withdrawal from beta blockers

Just wondering if you can have withdrawal problems from beta blockers. I've been on them for a good 10 years and now they have me stopping all meds for good to see how I react, so are there problems with this that I should be looking for. Thank Stacy

5 Comments

Stopping Beta Blockers

by SMITTY - 2008-11-14 10:11:09


Stacy

Can you have withdrawals symptoms from stopping beta blockers, the answer is yes. But it usually depends on which and the amount of beta blocker you have been taking. If I can believe what the literature says, some hearts become dependent to some degree on beta blockers. The amount of dependency will be governed by, again, which beta blocker and the amount you taking.

I cannot tolerate beta blockers and while the doctors insist on prescribing them I am just as insistent that I will not take something that does not help me and makes me feel worse. So, I have quit everyone prescribed during the last 25 years or so.

Things (I'll not say problems) to watch for are a faster heart beat, skip beats, PVC/PAC and palpitations. You can have any, or none of these. The upside for me is I have never had any of these to any large degree and always feel as if I have just gotten over a bout with the flu.

One last word, ask your doctor for specific instructions on how to stop your beta blocker. If you can get none, I'll tell you what I have done. Cut the dosage in half for about 2 weeks, after which I take that half every other day for another week. The thing that has been impressed on me is that I didn't want my heart to try shift gears to quickly.

Good luck,

Smitty

Questions for the doc.......

by Philman - 2008-11-14 11:11:23

Does the b/b you are on cross the blood brain barrier? Those that do have more troublesome side effects when weaning off.........
What are you taking the B/B for and what is the prescribed dosage? Your doc should have some kind of game plan for this and I would completely review this with him.
Did your doc. think of weaning down and checking your symptoms as you go? (stress test ,H/R, echo etc.)

In any event you must be extremely cautious, follow docs directions and be in touch with how you feel. Ask many questions and keep your records.

I have weaned off of atenolol from 50mg to .06(twice a day) and must confess a feeling of returned energy and brighter stronger moods. Left my cardio today and got a complete "green light" .......... all signs are good and "echo " was normal. I have done this over the last two months and was put on b/b 4mos ago. Had some dizziness and sob but they are less as time goes bye.

My feeling is that some docs over prescribe b/b and its up to the individual to find their tolerance level. There is some good info on this site, and you may be wise to educate yourself.

Good luck and keep us in the "loop"
-Philman

be careful

by aldeer - 2008-11-14 11:11:32

When I was on Rythmol, (because it stopped working for me), I was taken off rythmol all at once. BAD IDEA! That day my heart rate went to 150 and stayed there. I was not able to get thru to doctors until the next morning, and still at 150, the decision was to give me four rythmols, stay in the office until 3p.m., if it hadn't gone down, go to hospital for cardioversion..... Yes, it can cause problems, and yes if one happens, go right to the doctors and get it treated right away. I am not a doctor, but I do find tapering off any med is the sensible way to go (for me)....

Depends

by ElectricFrank - 2008-11-15 12:11:07

Some blockers are beta than others.(g

Just had to throw that one in

frank

Worth a Try

by auntiesamm - 2008-11-16 06:11:21


For many years I took a heavy dosage of atenolol. In fact when I was in 3rd degree block my cardiologist thought it could be atenolol poisoning causing it. While in ICU they worked diligently to flush my system of the drug. It did not affect the HB. Following PM the dose was decreased. Still 50 mg. a day made me feel like a zombie and my emotions were absolutely flat! About 3 months ago I started the process of titrating the dosage under my PCP's care. A gradual decrease in dosage did not affect my BP at all and my heart rate increased normally with activity, etc. I felt ever so much better than I had in years. When I had my PM interrogation last month I was pacing about 20% less in the atrium than I had been. Cardio says it is due to getting off atenolol. So that is my story and I will never take a beta blocker of any kind again unless I am on the brink of death! Good luck and God bless.

Sharon (So CA)

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