They function through dampening the effect of the sympathetic nervous system, the fight-or-flight adrenaline-mediated stress response, by blocking its receptors called the beta-adrenergic receptors. Talk to your doctor to find out if beta-blockers … Fatigue, dizzy, depression, impotence, bronchospasm to name a few. Three patients, who had experienced symptoms during a previous withdrawal, again complained of transient palpitations, tremor, sweating, headache and general malaise. Sudden stopping of beta blockers can cause many undesirable symptoms and often needs monitoring. Updated May 14, 2012. Selective vs. Nonselective Beta Blockers. Newer beta blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg), don't usually cause weight gain as a side effect. Helen Nnama has six years of writing experience. It can also be a side effect of some medications such as beta blockers. I couldn't wait to get off Plavix! Frequent tremors which can be severe is one of the commonest symptom of beta blocker withdrawal. Following these guidelines, combined with the doctor’s consultation will help the individual withdraw from beta blocker usage effectively, sans unnecessary side effects. Advertisement PDF Version   $34.95      $8.99      Buy Now Hence, it is necessary that beta blockers, if required to stop, must be done appropriately and only with medical advice. The feedback link “Was this Article Helpful” on this page can be used to report content that is not accurate, up-to-date or questionable in any manner. 90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you … Sudden discontinuation of beta blockers may result in heightened sensitivity to the circulating adrenaline in the body, and in turn, this could cause: In case of the underlying presence of a coronary artery blockade, which is not uncommon in the general population, this could result in angina, chest pain due to a heart attack or even death of part of the heart muscle known as a myocardial infarction. This article contains incorrect information. Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. I had my heart attack March 19, 2016 and came off in April 2017. the reason to bring that up is that the feeling coming off beta blockers was the same as the feeling of anxiety! Side effects tend to be annoying, not life-threatening. It's a longer term issue, but it does seem to vary amongst beta blockers. Get To Know What Possibly Could Be Causing Your Symptoms! Hi @glr702, you'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about weaning off metoprolol. My mother is coming off Clopidogrel, which she has been on for a couple of months, due to side effects. Wee Y, Burns K, Bett N. Medical management of chronic stable angina. Yet the main reason to avoid beta blockers is the side effects. and high blood pressure medication because my blood pressure was so low. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to withdraw these beta blockers due to their potential side effects that trouble the patients or sometimes doctor wants to change the drug and shift the patient to some other anti-hypertensive medicine. So while some may find temporary relief from their anxiety, others may find their anxiety to be much worse, while others may see no effect. The following symptoms and effects of beta blocker withdrawal are felt quite often by the patients: Some of the less common symptoms of beta blocker withdrawal, which are more prominent in patients with a weaker immune system include. If the patient develops hyperthyroidism while they are taking beta blockers, these symptoms will be masked by the beta blocker, and the condition may not be diagnosed promptly. High blood pressure is treated by many drugs, and beta blocker is one of them, which helps to reduce the blood pressure. Benefits of β blockers in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: network meta-analysis. These changes often are temporary. This article on Epainassist.com has been reviewed by a medical professional, as well as checked for facts, to assure the readers the best possible accuracy. Beta-blockers are a type of medication that's traditionally used to treat heart conditions. This article may contains scientific references. If the medicines are stopped, it can have reverse effects. BMJ. Heart rate can increase dramatically when coming off of propranolol, (and other beta blockers), regardless of the reason the person started taking the drug. Patients should not stop taking this drug "cold turkey," even if they have been taking it … Weight gain is more likely with older beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin) and metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). The numbers in the parentheses (1, 2, 3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers. What to do about: feeling tired, dizzy or light … She is a health contributor to TBR Journal, editor of fertility confidential manuals, published poet, and a greeting card writer. Sudden discontinuation of beta blockers may result in heightened sensitivity to the circulating adrenaline in the body, and in turn, this could cause: a severe tachycardia. I do take baby aspirin every day and will have to for the rest of my life but that's ok. How to cope with side effects of propranolol. Maintain contact with your physician while tapering off beta blockers. