What was your Metoprolol withdrawal experience?

@lelemoe55 l
The repeat ECG did not show a block.
But I then wore a holter for 24 hours ,and it did show a second degree 2/1 block
I probably have a family history of this type of block since my father , at age 83, collapsed at home, and when he was taken to the ER, they quickly put a pacemaker in. He did not survive since the fall had caused a bleed on his brain and even though he survived the surgery, he was slightly diminished and lingered for 6 weeks before he died
So I'm very thankful, that mine was caught earlier, and that I have a pacemaker.

I hated metoprolol because it elevated my blood sugar and I am prediabetic. According to literature, this drug can push a person from a prediabetic state into full blown type 2 diabetes. I also believed that it messed with my ability to sleep. I was taking it for about 6 months and stopped it cold turkey while immediately switching from the metoprolol beta blocker to a calcium channel blocker called Verapapril SR capsule, 120mg. (long acting) once a day, taken in the morning. No sleep interruptions. No elevated blood sugar.
It is taken to lower my heart rate because I have isolated episodes of NSVT along with 4% PVC’s. I have normal BP.
So much better for me than the hated metoprolol.
Best of luck in finding an alternative medication that suits you better. I went through several before landing on Verapapril.

@wcuro Also, if you are taking a statin, it, too, raises blood serum glucose levels some.

Metoprolol was causing pain in my legs below the knees, and I felt sluggish and kind of tipsy. Heart rate would drop into the low 50s and stay there all day. Went off one day and the next day it was like someone flipped a switch. Almost instant change in leg pain and other symptoms. My heart rate now is in the mid 50s while sleeping, mid 60s while just up and moving around, and then into the 80s when I exercise. I really, really disliked taking metoprolol.

Tks for the info. After three stents I'm finally begining my withdraw from Metopolol. Fingers crossed

@wcuro

Yes, I also thought metoprolol effected my sleep.

For the past 17 days I’ve been dealing with a really frustrating set of symptoms that started after I was put on Metoprolol 50mg XR for about 6 weeks due to blood pressure issues that were largely tied to anxiety. While on it, I had pretty rough side effects, and my doctor eventually advised me to stop, which I did abruptly without tapering. After that, I started getting BP spikes and heart rate surges along with shakiness, adrenaline rushes, and lightheadedness. On top of that, my face and upper body have had constant flushing, and my legs have been one of the most noticeable symptoms—they feel full and “pumped,” especially after standing, and look bigger by the end of the day, even though they feel firm and not like typical swelling. Some days I feel almost completely normal, like I’m back to myself, but then I’ll get a random surge or a day of jumpiness and it throws me off mentally. The recovery after those episodes has been getting quicker overall, but they still leave me drained, foggy, and even mess with my speech briefly at times. The inconsistency has been the hardest part—feeling like I’m improving, then having a setback—and it’s really starting to wear on me mentally.

@jdavis1721 Why not taper. split the 50mg, take 25mg each day for a little while then make it 12.5 for a little while then 12.5 every other day.

@vjs003 I was only on it for about 6 weeks, and during that time I was having pretty intense side effects, so the priority became getting off of it rather than slowly adjusting. My doctor actually advised me to stop, and based on that guidance I discontinued it without a taper. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how sensitive the body can be even after a relatively short period on a beta blocker, especially when your system is already dealing with anxiety-related blood pressure issues. Looking back, a taper might have helped ease the transition, but given how I was reacting on the medication and the direction I was given, stopping was the decision that was made. Unfortunately, it seems like my nervous system has been trying to rebalance ever since, which is what I’ve been dealing with these past couple of weeks.

I've been on 12.5 mg for 2 years since I had a stent put in. Also taking 5mg of Rosuvastatin along with blood thinner Plavix. I am concerned about getting diabetes from the BP medicine and statin. All the medicines get along. The only fault is that Rosuvastatin is intensified by the Plavix. The PB and statin both can trigger diabetes. I believe I will be going off the blood thinner and when I do I will ask for a different BP medicine and if I can take the 5mg stain every other day. I'm wanting to lose another 10 lbs. Maybe I can get off the BP if I do. Time will tell. I wish you well. It is important to keep BP low because if it is high the blood rushes thru and can tear the inside of the artery walls. The the body seeks to patch the tear with plaque. And the buildup of plaque causes clots. Statins help cement the existing plaque to the artery walls. Maybe a nutritionist can help you to get your body in balance. Best to you. The situation you are in clearly causes anxiety which is a catch 22 situation,