Toprol-XL and atenolol

Back in July I was experiencing rapid heart beats and shortness of breath. I'm a 43 white female with a high stress job. I went to the doctor expecting him to prescribe a sedative. He hooked me up to an EKG which showed I had a left bundle branch block. He then ordered blood work, chest x-rays, an ultra sound, and a nuclear stress test. All test came back fine, but my stress test showed a heart attack, which apparently is common with the left bundle block. I then wore a 24 hour Holter moniter which indicated tachycardia. That's when the doctor prescribed 50 mg Metoprolol. My BP and heart rate are now almost normal and the shortness of breath has gone away. I still experience a mild heaviness in my chest, but that is only when I allow my self to be stressed. I have gained over 5 pounds in less than 2 months and my dreams are more vivid than usual. One side effect that was listed on my drug info sheet that I haven't read about on this site described a cough, which I have had for over a month. I mentioned the cough to my doctor and he said it was prob post nasal drip so he prescribed 180 mg Fexofenadine and told me to cut the Metoprolol in half so I would be taking 25 mg. The Fexofenadine has helped with sneezing that I have always experienced, but the cough is still there. The cough is not always severe, but it has interrupted my sleep twice and my job once. The last bad coughing episode lasted 90 mins during the night. Has anyone else experienced the coughing side effect of Metoprolol?

I am 36 and take 100 mg of generic Toprol a day. I was put on it due to many ( I mean 30 to 40) palps a day. I had been on Atenolol for about 5 years and the doctors told me it had simply quit working. I had an echo and a 24 hour holtor monitor and both came back negative, yet I felt like I was dying daily. My palps have diminished with the medicine, with a change in diet and running 5 or 6 days a week for about 3 miles. Caffeine and alcholol have almost been excluded. I do have cold hands and feet and have had much trouble losing weight. Stomach cramps and an upper right side cramps have been an issue. After reading your posts I think we need to get off this stuff

50 yr old female ( gasps @ 5-0 still)

I've been on ToprolXL for some time now. I started with Tenormin and felt FINE! The doctor then decided it was not the 'right medicine' for me and changed me to a 'new and better medication' names TOPROL XL, He started me on 50mg a day. I had experienced rapid heart beat of at least 150 bpm up to 200! My heart had to be stopped in the ER to get it back to being a normal rhythm. At the time I was 39 yrs old :( SCARY! I had every test imagined. Heart tests, lung and leg scans. You name it, I had it done to me ( thankfully, to make sure it was nothing serious). Although I do consider a heart beating that high to be serious! I already have a anxiety disorder, I noticed that my panic attacks are worse now more than ever! I am very very lethargic. Just thinking about doing ANYTHING makes me tired. I even getting tired when I talk too much! My mouth is always excessively dry. I put on weight and even paid for a diet that consisted of 2 'shakes' and one meal per day. Followed it to the "T"! and nothing ?! I've recently read that ToprolXL can lead to all kinds of diseases. One of them being Lou Gehrig's (ASL) :( I am SO very upset that medication is prescribed supposedly to make a person feel better AND I don't think I've physically felt this depleted and depressed in years! I want medical answers and I need support and words of encouragement from everyone that has been on this drug , most especially those weaned off ot it and are on a better drug. Most of the people I notice taking TOPROL XL are taking it fro HBP or symptoms other then the one's I have. I am SO confused now :(

I have been taking kelone for 20 yrs due to palpitations and a rapid HR the pappitations got worse over the last few months and I was panicky so I went to the dr and this is what happened!

I was put on metoprolol 25mg 2x's a day and it didn't work. I found myself in the hospital with a rapid HR and not feeling well. I had been on kerlone/betaxolol for more than 20 yrs and my NEW Dr was not familar with it so he swithched me. I went to fill the RX and was told by the PharmD that it had a very short half life compared to my old med. I asked the Dr. he said lets try it. Well like I said I was in the hospital within 2 days. I wanted to know what you all think about switching from generic to Toprol Xl and what should my does be? I was raised to 50mg metoprolol 2x's a day and it still doesn't seem to work. I know it is wearing off and I feel crappy! I am 38 with a hx of type 2 Diabetes which is controlled and I take Metformin 500 mg er. I also take Crestor 20 mg all other things are ok but I can't excercise or do any activity due to the feeling my heart is going to POUND out of my chest.
Any and all advice is welcomed since I am new to this med and dont't know if I go back to the palpitations I had with my old one or feel like crap with the new one.

I am a 41 yo woman in good health. I started Toprol xl about 3 years ago for a heart palp that would happen maybe once a day, and occasional racing heart beat. I did great for a long time on 25mg once a day. Then about 6 months back I was switched to generic due to insurance issues - they only want to pay for generic.

