September 16th
2008
12:51 AM
I am a 56 year old that had an aortic valve replacement 51/2 years ago, I have been on toprol only 12 mg a day for around 4 years I have had minor side effects, cold feet, cold hands, optical migraine headaches (once in a while). I was on the real toprol for years and then the folks at walgreens offered a generic and I excepted, things were fine and I was rolling along until they chaned generic brands from SANDOZ to ETHEX, I seemed fine on the SANDOZ it even looked the same as the real thing, but when walgreens gave me ETHEX (which is a round pill about twice as large as the other) I began to feel sensations in the middle of my chest and sometimes while taking my pulse it felt like my Heart stopped or skipped a beat, this scared the shit out of me! I took about 22 days worth of EHTEX and the symptoms kept getting worse, I finally called the Cardio folks and they suggested that I wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours, which I did and felt that I had a few Heart stopping moments along with a odd heart burn sensation in the middle of my chest. Two nights ago I found some of the SANDOZ that I had saved for vacations and began taking 12 mg of that instead of the ETHEX today for the first time in nearly 3 weeks I had NO Heartburn problems and NO Heart stopping experience, mind you this was only day one! Looking forward to day 2 and now that I have read all of the side effects from all the good folks on this site, that are not listed when you purchase the drugs, my opinion is that all GENERIC drugs that are suppose to be IDENTICAL to the real thing is a huge lie! What the hell is the FDA doing? Are they trying to let the GENERIC FOOLS poison all of the good folks that actually need these drugs without doing or maybe reading the test results? Or maybe the drug company's have so much clout that they can grease a few palms and get there GENERIC shit to market. To think that these drugs are suppose to be IDENTICAL and then to receive a pill that looks NOTHING like the real thing and when you bust it in half it's a different frickin color (ETHEX)!!!! What was I thinking taking this GENERIC piece of garbage! The GENERIC buttheads along with the real manufacturers should be required by LAW to list ALL ingredients on the label so all of the good folks can read and compare to see what there swallowing and putting into there bodes! I hope to get off of thos drug soon but if I don't rest asure that I will seek out the real thing. I was so freaked out by the side effects that the Cardio Doctor scheduled an ECHO for this Friday, I think the valve is fine but we will find out! Good luck all!
-- By nova63 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
August 22th
2008
1:48 AM
Diagnosed with MRSA on my right leg 2 months ago, was prescribed Bactrim(2 a day for 7 days) and didn't have any major side-effects. I now have MRSA again and have been prescribed a higher dosage of Bactrim and have some possible side-effects as well. As noted by others, I can not sleep (as is evident by this posting time, if its EST), but I am exhausted! Also, I have occasional shooting pain down my right arm and my fingers on my right hand are numb. This usually occurs while I'm lying down.
Not sure if these are directly related to the Bactrim, but thought I'd post in case anyone else has had something similar. Seems not too much out there regarding the arm pain (as I try to self-diagnose in the middle of the night :) ).
-- By ifeelya | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
June 24th
2008
2:21 PM
I'm a 30 yr old healthy male. I went to the ER, and then the Dr., about 4 weeks ago after waking up with intense pain in the veins of my right arm and having pounding palps. I had just been told some extremely stressful news the night before, so I was pretty sure this was blood pressure & stress related. ... EKG showed Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, so that's what the Dr's assumed was the problem. I never knew what it was called, but I've had my heart race due to WPW many times since I was a young child .. this did not seem to be related. This was just pounding.
The cardiologist put me on 50mg of Toprol XL daily to control the WPW - even though that wasn't acting up. I left confused. Pharmacy issued generic Metoprolol Succinate mfg. by Sandoz.
I didn't want to be on meds, so I didn't take it for the first few days, hoping that I would return to normal. After all, I just woke up with this all of the sudden.. I had been fine the day before. Palps continued, though, so eventually I relented and started taking the meds.
The first two or three weeks were filled with ups and downs. Exhaustion, palpitations and anxiety would come and go.
