PROPRANOLOL WITHDRAWAL SIDE EFFECTS

[LMODFan]

My doctor took me off propranolol 6 days ago. There was no lowering of the dose over time, it was immediate. It was just stopped. My doctor said to expect some tachycardia but not to worry. I was taking 160mg of propranolol per day and had been for 20yrs. Ever since stopping my heart rate has been over 90 even when resting and sitting down. Sometimes when sat down it is as high as 125. I'm feeling anxious, I have tremors and brain fog. Should I be worried? Does anyone know how long the side effects last?

[Angel20]

propranolol needs to be tapered gradually, your doctor knows this very well. Go back to your doctor and be informed about propranolol when you see him, so he can not fog you off.

[LMODFan in reply to Angel20]

The problem being my doctor is only taking telephone consultations at the moment, he won't see me. I told him that I had been told by a hospital consultant that tapering was needed when coming off propranolol otherwise it could be dangerous and he told me that was rubbish. I'd only get a bit of tachycardia....

[Angel20 in reply to LMODFan]

What I would do is taper it off myself, read up on propranolol, look after yourself but first check your blood pressure and heart rate, gradually wean yourself off.

[amalieugarte in reply to Angel20]

I am in a similar situation after 7 yrs of taking 80mg, the last 6 months of which was extended release. I actually was switched from 80mg extended release once a day to regular propronanol 40mg 2x a day and after taking that for the first time on Saturday, I had horrible side effects. Heart racing. Rapid beating that was all over the place. Strong pain in my collar bone and neck that spread randomly. Feeling very tired and lethargic. And terrible pain in my elbow like so many people have mentioned. I stopped taking it right after that, so it's been 2 days and idk what to do. My Neurologist hasn't called me back yet. I'm afraid to start taking it again after that. I have skipped taking it for about a week in the past, so I'm assuming it's the other dose he gave me and the fact that I went from extended release to a regular pill again.

[LMODFan]

No my resting heart rate was 61 to 63 on average

[Peony4575]

They can last a few weeks . You might find they peak around 10 days but people differ . Beta blockers should never be stopped suddenly outside of a clinical setting with a good reason and the poor patient is left to cope at the sharp end like you are now

[Lulu2607]

Hi, I came off propranalol suddenly as it was causing slow pulse and all sorts of side effects. I hadn't been on it long but several months later I still have freezing feet, swollen ankles and I've suffered the most severe panic attacks ever imaginable. My anxiety has shot through the roof and I've had total meltdowns. Thankfully the mental effects have calmed down but the cold extremities persist. I'm just hoping that at some stage it will all go away, but no one advised me about tapering. I can't get to talk to a GP but have found lately that a good pharmacist can be v useful as, let's face it, they have studied drugs for many years and seem to have more time to talk than Drs at the moment.

[amalieugarte in reply to Lulu2607]

I am having cold extremities, too. 😰 I know you said it can last a few weeks but is there anything that you did to cope that helped?

[FC123456 in reply to Lulu2607]

Hi! I know it’s years later but how long did it take for your swollen ankles to go down? Also did you gain any weight and if so how long did it take to get it off again? Many thanks

[Lulu2607 in reply to FC123456]

Hi. To cut a long story short, the Dr did further blood tests, during lockdown as I was very very ill. My thyroid result was so high they thought it was an error TSH over 160 ( should be under 5). Whether the propanalol triggered something or what I don't know but thyroid controls metabolism so I was a mess (lost a lot of hair too as it stopped growing.) Once medicated with levothyroxine which I now have to take for life my symptoms as described in above post are much improved. I lost a few kilos of weight that had gathered round my middle and legs. Maybe get more bloods done. If your kidneys have been affected that can cause swollen ankles but that can be reversed with adjusting your medication (if that is causing it). Not getting face to face appointments during lockdown has left a legacy of problems.

[Lulu2607]

Hi. I mentioned the cold feet and legs to the gp but she didn't take it under her notice. Unfortunately, shortly after stopping propanalol I was given ramipril. Big mistake. I developed ace inhibitor angioedema which I'm still struggling with several months later. I was also given atorvastatin which caused severe muscle pain so I've had to stop them all but it's been a mess. I can't work out what's caused which symptom or side effect of which there were many. I don't know why the cold extremities persist and just hope it hasn't messed up my circulation. My hands are OK but my feet can be like blocks of ice. They're OK in the morning when I get up but over the course of the day they get worse. I just try to ensure I've got the thickest socks on and raise my feet when I can.I think I'd feel better if I could get an appointment with my usual GP but it's a series of locums now who just don't have time to listen to you. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels they may be neglecting their health because they can't get to talk anything through with their GP?

[Chloedw]

Can anyone help me please I was taken 40 mg of pro propranolol for three weeks I came off it six days ago cold turkey my anxiety is through the roof I’m shaky and jittery I feel sick after eating and I do have a loss of appetite but I tried to eat to keep up my strength I wake up in the morning and feeling very shaky which puts me on edge can somebody reassure me and let me know that this does get better I do suffer with anxiety anyway that’s why I was taking the propranolol because my anxiety flared up but I was having dreadful side-effects and decided to take myself off it without realising the effect it could have xx

[Peony4575 in reply to Chloedw]

Sorry to hear that . Coming off beta blockers cold turkey is not generally recommended because of the rebound effects you are now suffering .I have weaned off atenolol over a couple of months and am still having side effects but not as bad as yours. Some people get diazepam from the doctor to help with rebound anxiety but they are highly addictive so if you go that route use them sparingly . You ve been off six days so hopefully should see some improvement soon as you weren’t on them very long . I really feel for you as someone who has been there . I failed to get off bisoprolol twice because the withdrawal effects were so bad and changed to atenolol which was less severe . It will get better you just have to get through one day at a time

[Chloedw in reply to Peony4575]

Thank you for replying so quick its a horrible feeling but i really want to push through. My anxiety is all over as im worried iv done the wrong thing going cold turkey but i reallyDont want to start again xx

[Peony4575 in reply to Chloedw]

As someone who did start again I wouldn’t recommend it . Stick it out if you can . Tell yourself it is withdrawal. Good books for anxiety, Badass and The Dare Response also available as an audio book. Might as well put the horrible anxiety to good use and start practicing a new approach to it. I found them really helpful . Hopefully your withdrawal won’t be too long but the learning here is try non chemical ways to deal with your anxiety because you don’t want this again and antidepressants and diazepam all carry the same awful withdrawal possibility . The first two weeks are generally the worst so tomorrow you ll be half way there

[Chloedw in reply to Peony4575]

Thank you for replying il keep going fir now see how it goes il also try other ways to keep busy. Withdrawl is murder and its really not aNice feeling xx

[Peony4575 in reply to Chloedw]

Would also recommend magnesium .

[Gowers]

Same happened to me when gp thought my chest infection was asthma caused by proponalol (apparently it can cause it) but! 2days later I saw another gp who could see there was no way i could go on as I was & put me on Verapamil slow release. The effect was immediate - slowed down hr etc. I was on Verapamil for a long while until af got worse resulting in different medications & ablation. I felt Propanalol suited me & was upset when it was stopped - didn't sleep for 2nights & HR all over the place. I also got gp to get me seen by cardiologist which as a result I have had great care

[Chloedw]

Im a week iff them now and im hoping each day i can push through its not a nice feeling at all but iv done it to myself. Im just taking each day as it comes and praying for the best thank you for replying hope your feeling well xxx

[kaibzm94]

im in exsact same position, did you ever get it all sorted?