Minimal exertion symptoms and conditions

i so happy to have found this forum. i'm 47 was given 25mg of Toprol XL by doc for high blood pressure approx 9 weeks ago. also have history of panic attacks and rapid pulse rate and have been under alot of stress. first week on med, found my B.P. dropping too low 90's/50's, feeling dizzy and extremely tired in the middle of the day. called doc and was instructed to keep taking it, i'll get used to it, and don't make sudden movements!!! i didn't take his advice and cut pill in 1/2 to 12.5mg. then got extreme muscle and joint aches (a feeling very much like lyme disease) this was accompanied with profuse sweating upon minimal exertion and just no energy and shortness of breath even during an easy moderate walk. i think my heart beat has become more irregular. 2nd month into this low dose noticed chest pains so i tried the pill every other day. this weekend got the scare of a lifetime, however, got out of bed and entire left side (arm leg and foot) were numb. i had a major panic attack. this stuff is poison. i haven't taken a pill since. i'm going to find a different doctor this week (a D.O./MD) and hopefully devise a hollistic approach before i try another drug. ps also weight gain, but that's seems to be the least of the bad side effects.

I have had diabetes 47 years, and have been treated for high cholesterol for nearly 25 years. First with Lopid, then with Lipitor which causde my leg muscles to weaken and hurt after minimal exertion. Was swtched to Zocor about 1 year ago - the weakness and pain in my legs are still present, although not with too much difference that I have noticed. Weight-bearing exercise does seem to help the weakness, but the pain during the exertion is very unpleasant. Interestingly, the strangest thing did occur after starting Zocor. Suddenly I could hear my heartbeat very loudly inside my head. This seems to occur for a few days, then it will quiet down (although it will not disappear completely) for awhile. My cardiologist was certain that I had to have some blockage in my heart, and was sure that I was experiencing major blockage in my carotiids. The result: no blockage in my heart, and minimal blockage in my carotids. The doc was quite shocked, but let me say that vegetarianism pays off! So there is no explanatin for the loud beating in my ears. I take several supplements and they do seem to help, and they are strongly recommended for diabetics with high cholesterol: vitamin E - 400 IU daily, CoQ10 - 60 mg daily, cayenne pepper - 1 capsule at each meal, and Garlic - 1 talet or capsule at each meal. The medication did not seem to be very effective (diabetics' bodies produce an inordinate amount of their own cholesterol for some reason), but since taking the supplements, I have noticed a significant reduction in my cholesterol levels. I went from 238 in January 2005 to 93 in January 2006.

Side effects are basically the same as everyone else. The worst one and the most embarrasing one is excessive sweating especially on minimal exertion. Other side effects are prednisone induced diabetes requiring insulin 4x a day, weight gain on abdomen and upper body, muscle, joint pain especially hip pain, muscle cramping, irritability, nervousness, teeth pain and facial hair growth.