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I'm a 53 year-old male and do regular Cardio Exercise every week ...

Posted at 5:34 PM on Dec 12, 2007 by km8093, #25609
I'm a 53 year-old male and do regular Cardio Exercise every week and have for 31 years. A cardiologist put me on Toprol XL 25 MG on November 22nd. The Doctor prescribed it because I add heart irregularities and palpitations which resulted in me going to the hospital as I didn't know what was happening and never had heart palpitations before in my life. I went to the emergency room and they got me stabilized but brought in cardiologist. My heart returned to normal function in a few hours and was result of taking a decongestant as well as Lisinopril 5 MG. I had just started these drugs and had been on them for three days when the heart palpitation instance happened. The decongestant is ... I had done a two hour hard workout at the gym which I do regularly 3 times per week and then the heart irregularities started on day 3 of taking the two drugs. A cardiologists now has stuck me on this Toprol 25 MG after that day because it helps with irregular heart beat plus my blood pressure was a bit high around 140/90. I immediately started noticing side effects from the Toprol 25 MG but stayed on it plus the Lisinopril 5 MG and 325 MG Aspirin for about 12 days at that dose. I started side effects like tremors, tiredness, constipation, strange dreams, anxiousness, impotence, and struggled to do my workouts etc. I made some lifestyle changes like eliminating caffeine, alcohol, etc and that plus the medicine reduced my blood pressure below 120/80 a bit. I stopped the Lisinopril on December 3rd and my blood pressure is still normal and reduced the Toprol to 12.5 MG at the same time. I did research and the doctor also thinks the irregularity was due to the Decongestant and Lisinopril I had taken for 3 days as both have heart irregularity and palpitations as a side effect. I decided I want to get off the Toprol XL altogether and let my body go back to normal functioning. All my problems were brought once I started taking medicine and the only real problem I have is high blood pressure which I can control now with life style changes and natural supplements. I called the cardiologist's nurse and she said not to do anything until I see the doctor on December 18th. I had already decided to cut the dose in half to 12.5 MG on December 3rd anyway and the side effects got better, but then I had instance the other night after taking a spin class at the gym whereby my heart beat stayed up around 82 bpm for several hours and normally is 59 pbm. I also felt anxious and couldn't get settled to sleep real well. I read on the warning label that your not supposed to work out during the process of reducing the dosage so I guess I will have to stop working out until I'm off this stuff. I have been an exercise person for 31 years doing at least 5 hours of Cardio Exercise per week and then racing bicycles in the summer months doing 10-12 hours of Cardio Exercise. I really want off this drug so I reduced to 6.25 MG today and will stop working out I guess until I'm off. I feel a little shaky and feel sort of like I could faint if I did to much exertion since reducing to 6.25 MG today. I was wondering how long it take to get off this Toprol since I was only on it for 12 days at the 25 MG dosage and should I keep cutting the dosage and go down to 3.12 MG after a few more days and then eventually off after a few days at 3.12 MG? Then how long once I'm off should I wait to return to my rigorous exercise routine?
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Reply about 1 year ago on Dec 12, 2007 by vkb719, #3409

That seems to be the question! My doctor took me off cold turkey and I DON"T recommend that. I think everyone is different. My mom can take it with no problem and then comes me! We seem to be that 1 in 100 people who can't tolerate it. My doctor said 2-3 days and the pharmacist said 1 week and another pharmacist said the next day.....no body knows. Hang in there and don't overwork yourself. I too am trying to stay off the meds to control the palps. My bp jumped all over the place. I haven't checked it in a few days so I don't know what it is up to. Just trying to take it easy.

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Reply about 1 year ago on Dec 31, 2007 by amylove, #3746

I developed HBP from Depo Provera shots to stop my bleeding before fibroid surgery. The surgery was a success. I was put on a version of Norvasc which made me have anxiety attacks and burning skin. Then I was put on Linisopril 20mg. I was adjusting to the weird feelings when I developed palpitations and tachycardia after 3 weeks and went back to the ER. They put me on Toprol which I took for 2 days with the Linisopril and it made me violently ill. I stopped both and the Dr. put me on HTCZ. Unfortunately it affected me like other sulfa drugs and I was a wreck and unable to function. My BP stayed up on all of these. I quit that after 2 days said I'll just live with it until the progestins leave my body, so all 4 classes of BP meds made me too sick to want to go on living. I feel better, still have some palps and occ dizziness and being out of breath (it's been 4 days since the Linisopril), but my BP was normal the day after I quit the HTCZ!
Go figure.

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