I started taking Toprol XL after being diagnosed with SVT back in...

Wow, sounds like you have a wild ride! I was only on Toprol for 2 years and Metoprolol (generic for Toprol) for 2 months. I suffered many side effects and was told it was all in my mind (never had that problem before). My doctor got frustrated with me and took me off cold turkey (DO NOT DO THAT) and I suffered terribly for 3 weeks with withdrawals. It has been 3 months and I finally feel back to normal. Hang in there I can't promise all will go away (i am not a dr and don't know your medical ins and outs) but you should see gradual improvements everyday. The first thing that came back for me was being able to sleep the whole night.
Take care

Thank you for the encouragement! After having this problem for a long time & most people (a/k/a doctors) tell you you're nuts, you start wondering if they are right. Deep down, you know that they aren't, but you begin doubting yourself. I know that eventually things will be better, but then again, how could they be worse after what you go through on some medicines. I think I'll try to find natural help as much as I can from now on. I know that some things like that also have side effects, but how could they be worse?

I started taking omega 3 fish oil, Hawthorn berry, CoQ10 and a GOOD multi vitamin that I got at a health food store. I also get monthly chiropractic adjustments which some researchers say help to control blood pressure. So far, it has stayed low. If you don't already have a good health food store, find one. One that doesn't sell you everything under the sun! Hang in there...it might get a little rough but I now feel alot better! :0) Praying helped me tons!
P.S. I have stayed away from my doctor sine he thinks I am nuts. I recently had a sinus infection and had to get some antibiotics. I found a new dr and while I was waiting for him, I read an article in one of HIS magazines (Prevention) about how generics are not the same as the original medicine and how they are not watched as closely. It went on to say that that many people didn't tolerate the generic medicine but could take the real medicine. When he came in and asked why I was off of BP medicine, I told him I had problems with the generic and he said impossible. Guess what...I'm still looking for a doctor...won't go back to him!!

I have POTS and several different forms of tachycardia (sinus, SVT, V-Tach). I have been on beta-blockers for 15 years with Toprol 50mg XL being the last 5yrs. I have recently experienced several episodes of V-Tach, a very lethal heart rhythm. My physician has now increased my Toprol to 100mg XL / day and added Midodril to increase my BP and cancel out the blood pressure lowering effects of Toprol. I do not, nor have I ever had a blood pressure problem. I went off my Toprol abruptly and almost died. Please let me know how you are doing with tapering yourself off and please be careful. Do what you wish by all means, but at least speak to your physician about it.

Ask your cardiologist about having an electrophysiology study done to get rid of the SVT's. I had it done and I was able to get off the toprol.
An electrophysiology study is where the use radio freq. to destroy the extra pathways that cause the SVT's. It sounds complicated but it is done as an outpatient and is a relitivly minor procedure.

I take an herbal supplement called Captain Murdock's which isn't really for the BP but it has CoQ10 and a lot of the herbs that help BP. Sounds kind of crazy as it is for test anxiety and marketed for pilots. It also has Ginko Ginseng and other supplements that I like. I also recommend checking with a Doctor. I was using Aetenol and weened myself off as I didn't like the weight gain. I buy the Captain Murdocks at www.Captainmurdocks.com but I have also seen it at my student store, just more expensive.

Let me tell you, my heart function a year ago was at Transplant level (EF of 17%) and now it is in normal range (57%) - I am off ALL MEDICATION and I am STILL having problems which I am now CERTAIN are caused by the use of beta blockers over the year.. Let me repeat.. I am off ALL medication now and I am am having periods of complete weakness and sometimes I truely beleive I am going to die.. On other days I can go for jogs.. My cardiologist, who is very good at listening to me, can not find ANY problems and thinks I should be living a normal life. While I was on Coreg I could not do ANYTHING for a period of time or I would "freeze" up. I thought it was my heart, but now my heart is better and I am still having problems.. Here is the kicker - A neurologist has just put me on ZOLOFT. He believes some nerves in my heart may have been affected by the virus that initially gave me heart failure. I AM CERTAIN COREG DID SOMETHING HORRIBLE to my body. I have been off for 2 months and I am having serious trouble. I am 34 years old and I can not live my life because of this drug. I am certain all my ER trips in the past were do to Coreg as apposed to it actually being my heart.