Toprol-XL and depression

I had my thyroid out due to cancer on 1/22/08. then because of having to take a high amt of levoxyl (synthetic thyroid hormone) I was put on metoprolol for the palpitations. I recently had more surgery to take out cancerous lymph nodes in neck and my dose of metoprolol was increased from 25 to 50 mgs. I was only on 50 mgs for about 4 weeks when I developed depression, insomnia, swollen belly, acid reflux, swollen legs and anxiety. My mind started to go off on me and I had convinced myself that the cancer was in my brain and that's why I felt like I was dying. I was told by my doc that this med does not usually cause depression. I went over the facts and realized I felt pretty good until I started taking this drug. Even on the 25 mgs my legs which are really skinny, started to look like lumpy cottage cheese but I figured it was due to the thyroid removal. I didn't take it at all today because I just want to be rid of it. I know I need to wean off but how long do I have to?

I started Metaprolol Succ. 2 weeks ago when I had a racing heart and ended up in the ER. I was actually dehydrated and low in potassium plus going through a fungal detox and that's why my heart was out of whack. The metaprolol has put me on the couch for 2 weeks. Extreme dizziness like I am being pushed down to the ground, depression, crying, fear, some diarrhea,shortness of breath, feeling drugged out, fatigued, weird vision, and the most awful high anxiety I have ever had! I cannot believe someone could have this much anxiety and not jump out of their skin. The first few days I was taking this, I felt great! Then it just went downhill.. I am trying to take magnesium and inositol (all natural) to help curb the anxiety. I told the doctor to wean me off of this, NOW! I am only taking 25 mg per day and I was told to cut it in half for 4 days and then stop. I can't wait to get this stuff out of my head and system. I never had high blood pressure and taking something for high blood pressure is just not right for my system. All I really needed was magnesium/potassium to get my heart under control. I am going to start Enzymatic Therapy Krebs Cycle Potassium/Magnesium in a few days.

i am a 43 yr old male.........i was put on 100mg a day of metoprolol and it did the job of lowering my blood pressure and heart rate. however after about a year of taking the meto my orgasms would take anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours to achieve. at first it was nice to go longer tham usual, but it has became a problem for myself and my wife. i sometimes think i will have a heart attack trying to release, we go thru bottles of lube to keep her from hurting, and my mood became very bad, i was looking for things to complain about, threatening people at work and so on. i started weening myself off meto 2 weeks ago my dividing the pills in half, and went to see my doctor this week. he prescribed lisinopril 10mg and had me divide my metoprolol in half again for another week. already my moods are 100% better, but i still have trouble achieving climax with sex in timely fashion. i hope that problem goes away soon. i am curious, am i the only male here having problems climaxing?

I am a woman in her early 60's. I have slightly elevated BP abd it does tend to spike first thing in the morning, after waking and is much lower (normal) at night. I have tried several different BP meds and had side effects of all of them. The Doctor recently put me on Toprol XL 25mg. After about three weeks, I really did not feel well - extreme fatigue, severe leg and joint pain, depression. I just could not function. I know I am extremely sensitive to medication. I decided to come off the Toprol, after only three weeks and go back to Lisinopril 2.5MG. Now, after only two days of not taking Toprol, I truly feel very weird. Far less tired, but extreme dizziness and a kind of spaced out feeling. Is this just the withdrawal from Toprol...and after only three weeks of taking it? Plus, my BP seems to be very low - the lowest I have ever recorded it. 112/55 last night. Does coming off Toprol actually have a reverse effect and plummit your BP until it is out of your system. If so, why has my doctor told me to triple upon the Lisinopril now I am back on that. Dealing with even slightly elevated BP has become such a major issue for me.

I started taking Toprol 4 months after having my baby. I never had High Blood Pressure until I was 2 months pregnant and It continued throughout my pregnancy. Four months after giving birth my BP kept creeping up so I went to my doctor and she prescribed 25mg of Toprol. I have been taking Toprol for a year and a half, I have gained over 20 pounds, I have felt like I have been walking in a fog, loss of concentration, been diagnosed with depression, I have slept at night but not feeling rested. I went off the meds for an allergy test and immediately realized that I was sleeping better and feeling rested, so I was monitoring my BP and It has been okay so I have stayed off the meds. I never realized that my problems could have been linked to this med until I went off the Toprol. My question is how long before the weight will come off. I was working out 5 days a week and watching what I ate for over 2 months while on the Toprol and no change. I am hoping that since I am off of Toprol I will start dropping a few pounds soon.

