Propranolol withdrawal

[Kirsty12345]

Hi has anybody tapered off propranolol? I've been on propranolol since early march, my dr started me at 80mg as I was getting constant chest pains. My dr seems to think it's down to anxiety becuase bloods an ecg was fine. Anyway 3 weeks into it I started getting really bad side effects, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, short of breath, muscle pains and head aches. I rang my dr and he said it's all down to my anxiety and it's nothing. Anyway I've decided to wean myself off the tablets and I feel alot better. I'm now down to 10mg a day but how do I taper off 10mg? Can I just stop them all together now why the dose is so low? Thanks

[Kristy75]

Hi Kristy,

Yes I would still cut them in half. I know they are small but that’s what I did. I have anxiety as well. I sometimes think that as soon as Docs know we have anxiety any side effect is due to it. I have terrible PVCs. Not fun but a structurally normally heart thank goodness.

Good luck!

[Kirsty12345 in reply to Kristy75]

Hi kirsty thank you for the reply I will cut them in half an see how I get on, mostly dr was quick to pin it to anxiety because of my age aswell! so I just kept getting fobbed of with tablets left right an centre 🤦‍♀️. I hope you're well

[Kristy75 in reply to Kirsty12345]

How old are you? Any time they say it’s just anxiety it angers me. I’m 45 and been having them on and off since I was 41.

[Kirsty12345 in reply to Kristy75]

I'm 31. My dr was quick enough to tell me I'm to young for heart problems which is why he put it down to anxiety but it doesn't stop the mind from thinking otherwise. Did you not suffer any side effects being on them for so long? I think they're awful tablets to be on, but I know most people are fine with them after a while.

[Caitlyn6]

Come off them really slowly. I had terrible withdrawal when I was told to stop and I was only in 10mg for under a month. They are the ones that cause the most problems when withdrawing. Nasty drugs.

[Kirsty12345 in reply to Caitlyn6]

Hi Caitlyn I've been coming off them slowly. I've halved the dose in half every 4 to 5 weeks I just didnt know how to come off the 10mg dose. I have awful side effects to. Headaches. Pain in my nose and heart palpitations. Seriously can't wait to be off the awful things.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Kirsty12345]

I would take it very slowly as you are going from some to none and the withdrawal and rebound could be worse. Maybe see how you feel . Chemists are quite helpful but they may just tell you to see GP. In my experience GPs am don’t know enough about beta blocker rebound.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Caitlyn6]

I went from 10 to 5mg and still suffered so I wouldn’t just stop from 10mg.

[Kirsty12345 in reply to Caitlyn6]

Thanks for the advice, the side effects have already started. They normally ware off after a week or 2. 🤦‍♀️ How would I stop from 5mg would I just cut in half again or change the amount of days I take them?

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Kirsty12345]

I don’t know but you need to stay on what you are on if u have withdrawal symptoms or go back to 10 daily. Then you could try 5mg every third day and see how you feel. Do it slowly and go back if you get withdrawal.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Caitlyn6]

If you could I would advise getting professional advice from a cardiologist. They could give you a plan for a withdrawal programme. I have not withdrawn from a beta blocker completely, just from a higher dose to a lower dose. It would probably be different for a complete withdrawal. If you can’t you might be best to stay on the lowest dose you can tolerate.

[Kirsty12345 in reply to Caitlyn6]

Ive had withdrawal symptoms everytime I've changed dose they go after a week or 2 then my body is fine. I think I'll stick to the 5mg for 5 or 6 weeks then try taking 5mg every 2 to 3 days see how I get on. Are you stuck on 5mg aswell? I've finally got a referral with a cardiologist after 15 weeks of mirthering my dr, I think hes got sick of me to be fair, Just basically to put my mind at ease. If i can't fully withdraw I'll ask him for advice when i finally go, with all this going on i think I'll be waiting a while.. thank you

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Kirsty12345]

Sounds like a good idea. My cardiologist switched me to a different beta blocker to counteract the Drs blunder of taking me off propanalol. Good luck.

[Sue_33 in reply to Caitlyn6]

Which beta blocker? I stopped propranolol one week ago and it was the worse week ever! I was waking up with tachycardia every night several times and I had to call the ambulance or go to A&E. I had a ecg monitor on my chest. My heart it’s regular but reaching over 169! Finally, I had to go to a private cardiologist where I had a ECCO scan. Everything was perfectly ok but the cardiologist told me that I had Supra-ventricular tachycardia. Something changed the electricity of my heart! Now I’m taking bisoprolol 5mg until my SVT ablation which is an ambulatory surgery to stop the abnormal tachycardia.

I started propranolol just for my anxiety!

[Sandra4456]

Hi Kirsty I have now managed to come off this horrible drug I managed to go from 10mg to nothing by cutting the tablet in half so took 5mg for a week then stopped. After about 4 days got side effects racing heart high BP. So took 5mg for a couple days tried again lasted 10 days then had to take 5mg again this time I have managed 2 weeks so far. You have to push yourself to last out as long as you can. Anxiety does play a big part but I know it's easier said than done. Good luck

[Kirsty12345 in reply to Sandra4456]

Hi sandra thanks for the reply. Can I ask what side effects was you experiencing? Ive been getting head aches and a racing heart but only during the night.. I'm now down to 5mg a day now for the past 3 or 4 week. I want to stop completely but I guess I'm scared to stop the 5mg incase something happens 🤦‍♀️

[1111Spoo]

Hello everyone....Propanol at 10 mg worked great for my anxiety until after 4 weeks I started noticing chest pain and breathlessness....My doctor performed EKG and told me I have bradycardia as a side effect as my heart rate was at 49!!!!! She asked me to stop and I cut it to 5 mg and stopped after 2 days!!!! There started the withdrawals!!!! Horrible 2 weeks of vertigo,2 ER visits for heart palpitations,Vertigo that lasted 2 hours,BP changes from low to high!!!! Will never try these kinda drugs again!!!!

[kieranofthesea]

Hi Kristy. I was on propanalol - 10mg x 3 daily] for around 2 years and stopped taking them around 1 month ago. My GP prescribed them as I was waking up 'wired' for a busy day with a fast pulse rate and he felt it was a kind of adrenaline rush that could be fixed by taking propranolol. Ultimately I decided to wean myself off them, and started that process around 3 months ago. Since then, rather than my pulse rate being fast in the morning, it's fast all day long. Not only that but I get - pretty much daily - a pulsating, kind of electrical impulse sensation headache on one side. I'm hoping that thing calm down in the next few months. I do have a very highly demanding job which means I'm working fast all day. Im monitoring my BP, which is fine so far. Just not very pleasant symptoms, although mindfulness exercises help.

[yazmin1997 in reply to kieranofthesea]

How are you now? How long did it take for the racing heart to subside?

[Hidden]

Hi Kristy! It’s 3 months later how are you today?

[Sandsand]

hi Kirsty

I am on 80mg slow release and only been on for 3 weeks. How did you get to 10mg and over what periods did you taper down? E.g 70 for a week, 60 for a week etc? How did you then get off 10mg?