Question about coming off of Beta Blockers

[Krista1994]

I am 35 years old and I had been taking 50mg's of Metoprolol(sp) once a day for about a year for AFib and Palpitations. I did not like the Beta Blockers at ALL and was trying to wean. I had cut my 50mg pill in half and was on that dose for about 3 days when I went into the AFib and went to the ER. The doctor I saw after being admitted came in to talk to me about what was going on. I asked about my Beta Blocker because I had heard that you should not stop them "cold turkey". Well he told me I was on such a low dose that just stopping them at that point wouldn't matter. About 3 days after I quit the Beta Blockers, I started having a flutter in the morning. I told my Doc and he upped my Calcium Channel Blocker, it then progressed to harder flutters and now it's more like a "rubbing" palpitation feeling with the anxiety. Now almost 2 weeks later I'm still having Palpitations with exertion and my Anxiety is in FULL FORCE! I'm wondering if it's because I quit my Beta Blocker cold turkey and now am feeling the after effects? How long do these last? Will they end? Do I need to go back on the Beta Blocker? I'm really not liking this feeling and it's definitely not helping with my anxiety!!!! Thank you for any help!

[clavus]

I have tried (3 times with 3 different tapering plans ) to get off my much  lower dose of Toprol and it wasn't worth the fluttery heart, volatile bp and increased anxiety. So I remain on half a pill a day of the lowest dose of Toprol XL, potentiated by fish oil pills. Part of the problem is that the body makes many more beta receptors in response to their blockade . So the newly unblocked cells are receiving a megadose of adrenaline. This effect seems to linger for longer than I can hold out. It is possible that I tapered too slowly. Maybe it has something to do with  the poorly understood labile hypertension that is a part of my bicuspid aortic disease. I have been unable to find a good tapering plan on the internet---maybe cold turkey is better.  I think my fellow doctors are too cavalier re: discontinuation of beta blockers. There is an obvious analogy to pain meds. I may owe my life to beta blockers but I don't like the addiction.

[tanns]

I wasn't on a beta blocker for very long or at a very high dose.  But I stopped and had hard, random palpitations for a while.  My pharmacist told me it takes 3 weeks for it to be out of your system.  I call my pharmacist for everything medicine related and he is fantastic.  While you wait for a response, maybe you can try a pharmacist and at least find out if it is common.  They deal a lot with those types of questions.

Good luck.

[sm1234]

My mother (57 years old) has been on propranol for about 10 years.  She also takes diovan daily.  About 6 weeks ago she started feeling dizzy and had brief moments of very slow pulse (in the 40s).  Her normal pulse is mid-50s, and has been that way for approximately 3 years, and though that is low, she has been very well during this time.  Due to her drop in pulse, her doctor reduced her dosage of propranol to 25% of its original dosage, and has been slowly increasing it over a period of 2 weeks to 75% of her original dosage.  Eventually he would like her to go back to 100% of her original dosage.  My mom has not had a slow pulse since her beta blocker dosage has been reduced, however she has been experiencing a lot of fatigue, headaches and dizziness.  Her pulse and blood pressure is also higher than she is used to (pulse:62, and bp: at times 140/90).  Do you think it's the right strategy to get her back to her original dosage of propranol?  Do these symptoms appear to be a result of her change in dosage?  Thanks for your help.  

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

why did you come off your bb, ive been on one since i was 23 now 47 , i have to have it for pac could not do with out it . i think bb are great ,its made my life better . good luck on doing without , hope it gets beeter for you

[Forum-M.D.-bkj]

Krista,

Thanks for the post.

Your symptoms at this point wouldnt be due to the lack of beta blocker. If all you are having is palpitations and not atrial fibbrilation or flutter, you would probably be better served looking into how to deal better with your anxiety.

I can tell how worried this has you, so dealing with the anxiety itself is going to be very important as it is most likely that you will have fluctuations in your symptoms.

good luck