Hi,
I just found this site and was wondering how long it takes this horrible drug to leave your system. I have been taking it for a year and have suffered the WORST depression and anxiety attacks from it. I have been lucky enough to have never suffered from any of these symptoms in my entire life and my heart goes ou to those who live with it every day
So far I have lost my job, any chance of sleep, and I can barely get out of the house in the morning. Its having a direct affect on my marriage, I have lost all intest in my hobbies, unable to concentrate, I'm just a wreck. I just saw my Dr. last week and she made my dose smaller (25 MG) for the past week and I feel worse. Is there any ending to this?

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 am so glad that I found this site. I was put on Toprol in January and Just recentky i have panic attacks, chest tightness,tingling and numbing sensations in hands and feet, and i am deperessed. I also have some difficulty breathing. My Dr. told me that I am depressed and these side effects are from depression and not the medication so she gave me Zoloft, which I am not taking. I am not crazy i know that my symptoms are from the meds. i am going to wean myself off and pray i can be "normal" again. This is the worst time of my life and I pray that I can do this.

I was put on Toprol XL 6.5 yrs ago. My heart rate had soared to 130+ and b.p. was elevated. So my family doctor put me on Toprol XL 100 mgs. From day one I felt exhausted. He told me that would soon clear up and not to worry, we needed to be more concerned with my heart rate and b.p. I listened and was a good patient. After a year of total exhaustion and having to quit my job I asked to be taken off Toprol. He said it was the only medication that would control my heart rate and b.p. together. He agreed to reduce it to 75 mgs. After a few months I went back and said it was still too much! My b.p. was better as was my heart rate so he lowered it to 50 mgs. Things got a little better at least I could get out of bed by 10:00! Fed up I lowered it to 25 mgs. and tracked my b.p. Finally I told my doctor and he said as long as my b.p.was better 25 mgs.was ok. By this time though I was having other symptoms, body aches, joint pain, mind fog. He attributed it to arthritis and put me on Vioxx. 2 pills later I stopped due to chest pains. The symptoms I had experienced over the past 2 yrs continued so I sought a new physician. Once again he said Toprol XL was the only medication I could take for tachycardia and high b.p. My b.p. was again elevated so my meds were increased to 50 mgs. he wanted to go 100mgs., I said NO!
In 2004 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, the pain had become so bad now it was debilitating. I had all the full blown symptoms of Fibro, extreme exhaustion, body aches, joint pain, mind fog, depression etc etc. So I sought treatment for Fibromyalgia for 3 yrs. Not so successfully I might add.
I should note that I had none of these symptoms before Toprol XL.

During a recent Gynecology visit my b.p. was extremely high. I told her my story about Toprol. She said point blank, They are NOT listening to you. I think all the side effects you have been having are due to the Toprol XL.She sent me to a Cardiologist. God bless her!!
After many tests he immediately took me off Toprol. He put me on another medication instead. I am having withdrawal side effects from Toprol, shakiness, shortness of breath, heart rate acceleration and mind fogginess. But, anything is better than another day on Toprol. He told me what I was experiencing was normal withdrawing from Toprol. He also assured me there were many other alternatives to Toprol and if the new medication doesn't work there are other options.
I think Toprol XL is the next drug that should be banned!! I pray everyday my life will return to what it was before Toprol XL and that I will not have any lasting side effects from this horrible drug.

Depression, rise in blood sugars, nausea, stomache, complete loss of appetite, gray foamy stools and being cold all the time. New doctor wasn't happy with my taking Inderol since I have diabetes, but it has worked well for 20 years and I have fairly good control on the blood sugars. The side effects hit me out of the blue, having been on beta blockers as long as I have Between being cold (It was 70 degrees out today) and the depression I don't even want to get out of bed. I didn't expect this. Still have a few of the Inderol, will call the doc tomorrow and switch back.

