Rebound symptoms and conditions

i have been on 30 mg of abilify for about 3 years.obviously, i slowly titrated up to that. for the first month, the doctor gave me another drug to go with it-carbidopa/levadopa to keep me from having tardive dyskinesia. after the first month, i came off that med and stayed on abilify, and increased the dosage.the first few weeks were tough,as with any drugs like this, but i knew to expect it and just hold on for the ride...my dr is using it off label,for pain management of "rebound pain"-which is pain that doesn't know when to tell your brain to quit,basically. it has been wonderful for this,and i'm calmer now in other aspects of my life. i was already on an antidepressant,and it compliments it well. i hopes it works as well for everyone, and i hope the doctors understand to give something for the first month to cut down the twitches!

Just so you all know this, clonidine is used by sleep researchers to destroy REM sleep in lab rats. I gather that for some folks sleep does not become an issue, but I didn't sleep more than two full nights during the entire 9 months or so I took this filth. On average, I only got 2-3 hours, which was devastating. I also had perpetual sinus congestion, the worst I could imagine. And my eyesight was compromised. Everything got better, dramatically, when I was eased off this drug (my eyesight, however, has never returned to the 20/20 I had before, and in fact is pretty mediocre now). However, don't try going off this drug on your own, or fast. You must EASE off it over a period of weeks or more, else you could have a potentially fatal BP rebound into hypertensive crisis.

I took ambien CR for about 5 months every night. The lower dose didn't have much effect but I was sleeping well with the 12.5 dose. I did not have any of the bizarre sleep behaviors that many have described. I did however realize that it was producing severe anxiety. I stress this is not my normal level of life anxiety. I began to realize that I was in a constant state of "edginess" and it was getting worse and worse. If could not relax at all and felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. Within a day of stopping it the anxiety was gone but of course I had severe "rebound insomnia" going whole nights with 30-90 minutes of sleep. Tried lower doses but with daily use the anxiety came back. Trying lunesta now and hoping for normal sleep some day

It seems as though a lot of people here have experienced what I have...shortness of breath, feeling like you can't get enough air, lightheadedness when standing, etc. I'm only 21 and on 50 mg of this sh**. The past 2 days I have cut myself down to 37.5 mg and hopefully this will help. Being anxious about not being able to breathe correctly makes it worse. I'm pretty sure the shortness of breath is not cardiac in origin as I have recently had a normal chest x-ray and echocardiogram. I even tried a peak flow meter to see if I had developed asthma, and my reading was 400, which is normal for my weight and height. 5'3, 108 lbs. I am convinced that it must be the Toprol, which I was taking for inappropriate sinus tachycardia. If I had some kind of cardiomyopathy (which causes shortness of breath) that symptom would be HELPED by taking the Toprol XL, as it would relax the heart. I want off this stuff, or at least reduced a lot.

I have been taking Topamax for just under a year for severe migraines, and at first everything seemed fine. I wasn't worried about the flat tasting carbonated drinks; I just cut those out. I did not experience weight loss but there again that's not why I was taking Topamax so I didn't mind. The Topamax did work to reduce the number of migraines I had each month although I still got maybe one a week. The fuzziness in the brain did bother me somewhat. I have always been good at adding up columns of numbers quickly and I could not do that anymore, and words often escaped me. These were worth it for the migraine trade off.

But about eight months ago I started noticing I was having these terrible anxiety attacks, mostly in the middle of the night. I would wake up and feel terrified about everything, something I had never experienced before. Even during the day I would often have this low grade anxiety all the time. Very unpleasant. I didn't even think to question that it was the Topamax causing this, Then about six months ago I began feeling extremely depressed even though I do take a low grade antidepressant to also help with the migraines. My Doctor switched the antidepressant but it did not help; the depression just kept getting worse. By last month the depression was so bad I was really a mess. Crying, feeling hopeless. Between the anxiety and the depression it was debilitating.

So I went online and really searched the idea that perhaps it was the Topamax causing these issues. Sure enough there it was; lots of people have problems with anxiety and depression while on this drug. Currently I have been weaning off the Topamax in the past week and unfortunately I'm having rebound migraines because I've had one every day for the past week, but I'm determined to get through this. The depression and anxiety were just too disturbing and debilitating.