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Metoprolol Drug Information. That is a lot of remaining side effects. About 3 days after I quit the Beta Blockers, I started having a flutter in the morning. As these medicines are taken regularly and for a long period, it is important to know the symptoms and effects of beta blocker withdrawal. Aust Prescr. Learn more about the uses of beta-blockers here. Either way, from what I can tell, it's not a short term side effect. How Effective and Safe is Aleve (Naproxen) in Relieving Minor Aches and Pains? This puts excess strain on the heart, which can increase the risk of heart attacks. She has a B.S. The effects of beta blocker withdrawal are also felt on triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Doctors usually advise tapering of dose, which helps to gradually reduce the dose and also monitor specific health parameters. 2015;38(4):131-6. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2015.042. There are two main types of beta blocker medications: selective beta blockers and nonselective beta blockers. Perhaps you can change to a different beta blocker from metoprolol. You mentioned that you tapered off the drug and have now been off it for 6 days. Diabetic patients need to be careful while taking beta blockers about low sugar levels and also about the effects of beta blocker withdrawal. Patients suffering from excessive secretion of thyroid hormones, or hyperthyroidism, usually experience severe anxiety-like symptoms such as an elevated heart rate and tremors. Kindle Version   $34.95  $8.99      Buy Now As an effect of beta blocker withdrawal, there are greater chances of chest pain and also of heart attacks or myocardial infarction. Congratulations for coming off blood thinners! Beta blockers are also extensively prescribed to patients suffering from high level of anxiety and stress. American College of Cardiology. Sometimes, beta-blockers are prescribed for off-label use to help manage anxiety symptoms. UpToDate. What's unique about beta blockers is that no one knows how they'll affect any given person. The Harvard Medical School Patient Education Center describes beta blockers as a class of prescription drugs used for a variety of ailments such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Also the effects of beta blocker withdrawal can cause increased anxiety and stress, which can present with symptoms like palpitation and excessive sweating. One of the major uses for beta blockers is that they slow the heart rate considerably. As an effect of beta blocker withdrawal, blood flow to the heart increases and can cause increased sweating. The MRI scan showed no abnormalities or any sign that she had suffered a TIA but the doctor prescribed Clopidogrel as a precaution. Our articles are resourced from reputable online pages. As these symptoms are similar to the symptoms of beta blocker withdrawal, it may be difficult to differentiate between the two. Doctors long withheld beta blockers from people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease over worries that these drugs would worsen symptoms, but a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that judicious use of beta blockers may decrease flare-ups of this common breathing problem and improve survival. Abstract Chronic treatment with beta-blockers was interrupted abruptly in six patients with arterial hypertension. The most common side effects … Chatterjee S, Biondi-zoccai G, Abbate A, et al. Are There Side Effects When You Stop Taking Metoprolol? They can cause a slight rise in triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood, and a modest decrease in "good" cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. When beta blocker is stopped suddenly, the problems in heart functioning, for which the medicine was prescribed can recur. or elevated heart rate, would strain the heart greatly. Gain weight. But when a person who is used to taking beta blocker, is asked to stop its usage, many other symptoms may become more prominent. As these medicines can lower the heartbeat, it may be difficult to assess symptoms of low blood sugar, which may be a concern in diabetics. I had my HA on March 19, 2016 with a 100% blockage in LAD ( The Widow Maker) and one stent placement. The average weight gain is about 2.6 pounds (1.2 kilograms). Overall, beta blockers are a safe, reliable and effective medication. Like many other prescription drugs, Beta blocker users who stop abruptly may experience some rebound effects known as withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms and effects of beta blocker withdrawal are mostly noticeable but sometimes can be confused with symptoms of other disorders. Fatigue can manifest as somnolence or lethargy. Other common symptoms of beta blocker withdrawal include weight gain, cold feet and fatigue. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library highlights some of the risks related to hyperthyroidism of abrupt discontinuation of beta blockers 1. As stated by The Harvard Medical School Patient Education Center, Patients who use beta blockers for an extended period of time get accustomed to the slowed heart rate. in epidemiology, and is an M.D. If beta blockers are suddenly stopped, the blood pressure can again begin to increase. Getting short of breath even while performing the activities which require less physical input. When there is a sudden withdrawal of beta blocker, the adrenaline in your body may become more sensitive, which can suddenly increase the heart rate. But, like most medications, beta-blockers can have side effects and can interact with other drugs. Swelling in your hands, feet, and ankles. And of course, if you start searching, you will find, that these beta blockers, really do have some strong side effects.