HI, I was prescribed IC Metoprolol succ er 25 mg. same as Toprol xl. I feel tried, I am a fitness instructor and teach 13 classes a week. 8 aerobic and 5 weight training classes. I continue to gain weight. With this being a blocker, I have just come to find out this med wont let you heart rate go up when you exercise so you muscles can get oxygen and burn fat. The lack of oxygen makes you (us) more tried less motivated to workout or anything for that matter. It has effected me in this matter. I am calling my doctor to change my meds. this website was great. I new It had to be my meds, you don't workout this way and still gain weight!!!!!!!! I have always been very fit and muscular, something i took pride in. now I"m looking flabby. It"s really hard for me. Hard to motivate people when you don"t look like things I share with people all the time. hang in there the weight will come off just be consistent, when I continue to gain weight.

Hello All!!!

I have posted here a few times about my Toprol XL experiences - yuck the worse being shortness of breath and sever breathing problems, anxiety, depression, and heart palps...

My Dr. has tried several other drugs to control by HBP (Diovan, etc.) - all with too many side effects. So for now I am on a low dose of Toprol XL while we continue our search. I cannot STAND IT - the longer I am back on it the worse my breathing becomes - and it is not really helping the HBP.

My question is - has anyone tried a natural supplement with good effect - like Hyperexol, etc.??? I would really prefer to try something natural rather than ANOTHER prescription with side effects.

Thank you!!!

I have been taking Toprol XL for over two years and my depression is worsening by the month. I am diabetic.

I am 49 years old and have been in great health until about 6 months ago due to some stressful situations with one of my nephews. My blood pressure was 140/80 at the highest. At this time...I began to have some mild heart palpitations and was put on Toprol XL (50 mg.) suddenly my palpitations became more intense and occurred more often. Then I began to have panic attacks and vision and memory problems. My doctor then prescribed Xanax .25mg. for the panic attacks. I weaned myself off of the 50 and began to take .25 mg. I really wanted off of it so I tried to cut that in half for several weeks. After about a month...I went off of the medicine for several days and began to have some strange symptoms. My arms were tingling and numb, I woke up sweating, my head felt strange...so I went back on the Toprol (25 mg.). I really would like to get off of all of this medicine. I have never been one to take anything and I am far worse than I ever was. I just wonder if doctors read this information and if the drug company takes note of any of this. I think this is a very strong drug that is over prescribed. I worry that I have damaged my heart with this drug. I am just not sure what to do. Please help...

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.

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.

43/male...been taking Toprol XL for a year, started on 50mg, now a 100mg, makes me want to sleep all day, nothing but gastric problems, blood in stools constantly, burning of the rectum. depression, just tiredness & lack of energy all the time, most of all high liver enzymes !! Has anyone had elevated liver enzymes?? Taking only 50mg a day trying to get off this junk.

I am a 45 year old female & am on the Toprol-XL 50 mg & take 1 twice a day...I have noticed I have blurred vision & problems with my eyes & also suffer with my legs hurting a lot & also have joint stiffness & cramps in my feet & legs & have trouble sleeping & some memory problems at times along with feeling tired all the time & some depression & shortness of breath & no matter how little I eat I seem to put on weight & look & feel bloated...don't know if it's the Toprol-XL or not but have only had these problems since I been on that & Crestor.

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.

I am a nurse of 20 years and was placed on Toprol XL for super ventricular tachycardia (SVT) over a year ago. I was place on 25 mg dose after a stress test, ekg, echocaridogram and 24 hour halter monitor. I was not feeling any better and I was having periods of weakness, profuse sweating and being clammy. The cardiologist had me wear a 30 day event monitor and it showed frequent PVCs and runs of SVT. So he increased the dose to 50 mg. I continued to have the weakness, tachycardia, PVCs, extreme weakness, poor concentration and extreme periods of sweating with becoming clammy and some chest pain. Oh and I started having severe left leg pain that I had not had since my back surgery, so I went back to my pain specialist for treatment. I became so depressed, thoughts of life not worth living, poor endurance, not able to sleep in bed due to severe leg pain and increasing bouts of tachycardia, irregular heart rate, weakness, and sweating this is while at rest or working the symptoms remained. I forgot to mention that my blood sugar was increasing during this time to the point of in danger of being a diabetic.