For anyone who is considering Topamax for migraines I would say just educate yourself about these side effects and monitor yourself closely. It can be worth the try but it can have serious repercussion too. For anyone considering taking Topamax for weight loss I would say "don't be a fool". These meds were developed for serious neurological conditions like Epilepsy. To take them to merely lose weight is frivolous and irresponsible to your health.

49 years old. I took diovan 80mg for about 2 years. Never thought to associate dry eyes and throat, low back and muscle aches, and weight gain to this drug. I lost 10# by doing 1 hour of fast walking and 30 minutes of weights 3x week and my b/p went to 110/70, so I stopped the drug to see what would happen. In 2 days my head was aching and my b/p was 170/102!! Beware of rebound, which Novartis does not list in its warning section. Back on the diovan to prevent a stroke, but I will talk to my doctor about a low dose beta blocker, and will keep exercising and eating light, with the goal to get off all meds with a healthy lifestyle. Does anyone else ever feel fullness in the throat? that is another weird symptom I get sometimes.

Wow, I am amazed guys. As far as not really having a period, I love it. but, just recently I have started questioning my Mirena. I have been complaining about being totally and completely exhausted. I have to get my 2 older kids off to school and lay back down for more rest. I just cannot seem to "catch up" on sleep. Everyone says, oh its because you have 5 kids, but the more I think about it, it has come on since I have had the Mirena. The biggest problem has been that my husband and I are on the verge of divorce because I have absolutely NO sex drive. I could care less if I ever had it again. I am only 30 years old, I should be in my prime shouldn't I? I have started counseling to try to save my marriage, and while I think there are some other issues too, I truly believe since I have had the Mirena, it has taken my sex drive from little to none. I cannot stress "NONE" enough. Unlike many of you others my husband is not as patient. I think I need to make a phone call to my GYN. Oh yeah, I have had severe acne since I have gotten it as well.

SO HAPPY to have found this forum. I had been having ALL of the symptoms already mentioned here, except that I actually lost weight(maybe from the stress the damned little demon was putting me through). Anyway I had been searching various health sites about all this stuff, and just on a whim decided to google mirena side effects because I did not remember there being very much listed in the brochure or much mentioned by my obgyn, but because I was so foggy headed all the time, thought I may have forgotten something....well as you all know, none of this was brought to our attention prior to insertion and I actually googled Mirena b4 having it put in, and never found any info like this. That was in May 07...so I got mine out April 9th, 08 started my period 4 days later, and still fluctuating between heavy down pours and spotting after 6 days. ?'s for anyone who had theres out....how long b4 you saw improvements on problems....especially acne, moodiness and my worst thing has been excruciating joint and back pain every day....but I want to know about any of the symptoms and how long b4 they got better. Hang in there girls and give yourselves a big pat on the back for dealing with this mess and having the courage to make your voices heard. Thank-you for listening.

62 year old male. After one month of taking it, my doctor raised me from 50 mg Metoprolol to 100 mg. No side effects until the dosage was raised. Then immediately got a traveling toothache, going from one tooth to another, culminating in an extreme earache. Had many of the symptoms mentioned in this forum, including short term memory loss resulting in my first auto accident in 40 years--a parking lot collision which was my fault. My doctor refused to ascribe any side effects to the drug except headache ; but I was told by local pharmacists that doubling the dose was too drastic and that my symptoms were typical. Had some rebound after stopping on my own a week ago, but pretty much back to normal, and the side effects are gone. I've tried other BP meds and am convinced that modern medicine just doesn't do it. Am looking into natural alternatives.

After 3 days of doxy I had chest and back pain...2 days later extreme headaches on right side of head. My husband told me he thought it was the doxy, but at first I thought it had to do with the medical procedure I had. I went to the emergency room(i thought i was having a clot or something) and they just said it was a combination of everything I had been thru. I now don't believe that. I have had a lot of problems with headaches before, but when I get a severe headache is usually when I wake up tired. I have woken up completely rested and still severe headache. Doctor thought it also could be rebound from benadryl which i don't believe. I also have had some itching here and there(thought i was allergic to a new soap). I have been off the med for a week and still having a problem with this weird headache. When is it going to stop????

What started out as a simple visit to dentist became a nightmare. My BP was high l73/90...so I went to a doc to get something for the BP. I knew it had been creeping up. I should have been more vigilent and done my own research first. He prescribed l00 milligrams of the generic brand--metropolol. I questioned the dose, but he said it was safe, and I needed something to bring my blood pressure down right away.

