beta blocker issues

[poetry_writer]

Has anyone had problems with beta blockers? I am taking metoprolol (brand name Lopressor) and things are not going well. It lowered my bp immediately and my heart rate. If i missed taking it by even an hour or two past the scheduled time, my heart would race like crazy. I decided to wean down off of it (you cant quit it immediately, it could cause a heart attack! the ER doc said)......I am on 1/4 of a pill twice a day now.....getting pins and needle and skin crawling sensations in arms and legs and all over body.........omg.....seems the cure is worse than the disease. Trying to work so hard on losing weight as this all just does not seem right, the pins and needle feelings concerning me the most. Anyone had experiences with beta blockers? (uninsured and the ER is my only doc)...Thanks !

[CathyA]

Hi poetry_writer. Sorry for all your problems!

A few questions first: Are you going through menopause? What dosage is the pill you're taking 1/4 of, twice a day? What was your pressure? What was your heartrate? What are those after taking the pills?
I've taken Metroprolol for a long time. When I was going through menopause, my BP and heartrate went crazy. Plus, I've always had a sympathetic system on overdrive, so that just made it worse. I forget what dosage I was on for several years, but it really made me stupid. I'm serious.......I couldn't even count how many chickens were in my coop. Also, I had problems with severe dry mouth. I stopped the med for awhile, but my heartrate and BP started up again. This time, I took a very small dose.......12.5mg a day, and its worked out much better.

I've had pins and needles feelings, but always associated those with some type of sensory neuropathy, and not the metoprolol. (I also have fibromyalgia....whatever that is!!)

If you think you're having side-effects from the med, you could try lowering the dosage. Docs seem to think that as far as medicine goes, one size fits all, and it doesn't!
If I were you, I would definitely start taking a good B complex vitamin. That helps alot with nerve funkiness.

I have the feeling there are probably other things going on in your body. Do you have any other medical conditions?
What kind of doctor is treating you?
Sorry for all the questions, but they are important ones.
(((hugs)))

[lmerullo]

To the op - did you discuss changing the dose / cutting the pills with your doc?

I am speaking of the experience of my dh. So not first person. He is on 10 Mg once daily. Started taking it in September and went for a followup last month. His issue is SVT - basically a racing heartbeat that does not efficiently circulate blood. He did all the doc told him to do - special diet, lost 40 lbs, etc. He has side effects like no endurance, tiredness etc. He was hoping that since he was a star patient he could request either reducing or stopping the meds. He was shot down. No pill cutting! No skipping a dose.

Please make sure you are getting proper followup care - especially since you state you use the er.

[poetry_writer]

Hi poetry_writer. Sorry for all your problems!

A few questions first: Are you going through menopause? What dosage is the pill you're taking 1/4 of, twice a day? What was your pressure? What was your heartrate? What are those after taking the pills?
I've taken Metroprolol for a long time. When I was going through menopause, my BP and heartrate went crazy. Plus, I've always had a sympathetic system on overdrive, so that just made it worse. I forget what dosage I was on for several years, but it really made me stupid. I'm serious.......I couldn't even count how many chickens were in my coop. Also, I had problems with severe dry mouth. I stopped the med for awhile, but my heartrate and BP started up again. This time, I took a very small dose.......12.5mg a day, and its worked out much better.

I've had pins and needles feelings, but always associated those with some type of sensory neuropathy, and not the metoprolol. (I also have fibromyalgia....whatever that is!!)

If you think you're having side-effects from the med, you could try lowering the dosage. Docs seem to think that as far as medicine goes, one size fits all, and it doesn't!
If I were you, I would definitely start taking a good B complex vitamin. That helps alot with nerve funkiness.

I have the feeling there are probably other things going on in your body. Do you have any other medical conditions?
What kind of doctor is treating you?
Sorry for all the questions, but they are important ones.
(((hugs)))

Thanks Cathy. i went through menopause some years ago. I am taking 1/4 of 50 mg. I know that stupid feeling....i just feel...dull. Tired. Blah. I started with joint pain and then the pins and needles. So many symptoms that could be caused by multiple things! Got the pills at a charity clinic where the doctor is 92.........i kid you not. God bless her! It is through a church and she helps so many get their meds, but i cant ask her a lot of questions...:o)....I bought B-12 yesterday! Thanks so much for the input

[poetry_writer]

To the op - did you discuss changing the dose / cutting the pills with your doc?

I am speaking of the experience of my dh. So not first person. He is on 10 Mg once daily. Started taking it in September and went for a followup last month. His issue is SVT - basically a racing heartbeat that does not efficiently circulate blood. He did all the doc told him to do - special diet, lost 40 lbs, etc. He has side effects like no endurance, tiredness etc. He was hoping that since he was a star patient he could request either reducing or stopping the meds. He was shot down. No pill cutting! No skipping a dose.

Please make sure you are getting proper followup care - especially since you state you use the er.

Thanks for your reply. Its so frustrating. I hoped losing weight would help too but this seems to run in my family somewhat. Its awful to be without insurance, you basically use charity clinics (which are wonderful to help) or the ER..........i so appreciate what the clinic has done for me but i am limited in the care I get. Thanks again