It took me a while to figure out what was happening, but several problems started happening over the last few months that I am sure were from this generic drug. Suddenly I was having vivid dreams - fish swimming on the ceiling, cats with heads 5x too big! Worse yet, over about 3 months I gained 20 pounds with no difference in diet. And I was getting more and more tired. I started looking into what could be causing these crazy effects - I was only on Toprol and birth control pills.... well, it was not the birth control!

So, I decided to wean myself from the Toprol. I decided I prefer a heart palp and occasional racing heart to this!! I gave myself a couple of weeks of lesser doses, then 5 days ago I stopped it altogether. I am having some horrid "rebound" or withdrawal effects! Numb/tingling hands and feet, headache and - surprise! High blood pressure! I never, ever took this med for HBP, and I have never had HBP! I always had a nice, low blood pressure, even when 9 months pregnant! Now it's running around 135/93 - I work in a medical office, so I got one of the nurses to check it on Tuesday...she sort of freaked! She said she has seen much higher, but mine is not normal. So we have been checking daily, and it's staying up there. I am so mad to think Toprol could have damaged my body in some way so that my blood pressure may not stay messed up for life. I have read online that the rebound effects can last up to a month, even with a fairly low dose like I was taking. Does anyone know if a month is about right? If my blood pressure keeps this high, I suppose I will have to seek treatment at some point. Ugh!

On the plus side, I don't feel so tired. No vivid dreams since I stopped the Toprol, and much better sleep! I feel "clearer" mentally. I just wish the tingling hands and feet would stop - and the high blood pressure!

I am a 43 year old woman in excellent health. One year ago, I was diagnosed with HBP and put on 12.5 mg of Toprol. I had a serious reaction to a cold medication that I took one month later and my blood pressure skyrocketed. My doctor doubled my Toprol. Immediately I felt extreme chest tightness, pressure, panic attacks, anxiety, depression and severe headaches. Until this time in my life, I had never even taken aspirin. I cut my dosage back to 12.5 mg. and now wonder if the extreme anxiety and feeling of impending doom is coming from this drug. I never had any problems before going on this beta blocker. Now I do not even know if I need it at all. How long do the side effects last if I stop taking this terrible drug. I have an appointment with a cardiologist in one week for some answers.

Update - 7th day with zero Toprol. Feel just awful... Breathing has not improved, tight band feeling around chest keeps coming and going like before. B/P spikes, headaches, etc. The Diovan (80mg) was making me cough and making chest tightness worse - so she tried me on Dyazide - made me dizzy and sick to my stomach. This has been just one of the WORST experiences of my life. I was SURE all my problems were related to my (4) years on Toprol - but on day 7 with NO TOPROL and not feeling better I am depressed, discouraged, and just want to curl up and cry and cry and cry. I have ended up in the ER three times since the weaning began - once for breathing, once for pulse (over 215) and once for severe abdominal pain. My family thinks that I am 'mental' and that it is all in my head???? I cannot take much more of this.....

I took Toprol for almost 2 years then in Aug generic came out Metoprolol and I switched over. I was taking 25mg. After a few weeks, I noticed numbness in my index finger and middle finger. Then it happened in other hand. Doc said I had tendinitis in one hand and slept wrong on the other...I was also depressed and having panic attacks. From the onset of taking Toprol my sleep was disturbed,but thought it was age related. Once I went on Metoprolol insomnia set in. Then my feet went cold and numb and my arms were so heavy and tingly and my joints hurt. My right shin hurt to touch as well. Vision was cloudy and had trouble adjusting to light changes. Finally it dawned on my that the changes occurred about the time I started the generic. I went back to doc and he pretty much told me I was crazy, prescribed Xanax and a session with a psychiatrist! He switched me back to Toprol and I felt no better then he switched me to
Atenolol with same result. By this time, my chest was on fire and I had extreme difficultly breathing. Called doc and he told me to stop cold turkey. I did and thought I was going to die one day. Throat closed up blood pressure soared. He stopped me on Nov 11 or 12th. I have been on nothing. Blood pressure is not leveled. When I first sit down it is like 140/93. If I wait a few minutes it goes down to 120/80 or a little lower. I was expecting to feel a lot better by this point in the game. I still have numbness in my pinky and ring finger and in my toes. If I take Advil it lessens to where it is not so bothersome. Anyone know how long this stuff takes to get out of your system? I am shopping for a new doc since mine know things I am a hypo. I am a 39 yr old female with no other health issues. Was originally put on for stress related palps.