By the third day I felt like I had a hangover when I woke up. I started feeling not quite right. Tiredness, depression, and headache. My BP got higher. On the 5th day my heart started racing, with a pulse in the l30's. I spent 6 hours in the ER. My pulse was in the 60's, but BP 210/110. They injected me with 5 mg of the stuff, and also gave me clonopine. My EKG had been normal at the doc visit. In the ER it showed abnormal with sinus tachycardia and First Degree AV nodal block. It returned to normal, and by BP dropped to 150/80 with the clonopine. My glucose was also high at 300. I could feel an immediate relief with the clonopine. Heart enzymes normal. ER doc denied that the Topol caused the racing heart. He said that's not a side effect..perhaps there was an underlying cause. He did say the episode could have been triggered by low oxygen to the heart. I think they all stick together----he's not going to say the first doc was an idiot.

They wanted to transfer me to the "big" hospital for cardiac workup. I refused, since I had an appt.with a cardiologist in a couple days, and the doc that prescribed his awful med. I didn't think my insurance company should fork out $50,000 for an adverse effect from a drug.

I had been doing heavy exercise the morning of the racing heart...it was after I sat down I noticed the increase in pulse rate. NO ONE gave me any warnings..not the doc, or the pharmacist. Both said this was a safe drug.

I cut the dosage in l/2 for two days, until I saw the cardiologist. He said ok to stay on the clonopine for now, and a diuretic. I feel much better, and BP has dropped to the l40's over 80 something...pulse near 80. I am going to do a stress test. Based on a heart scan, 3 arteries have 0 plaque, and two mild.

I read that this drug is not recommended as first choice for BP. In the UK they're weaning people off of it because it causes diabetes, and there's other better drugs out there. I did not wait to "ask my doctor" to take me off of it. I told him I am not taking it....I don't know how much longer he will be my doc. I don't think he should have started at l00 milligrams to begin with...and should have started out slowly at the least.

Caveat emptor (buyer beware) when it comes to this med...and do your homework, and don't be afraid to fire your doctor!

Wow. Thank god for this Bulletin! I was diagnosed with hypertension at age 28
and tried a variety of drugs with no control over the BP. So, about 2 1/2 - 3 years ago, I was prescribed 100MG of Toprol XL which seemed to control it well, but with debilitating long term illness. I had no idea until today that Toprol XL was causing similar grief to others. The horrible symptoms that I have been experiencing now for several years are Extreme Chronic Fatigue, Profuse Cold Clammy Sweating, Dizzy spells, weight gain, seeing specs of light and thousands of eye floaters, severe depression, muscle aches, headaches.

After reading about others with similar side effects, I am confident that it's from this medication. I have had all kinds of testing done including T3 & T4 Throid levels and a full array of blood work with NO LUCK! Regardless of the consequences, I am going to quit this damn medicine today because it appears to take 5 weeks or so to get it out of the body to notice a difference. I am so desperate for change. It is ruining my life because I can
't wake up, I'm always tired even though I get 10-14 hours of sleep. My wife and kids are bummed because I have no energy to do anything, EVER!

If you have any other suggestions or would like to comment about this.

Sincerely,

Sean

I have been on Toprol for over 5 years. I have finally (after numerous attempts) - been able to wean off of it. I am on my 10th day (7 day step down and now 3 days with NO Toprol). Can anyone that has successfully gotten off of Toprol please tell me how long it took to start feeling better?

It has caused be severe GERD/Acid reflux, SEVERE breathing problems, and has stopped controlling my HBP - in fact my B/P is HIGHER on Toprol than it ever used to be. It also caused my heart to race from time to time.

I want to get excited about feeling better - just waiting for that to happen. Anyone know what I can expect? Thank you so much.

I am 30 and just prescribed this med for high blood pressure 160/115 sometimes worse. I haven't filled my script because I usually handle all my problems completely natural with the occasional ibuprofen. I do have a balance though and don't want to explode and leave my family behind. I have no weight issues and know the whole kidneys regulate potassium and salt and with HBP you generally need more potassium, magnesium is an import as well as upping the vitamin C but taking that at a different time than the others as it could block some absorption. Thanks for all of your inputs and appreciate anymore.

I am a 41 yo woman in good health. I started Toprol xl about 3 years ago for a heart palp that would happen maybe once a day, and occasional racing heart beat. I did great for a long time on 25mg once a day. Then about 6 months back I was switched to generic due to insurance issues - they only want to pay for generic.

