"It's something I had do to," Durkin said. "It's not something I wanted to do."
Durkin is currently taking the prescription drug Inderal, a beta blocker designed to help him deal with anxiety.
"The Triple Crown is part of my life for three months of the year and I'm always under stress," he said. "It doesn't go away. It stays with you and that's the dangerous kind of stress."
Durkin said the "numbers started going in the wrong direction" with his doctor, forcing him to make the difficult decision.
Despite being considered the voice of the Triple Crown, in actuality Durkin didn't call the last five Belmont Stakes since ABC had the rights to the event, but this year all three races are back with NBC.
Durkin will still call the June 11 Belmont Stakes at the track while the race will be broadcast on NBC with a yet to be determined announcer.
NBC Sports didn't name a replacement but is expected to do so shortly with the Kentucky Derby to be run on May 7.
Larry Collmus, the track announcer at Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park who has been rumored to be Durkin's replacement, didn't comment on the developing situation.
"It's rare in this business that you find someone who has such extraordinary talent, who works relentlessly and never ceases to be the nicest person in any room he is in. We will truly miss Tom on our Triple Crown broadcasts," said NBC Sports Group Chairman Dick Ebersol.
Durkin will remain the track announcer at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga.
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