doctor know, and know that there are other meds within the betablocker family to try.

Y p.o ur dose is low but that is reported the #1 worse beta blocker on the market! I did a lot of research and weaned myself off due to my extreme side effects just like yours. I have heard so many similar stories on this site from this drug. Dont take it anymore!!! So happy I stopped taking it!!!