I began 50 mg Toprol XL 2 years ago then reduced to 25 mg when palps and blood pressure normalized. Had trouble sleeping. Back in August, I began taking the generic version Metoprolol. One day I couldn't feel my index finger and thumb on right hand and immediate began to worry. I also began feeling depressed and was having terrible panic attacks. Sleeping was non-existent. Also, my chest felt as if it was on fire. Throat closed up and had difficulty breathing. Went to Walgreens nurse and she looked at me funny and said it was allergies to try Claritin and Flonase. DID NOT HELP! Went to the Dr. and he too chalked that up to allergies and gave me a shot. That relieved the breathing symptoms but nothing else. He told me numbness was tendonitis and gave me a "pretty brace." Numbness and tingling did not improve in fact went into other arm which caused me alarm. I went to chiropractor for help...nice massages but still numbness! Then my hands and feet started going cold...I'd had it. Went back to Dr and he put me on Xanax for panic attacks, told me I was depressed and need to see a psychiatrist for mood altering meds. I was ready to slug him! The numbness and tingling are insane! The Dr. to appease me switched me back to Toprol XL...no relief then tried Atenolol. The thing is for a few days while the insurance was figuring out what to pay for, I didn't take meds and began improving. Tried Atenolol and symptoms came right back. Called Dr and was told to just stop altogether...no weaning. Terrible tightness in chest could not breathe...miserable and scary. The next day I got a little better. Sleep improved somewhat but still having trouble with muscles tingling in feet up to knees and muscle cramping in right calve and for arms. Wondering how long this stuff stays in system. Seems to me I should be done...I have been off 17 days and am looking for relief for muscles symptoms...also looking for new Dr...anyone out there know how long this stuff hangs out in your muscles and stuff?????

I have been on toprol for two weeks. I was on atenolol before that for about10 months. Does anyone get head pressure from this stuff. I have constant head pressure. I also get depression and very dry mouth makes it hard to swallow.
I want to go off. I am only on 25 mg once a day. Doctors act like they don't want people off meds. I only went on cause I started with anxiety a year ago and makes my blood pressure wacky but not to high. Like 140/85 I use to always have low blood pressure. I got to get off cause it's causing me anxiety with the side affects.

PLEASE READ THIS WARNING ABOUT TOPOROL.

I was prescribed Toporol XL 50 in May of 2007 for premature atrial contractions. I was given no warnings about this drug. Within 3 weeks I was in a severe clinical depression. I went through hell for the next four months seeing numerous physicians, underwent numerous exams, was hospitalized several times and was suicidal. In my interactions with a number of psychiatrists, I learned that depression is a common side effect of Toporol and all beta-blockers. I also learned that, in particular, persons who have any history of depression should not be prescribed a beta-blocker because they have a high likelihood of re-entering a depression if they are given a beta-blocker. I had a history of depression and it was clearly documented in my file. Nevertheless, the doctor who prescribed Toporol for me did not make me aware of my high vulnerability to re-enter a depressive state with a beta-blocker. Had I been warned, I would have certainly declined this medication and saved myself from several months of indescribable misery.

PLEASE BE WARNED THAT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL LIKELIHOOD OF ENTERING A DEPRESSION WITH TOPOROL OR ANY OTHER BETA-BLOCKER, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF DEPRESSION. IF YOU ARE TAKING TOPOROL AND ARE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION, NOW YOU KNOW WHY. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOUR DOCTOR FEIGNS BEWILDERMENT IF YOU TELL HIM YOU'RE DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF THE BETA-BLOCKER. MINE DID, AS WELL. FOR SOME ODD REASON, DOCTORS DON'T LIKE TO CONCEDE THAT BETA-BLOCKERS CAUSE DEPRESSION. THEY WON'TN WARN YOU AND THEY'LL DENY THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE BETA-BLOCKER IS THE CAUSE OF YOUR DEPRESSION. DISREGARD THIS. GET OFF OF THE BETA-BLOCKER AND GET TREATED FOR DEPRESSION. YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY YOU DID.

I am a 58 year old male, taking 50 mg of Toprol per day for 2 months for Afib
and high BP. Symptoms include chest tightness, sluggishness and back
pain. In the past, I've taken Atenolol (25 mg for 13 mos.) and Sotalol (320 mg for 5 months). They gave me similar symptoms. The high dosage of Sotalol also affected my vision. I continue to force myself to exercise - walk 2 miles, 4 days per week; swim .5 miles, 4 days per week and bicycle 10 miles, one day per week. I had a Pulmanary Ablation on June 1st which seemed to work; however, I still have to take the medication through November. If anyone knows of a better med, please let me know.