This past weekend things got really bad. I began having anxiety attacks -- I think that's what it was, I'd never had one before -- and my vision was totally screwed up. I couldn't focus on anything and was sensitive to some lighting. Black text on a bright white screen (lcd monitor) was especially hard to read. I was completely in a dazed & confused state. Loud noises and crowds were bothering me... which was awful, considering it was my best friend's wedding. Also had headaches, lightheadedness & loss of appetite. These side effects came and went on Friday & Saturday and were pretty constant on Sunday & Monday.
I decided to quit Toprol cold-turkey on Sunday. I have been 2 days without. I have used L-Theamine to reduce stress and keep my blood pressure steady. It seems to be working. I also began taking CoQ10 today after reading some good things about it here.
My vision & mental focus is beginning to improve after 3 days of disabilitating problems. Anxiety has also improved. I even attempted to "get back to normal" at work today, but had to leave after only an hour of strenuous exercise in the heat. Vision problems returned, anxiety set in. It's like riding a really freaking scary roller coaster, except with a legitimate fear that this thing might kill you.
I will update this as time goes by, to let you all know how things worked out for me. I'm really hoping to be mostly back to normal in another day or two, since I haven't been on for very long. Hopefully this will be of help to someone in the future. Damn, I Wish I had never gotten on this stuff.
-- By bnm | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
March 24th
2008
6:09 PM
I was on toprol-xl for almost 8 years without many problems. i also take isosorbide mononitrate.A few months back I was switched to the generic version (metoprolol succinate er by sandoz) now i have many problems.First I have to say I am disabled with severe COPD. Although I do not feel depressed I have a lot of symptoms of depression. Remember I had no symptoms what so ever until switched by Walgreen's or HMO or Doctor to the generic version. Not sure what to do I have a doctor that does not truly listen,plus he did not want me on toprol xl to begin with. Even though it was good for me. Good luck people!
-- By tking1013 | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me
March 15th
2008
6:10 PM
There is an important point that everyone here is missing. I had been on Toprol XL for years, brand name. Recently, a generic version by Sandoz has been issued. It is the GENERIC metoprolol that is causing the side effects, the racing heart, etc. If you can get the doctor to write "no substitutions" on the prescription, and get the original Toprol, you will notice the difference. the problem is, health insurance wants to push the generic, so you will pay more. but it's worth it to feel better!
-- By teresazu | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
September 11th
2006
12:46 PM
Since i have been on levothyroxine for 8 month i have felt like my heart is going to give out and had it checked and hair is thinning big time my neck has been swollen 2 times it size and hard to swallow .it also has made my legs and feet hurt almost to point of feeling swollen and unable to walk feel worse than ever always have some kinda problem needing dr. attention since started Sandoz Levothyroxine
-- By sweetone973 | Reply | Private Message me
February 23th
2005
11:49 AM
RE: the new, generic levothyroxine drug, manufactured by SANDOZ: Theis generic drug was only approved in the summer of 2004. Has any tried it like me, and suddenly had terrible muscle/ joint pain and weakness? Does anyone know who to contact about this?
-- By laurieroebbelen | Reply | Private Message me
Toprol-XL (4) Synthroid (2) Metoprolol Succinate ER (2) Bactrim (1) Levothyroxine Sodium (1)
November 12th
2008
12:44 PM
Started taking Levothyroxine 100 3 weeks ago, for last week I'm in agony, my joints and muscles are sore, specially legs and arms, got constant headaches, mood swings, I'm also short of breath which developed before muscle pains, went to the doctor, was told it's probably asthma (!!) got tablets and inhalator and he mentioned anxiety, when muscle pains started, went back, was told that it's not related with hypothyroidism or Levothyroxine, it's a virus (??) have to drink plenty of water and got Diazepam and link to anxiety website. Help, it's not stress related! I don't know what to do!! Does anyone know how to get rid of those pains?
-- By mesha | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me