Hi everyone,
I have been experiencing withdrawal symptoms for the past 4 days. I took 10mg propranolol for just over a month as and when I need them, as directed by my GP for anxiety. I quit them cold turkey when I realised that it was the cause of all the side effects I had been experiencing. My last dose was on Saturday, when I took two pills in one day, it is now Thursday and I have been experiencing a fast heart rate upon minimal exertion (80-100bpm resting, 120-155bpm standing/walking). I also experience head zaps, numbness and pins and needles in right arm/leg, diaphgram flutters, muscle spasms throughout my body and in my neck and back of head which causes migraines and vision disturbances. I have been waking up with my left eye blurry, tingling feeling in my head and face and internal tremors/shaking throughout my body, as well as chest pain and shortness of breath. In other words, it’s a living nightmare. Because I have been taking this medicine as and when needed as prescribed, I now realise I have been experiencing these withdrawal symptoms from the beginning as I have not been consistent with taking them regularly. I really hope the fast heart rate thing goes away as that is bothering me the most. I am 24 with no other health issues. If anyone else has overcome the heart rate issue, please reach out.
Many thanks,
Yazmin
I took 20mg 2 x per day most days for about a month. Then stopped cold. It's been almost 3 weeks now since i stopped it. I'm still getting these withdrawal/rebound symptoms including racing heart, but they are not as bad as they were initially. from what I've read on this site, the first couple of weeks seems to be the worst of it for most people. it is a nightmare; I agree. i have found that drinking water and gatorade helps. drink a lot of it. i am also drinking water with salt (1 gram sodium chloride) a couple of times a day- which also helps, but you shouldn't do this if your blood pressure is high, which it might be after stopping propranolol. You were on a lower dosage than me, so hopefully your symptoms won't last as long.
Hi Tricia, thanks for answering! Sorry to hear you're still experiencing symptoms after 3 weeks, I hope things get better for you. Did you ever experience diaphragm spasms/flutters or esopheageal/throat spasms? Also, has your heart rate calmed down? I seem to have some good days and then it all hits me again like a brick.
i have good and bad days too. i never had diaphragm or throat spasms, but did have tightness in my chest. that has gotten better. still have some racing heart. its definitely calmed down overall, but i still feel it sometimes. there are times i still can't stay standing up too long to do something, but other times i seem okay again. i was getting these hot and cold sensations and sweating too. i mostly only get that lying down now. its awful, but i'm finding all of it more tolerable now especially because it hasn't hurt me and it all seems to be improving with time.
I seem to be doing better in the latter half of the days lately.Still not doing well in the mornings. Have you felt that way at all? also have you taken your blood pressure? mine drops when i stand up.
Yes I feel worse in the mornings and during hot weather, my heart races as soon as I get up in the morning between 120-150bpm and usually slightly settles by the evening. I hope this goes away for us both soon. It has been 7 days for me now. I am still experiencing spasms in my throat/neck, blurry vision in my left eye when I wake up as well as chest pain and breathlessness. It feels like I have a million different health issues!
I know. I feel the same way. I really believe it will all go away though. i'm just not sure how much longer it will take. another problem is that i wasn't eating well at all on the propranolol. I have low iron now and probably other deficiencies as well, which i'm sure is not helping. i've started taking iron, magnesium, and a multi every day. you may want to get checked.
Same here, I lost 7 pounds of weight in a couple of weeks whilst on propranolol. Completely lost my appetite but I am getting better now. I had blood tests on Friday so hopefully I get the results back soon. Glad we're keeping in touch, it keeps me sane knowing there is someone else going through the same thing!
I'm glad we're keeping in touch also. I had my first really good day today! I actually felt like a normal, functional person again. i'm not sure if it's because I'm at the 3 week mark or if it's the supplements, but it was a big change- basically overnight. i was able to stay standing without my heart racing and actually get stuff done. Did you get your blood test results back? I think the iron supplements might be starting to help me. Also I added coq10 and fish oil to what i'm taking daily. hopefully the better days continue! Anyway, I was on a higher dose of propranolol than you were, so you may start to feel better again even sooner. hang in there... it actually gets better ❣
I'm so glad to hear that you're feeling better. I'd say I'm about 80% better too, I still get a racing heart when doing things and diaphragm spasms but I personally think that might be because I'm stressed out from all these symptoms too. Hopefully it goes away soon. I'm still waiting on my test results, I think it takes about a week.
sadly today was not as good and palpitations and flushing were back in the first half of the day. i really don't get it. hopefully you are continuing to feel better.
I had a bad day yesterday too. After dinner my entire body was aching, weak and tingling and my heart was racing 150bpm just from walking up the stairs. My diaphragm spasms are restricting my breathing and causing me to become wheezy. It's day 9 now and I just want to know when this will get better for the both of us.
this is a nightmare. the reactions that we are both having are known withdrawal effects from stopping beta blockers, but doctors don't seem aware that this can happen after stopping low dose propranolol for a short period of time. it obviously can. i just hope we both fully recover soon.
not good. i'm getting really worried again. my heart is not racing as much during the day, but it is still racing while i'm sleeping. And I don't feel well when I stand because my blood pressure drops when I stand. it's been over 3 weeks now. if you have a way to take your blood pressure, do it sitting and then again immediately after while standing. The drop in bp can cause increased heart rate, but it's not normal.
how are you feeling today? better i hope.
seems like i'm finally starting to see big improvements at the 4 week mark. still some more mild symptoms, but overall the last few days have been much better. how are you?
Hey Tricia, I'm so glad to hear you're doing better!! Sorry I've been inactive as I haven't been doing very well. Has your heart racing improved? What other symptoms did you have that have gone away?
really sorry that you're not feeling well.
i had 3 good days in a row and then today not so great again. starting to feel like maybe i shouldn't post when i improve.
anyway, I seem to go days now without much racing heart. seems largely better during the night too. i was sweating a lot the first couple of weeks. this has also largely stopped/improved. i'm still getting some flushing and the bp changes.
i had a normal ekg yesterday and had more bloodwork done. did you get your results?
oh also had scary tightness in chest in the beginning which has gone away.
Really hope you're starting to feel a little better! Post when you can.