I decided to stop the Toprol XL after reading some of the side effects that are less common. I was able to sleep in bed for the first time in 6 months, no leg pain. I called my cardiologist and he told me my symptoms were not consistent with Toprol XL side effects or reaction and to double the dose of Toprol XL. I refused and changed cardiologist, one who listened to me.

The result is I stayed off Toprol XL, after 5 weeks it is getting out of my system. No more sweating spells, cold clammy spells, extreme weakness, I feel part of life again and ready to go back into the world not hide from it, my blood sugar is getting back to normal. I am getting my strength and endurance back but have to rest some still, oh and I am losing the 25 pounds that I gained while on Toprol.

I still have irregular heart rate and that is okay but I am on a new medication that really seems to work. Oh, and the spinal implant that I was to have has been cancelled because the leg pain is almost gone and I sleep in a bed not a chair.

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.

well i'm not one to NOT TRUST my doctor... but he prescribed me toprol yesterday for hypertension HBP..30 yr old male/chef.. cant believe the comments on this site... couldn't be able to deal with one of these side effects never mind all of them...!!! i appreciate everyone honesty and hope weaning off wasn't an issue for you all. anxiety has never been a problem in my life.. nor weight gain.. deep breathes it is!!!!!!! peace out

I too am having many of the side effects listed on this site including chest pains, fatigue, shortness of breath, foggy head, dizziness, to name a few. I am wondering if anyone has had heartburn or an increase in heartburn while being on this drug. They have recently switched me from Toprol to the generic form, Metaprolol. More of these symptoms seem to have come on since switching to the generic. Any thoughts?

Hi, I'm a 51 y/o female nurse that started taking Toprol-XL for high blood pressure. I don't like taking meds because of side effects (other blood pressure meds have caused my hair to fall out, fatigue, depression, etc.) so I started out only taking half of the 50 mg tab. I recently upped it up to the whole tab to get my blood pressure a little lower and immediately started having severe headaches and joint pains. I'm going back down to a half tab and wean myself off this crap. I'm taking Magnesium, potassium, and L-Arginine, which all help relax the blood vessels. I was taking a higher dose of magnesium, which causes some diarrhea, when I decided to lower it and increase the dose of Toprol-XL to see how that worked. I'd rather have the diarrhea from the magnesium! At least then I wasn't crying from depression, having bad headaches and hurting all over! I'm losing weight on Weight Watchers, so hopefully I'll get this blood pressure under control. My blood pressure was pretty well under control with the lower dose of Toprol-XL, higher dose of magnesium, and the L-Arginine and potassium. I'm going back to what was working before. I'm also going to talk to my Health and Wellness doctor about a safer replacement for the Toprol-XL.

I have been off toprol for 2 weeks now. My legs are still very weak. I am having trouble walking. They are better in the morning then get worse as the day goes on. Some days are better than others. I have never had this problem before going on toprol. I am also depressed because of this, and I have never had problems with depression before. Still wondering how long this will take and if I should do anything to make this better. I tried massaging my legs and that does seem to help.

Male 46 I have been on Toprol - XL for about 1-1/2 years now. I was taking 25mg and I have had all the major side effects listed on this site. depression being the worst. About two months ago without my doctors premission I started cutting the pills in half. Three days ago I stopped taking the pills altogether, I have had some of the worst headaches in my life!! I figure this is just withdrawals from the Toprol. Everyones circumstances are different, however if your doctor is not helping you go find one who will listen! If anyone else has just come off this stuff please let me know you syptoms.

I constantly have loose bowels, hair is thinning, shortness of breath. does'nt have any energy at all to even do little minor things. depression. some of u say that u have gained weight with this medication. I am experiencing weight lost. i've been on this medication now for 7 months along with bp med enalipril.