Hi, I was switced from Atenolol to Toprol-XL 50 mg about 1 year ago for palpatations and it seemed to work very little papations now. However, I am currently experiencing right upper quadrant pain and my triglycerides are over 500. I am told I it is drug induced fatty liver disease? I am slowly weaning myself off this medication because you can not just quit per/pharmacist. I also have gained weight which I can not lose, hair thinning, hard to concentrate, elevated triglycerides, calf pain after walking or excercising, fluid retention, feet swelling etc..... for those of you who are on it I would suggest having your triglycerides and liver enzymes checked.

I'm 31 and a recovered cancer patient (in remission since 2001). I've been trough it all. Surgery, chemo, radiation, BMT's, you name it. I currently suffer from three separate sleep disorders, as well as hypothyroidism. As you can imagine, I've grown to become very in tune with my body. And, having gone through everything I have over the years, and having taken all kinds of medications, I have never experienced such dissatisfaction and such a high level of negative side-effects as I have with Toprol XL.

My primary care doctor, who is also a cardiologist, put me on Toprol XL to treat an elevated heart rate -- as a result of all my past health issues, my auto-regulatory system is, as he puts is, “just messed-up now.” He started me on 50 mg a day. Immediately, I experienced trouble breathing: I woke one night and felt as though I was drowning. Over the course of about 8 months, he's lowered my dose to 12.5 mg a day. And, for a while, that seemed to be OK. But, recently, the trouble breathing has returned.

I'm at a point now where I'm afraid to go to sleep -- the moment I lie down, I find myself gasping for air. All day long, I have a constant wheezing. I can't go up a flight of stairs without needing to sit down and catch my breath -- I feel as though I'm about to faint from loss of air. I spend most of my day with a sensation of being suffocated. I cough frequently, but it gives me no relief.

I have noticed other side effects. Notable is the weight gain. I've never in my life weighed more than 145 lbs. I’m 163 now. I was blaming the weight gain on the thyroid, but I'm on a fairly high dose of that medication, and I've yet to experience any loss of weight. I'm gaining, despite only eating one meal a day. I attribute this weight to the Toprol.

Also, I have been experiencing moments of extreme anxiety -- this is very unusual for me. I also want to say that never once during all my dealings with cancer did I ever experience depression, and that right there should give you an indication of what type of person I am. Yet, now, since being on the Toprol XL, I find I lack the energy and desire to do much of anything anymore.

My doctor seems very quick to dismiss my concerns, telling me, "you need to give this medication a chance." I think 8 months of my life is enough -- I have lost all patience with this medication, and I'm just about losing it with him, as well. I didn't survive cancer and all the other complications that came with it just to have my life brought to a total standstill by a single medication. This is so infuriating.

I'm making an appointment to speak with my doctor right away. If he continues to insist I stay on Toprol XL and ignore my concerns, I will tell him I no longer feel comfortable with having him as my primary care physician. I want my life back.

I have been taking Toprol-XL 50 mg for the past two weeks instead of Altenolol 50 mg. I have been having tight chest, pain in my throat area and lower teeth. I did not have these effects when I was taking Atenolol 50 mg. My cardiologist changed me to Toprol-XL because Atenelol might have triggered by depression again. I had a heart attack 12 years ago. I also take Linisiprol. I cannot walk more than 2 or 3 blocks in a regular pace when I get the side effects listed above. Is this a regular side effect?

I cannot take metoprolol (Toprol) because of its devastating side effect of sleepiness. It's greatly exacerbated my lifelong neurological condition called narcolepsy, which brings sleep attacks at unpredicted times. I'm unable to make doctors' appts or do very much at all because of the sleepiness. I explained this to the doctor, but I believe he does not understand CNS disorders.Willpower does not work for the attacks are sudden and uncontrollable- - it is not ordinary sleep, which I believe he's confused it with. I've had similar responses to drugs with CNS side effects, so I've had to avoid them.

The doc has added three more drugs that can potentially cause added sleepiness. Since I'm unable to communicate how nonfunctional my life is since hypertension control, until I can find another doctor less rigid than mine (a long process due to doctor shortage here), my only option is to substitute atenolol, the previous beta blocker I was on, at therapeutic equivalence. I'm a week completely exchanged, and so far so good, but nolocal replacement doctor is yet available, but I may be sufficiently awake to be capable of driving to the medical school far away where the doctors are.

I believe my doctor is highly technically capable at treating hypertension, but my rare narcolepsy and the impact of Toprol, are not taken seriously.

The standard treatment has been a central stimulant such as amphetamine. More recently, I've switched to a new drug Provigil (modafinil), and I'm maxed out on thatl

I developed high blood pressure last summer after 71 yrs of normal pressure. I do not have heart disease other than chronic atrial fibrillation that's been with me for 50 yrs. To date, no structural heart problems, no artery disease other than pulmonary hypertension that accompanies my rare lung disease IPF.