It took me a while to figure out what was happening, but several problems started happening over the last few months that I am sure were from this generic drug. Suddenly I was having vivid dreams - fish swimming on the ceiling, cats with heads 5x too big! Worse yet, over about 3 months I gained 20 pounds with no difference in diet. And I was getting more and more tired. I started looking into what could be causing these crazy effects - I was only on Toprol and birth control pills.... well, it was not the birth control!

So, I decided to wean myself from the Toprol. I decided I prefer a heart palp and occasional racing heart to this!! I gave myself a couple of weeks of lesser doses, then 5 days ago I stopped it altogether. I am having some horrid "rebound" or withdrawal effects! Numb/tingling hands and feet, headache and - surprise! High blood pressure! I never, ever took this med for HBP, and I have never had HBP! I always had a nice, low blood pressure, even when 9 months pregnant! Now it's running around 135/93 - I work in a medical office, so I got one of the nurses to check it on Tuesday...she sort of freaked! She said she has seen much higher, but mine is not normal. So we have been checking daily, and it's staying up there. I am so mad to think Toprol could have damaged my body in some way so that my blood pressure may not stay messed up for life. I have read online that the rebound effects can last up to a month, even with a fairly low dose like I was taking. Does anyone know if a month is about right? If my blood pressure keeps this high, I suppose I will have to seek treatment at some point. Ugh!

On the plus side, I don't feel so tired. No vivid dreams since I stopped the Toprol, and much better sleep! I feel "clearer" mentally. I just wish the tingling hands and feet would stop - and the high blood pressure!

Day six of weaning off the Toprol. Had been taking 50mg when I was told to change medications. I took 25 mg for 4 days and since have been taking 12.5 mg daily. Chest tightness is excruciating at times, shortness of breath off and on (more ON than off) - headache, and tons of anxiety, barely sleeping because chest tightness makes breathing difficult. And all this with taking 80 mg of Diovan to help keep the rebound effects down. This is such a HORRIBLE experience. I hate it. Wonder when I will start to feel better.......

An update to my post from yesterday - went to my Doc. and she wants me to take 4-7 days to wean from the Toprol, before I start the Diovan 80 -- she is concerned about the rebound and withdraw effects.

I am a nurse of 20 years and was placed on Toprol XL for super ventricular tachycardia (SVT) over a year ago. I was place on 25 mg dose after a stress test, ekg, echocaridogram and 24 hour halter monitor. I was not feeling any better and I was having periods of weakness, profuse sweating and being clammy. The cardiologist had me wear a 30 day event monitor and it showed frequent PVCs and runs of SVT. So he increased the dose to 50 mg. I continued to have the weakness, tachycardia, PVCs, extreme weakness, poor concentration and extreme periods of sweating with becoming clammy and some chest pain. Oh and I started having severe left leg pain that I had not had since my back surgery, so I went back to my pain specialist for treatment. I became so depressed, thoughts of life not worth living, poor endurance, not able to sleep in bed due to severe leg pain and increasing bouts of tachycardia, irregular heart rate, weakness, and sweating this is while at rest or working the symptoms remained. I forgot to mention that my blood sugar was increasing during this time to the point of in danger of being a diabetic.

I decided to stop the Toprol XL after reading some of the side effects that are less common. I was able to sleep in bed for the first time in 6 months, no leg pain. I called my cardiologist and he told me my symptoms were not consistent with Toprol XL side effects or reaction and to double the dose of Toprol XL. I refused and changed cardiologist, one who listened to me.

The result is I stayed off Toprol XL, after 5 weeks it is getting out of my system. No more sweating spells, cold clammy spells, extreme weakness, I feel part of life again and ready to go back into the world not hide from it, my blood sugar is getting back to normal. I am getting my strength and endurance back but have to rest some still, oh and I am losing the 25 pounds that I gained while on Toprol.

I still have irregular heart rate and that is okay but I am on a new medication that really seems to work. Oh, and the spinal implant that I was to have has been cancelled because the leg pain is almost gone and I sleep in a bed not a chair.

I'm a 56 year old woman. 5'4" 116. Very fit .Have hypothyroidism and take Synthroid.. Was diagnosed with high blood pressure (which I beleive is due to a too high dose of Synthroid) Was prescribed toprol, just 25 Mgs. Wow!! Was that a bad experience. With the first few days of taking it, began the Foggy brain, dizziness, no ability to concentrate.. no energy.. Head aches, joint pains. Complete lack of interest in doing much of any thing including sex!. Have became almost reclusive because I didn't feel confident interacting with people (I'm a VP of Sales.. not good for my job)! I was bumping into things.. Felt like I was on another planet.. Thought I was nuts... Great to have found this site Also.. Have gain 5 pounds that are not falling off since I stopped this med on my own after only 10 days.. YIKES! Who does this stuff work well for?

I have been on toprol-XL for aprox. 1 + years. I chose to take this medication at night because of massive headache's. I also have most of the symptoms that everyone on this site has. I am going to stop this medication immediately. Have no clue how I am going to feel or what the concenquences are going to be. Hopefully no more massive headache's, and rapid weight loss. those are my two complaints regarding this medication. Thank you for this space to speak my peace. Patricia age 61

I've been on Toprol XL 100 mg for about 18 months with great results as far as lowering my blood pressure. Until the past couple of weeks I didn't realize that the symptoms of major depression, horrible nightmares, memory loss and chronic fatigue along with sleeping day and night were more than likely due to the medicine itself. After along discussion with my doctor, he has started me on a schedule to wean me off this class of drug while watching my blood pressure closely for rebound side effects. And get this.....I've been a nurse for 30 years......please ask questions when your doctor orders a new drug!!!

This drug has been horrible for me.
Waves of rapid pulse and high blood pressure.
Waves of shakyness and anxiety.
Cold hands/feet, sometimes numb fingers.
Chronic mental fogginess and depression.
Some weight gain, slow heart rate, pulse in the 40s!
Heart missing beats.
This @ 25mg 2x daily.
I was told to not take it for 24 hours before my stress test,...
while in bed, asleep, about 4 hours after I should have taken it, I began to feel a buzzing throughout my body and noticed my heart racing. My bp was 170/105 120bpm. I took my missed dose and my heart started to slow back down in about an hour and a half.
I told my Dr and he said to double my dose. I did not!
I weaned my self very slowly down to half a dose (12.5mg 2x daily) and felt 50% better.
I tried to go off completely, at 1/3 dose, with my new Dr.s consent. I was good for two days then my bp and pulse rebounded. I am back on it, but now down to a quarter dose and mostly feel like myself :)
I was told by a cardiologist that the side effects (rebound bp and rapid pulse) can linger for up to 6 weeks.
Every other test I have taken has come back fine so far.
I am 30yo male and athletic.
I am sure this drug helps many people.
But for me it has been a 3 month nightmare.
If your story sounds like mine, hang in there, find a Dr that will listen to you and work with you.
You are not the only one.
Also, read side effects for other BetaBlockers

please research dr. graveline's web site (google dr. duane graveline) and find his recommendations for stopping statins--he suggests decreasing the dosage and considering daily aspirin(unless you are taking plavix) (at least until the rebound period of increased platelet stickiness is over??) though my husband and friend stopped their lipitor cold turkey 1 1/2 yrs ago with no sequelae, rather scared me to find the information about the rebound platelet stickiness--obviously it does not happen in everyone and if it does, it does not affect everyone adversely. best of luck to you

I was given a sample (two packages) of Yasmin by my gynecologist to help control terrible period symptoms. I only completed one month due to the side effects. The good news was that I did not get the horrible cramps during the one month I was on Yasmin. However, the side effects were unbearable. I bled for almost three weeks, including light cramping throughout. I was nauseated and lost all appetite; I would forget to eat until I was about to pass out. However, the worst was its effect on my mood; I was having symptoms of anxiety, depression and paranoia, with an inability to think clearly. (As a counselor, I recognized these pretty quickly, though it took me a couple weeks to link these with the pill.) This is very abnormal for me, and I normally do not experience mood swings due to natural hormone changes. Also, I would have difficulty sleeping, and would wake up in the night terribly anxious and sad.

I realize that many or all of these side effects may have gone away after a couple of months. As bas as they were for me, that was not an option. Part of the problem for me was that the hormone levels were just too high; I am only around 100 pounds.

The good news for me was that my mood went back to normal in only a day or two after I stopped taking Yasmin. The odd thing was that I noticed a recurrance of mood symptoms the week before my next period, which came on schedule. I seem to have been back to normal permanently since then. For those of you with similar symptoms, I hope your rebound is as quick as mine. Don't get discouraged with a slight relaspe!