It's hard to describe all the side effects I think I am having from taking 50mg. of toprol 1x a day, at bedtime. Since taking it, I have heart palpitations,flushing, full body pain, sleep all the time. Feel without hope- so I guess that would be described as depression. I have 0 energy, or even motivation. I have become a hermit in my own house, have not gone out anywhere at all- the entire summer. At first I thought it was becuase certain terrible things were happening with my daughter- but now that has abated-BTW she's 47. So I don't think the way I am feeling has to do with that. I feel just ghorrible- worse every day. Don't want to do anything. All I do most of the time, is sleep, or pray that God will let me die- I have nothing to live for- or Please heal me. Finally I have an appointment with my Cardiologist-Internist this Thursday, and I will ask him to take me off the Toprol. Tonight I am not going to take it, nor anymore until I see him. Nancy

Iv'e been aking Toprol -XL for 25 mg for 3 years. Gained 25 pounds, muscle and joint pain, depression.Mornings are a challange. My legs are stiff, crampy and it's difficult to walk.I wake fron arm and shoulder pain.Please respond if toy have the arm and leg pain symptoms.Help!

Hi all,
As so many other people have said...I'm really glad I've found this forum!
I too have gained weight..originally I was put on Paxil during menopause for depression and social anxiety, without being told by the doctor that I would gain weight (40 lbs!), then I was put on Toprol for an irregular heartbeat, not aware that this would make me gain weight too! Now I'm up another 40 lbs, (of course part of this is that I broke my ankle and was layed up for a few months) but still 80lbs, most of it due to drugs! I also have joint pain and nightmares and hair loss. I also have not been able to lose it dieting or exercising. There has to be an alternative. I'm going to make an appointment with my cardiologist and bring him some of these posts as well. I thank everyone for sharing their experiences...I will let you know what tanspires.
Hang in there everyone...

just an update to my June 15 comments regarding my husband and his side effects with Toprol XL..as of his last doc visit his blood pressure was perfect as its been since weaning off of 100 mg. all depression has lifted and he now sleeps like a baby at night and is wide awake during the day, and no more weird dreams..the tremors have stopped completely and his confusion is gone and his memory loss is only slight..The doc wouldn't lower it from the 25mg that it is now..he is concerned that it will have an adverse effect to take it to 12 1/2..so for now we will stay with it..being aware that the risidual effect is most likely the 25mg. in the meantime he is going for an appt with a neurologist just to make sure other things aren't going on..but I believe its all the Toprol. the change in him from the 100mg a day to now is amazing.

Weight gain, short term memory loss, not focusing when driving, depression, weird dreams, low sex drive, no drive at all.

I have been on Toprol 25 mg for almost a year for heart palpitations. I has worked for the palpitations, but the side effects have been a challenge. I have gained about 20 pounds, have the vivid nightmares, lack of energy, etc. One thing that I have noticed recently is the increased severity of allergies and difficulty breathing. Anyone else experiencing this?

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?

Low sex drive, tired after moderate physical exertion, foggy-headed all-day, insomnia, low-blood sugar, nightmares, loss of concentration, depression. 25mg/day 24 years old.

Weight gain, sluggishness, memory fogs. I've been on Toprol for nearly 3 years and my 2 biggest areas of concern are my weight and memory. I've gained 25 pounds in 3 years (never had a weight issue before and I'm 40) and CANNOT lose it. I've been on a very restricted diet for the past 4 weeks while also power walking 30 min/5 days a week with NO WEIGHT CHANGE! That is what prompted me to look into possible effects of Toprol. During the past 3 years I've also noticed a problem with my short term memory which I naturally contributed to my depression. Well, the good news is that with my diet and constant exercise, my blood pressure has dropped to 118/78 and I am seeing my doctor and presenting many of the forum entries to her this week. I am going to have her change my meds and hopefully be able to come off completely. I'm currently on Toprol XL 50mg.

I will update on changes!

This medication has saved my life. I am in my mid 20's and have been taking Toprol for 2 years. Ever since 9-11 I have had a hard time keeping my anxiety under control. I tired a number of anxiety medications but Toprol was the only thing that could keep my heart rate under control.

When I forget to take the meds I experience an elevated heart rate. It goes away shortly after I take the next dose. After being on this medication for so long I've started to notice minor problems with weight gain, low energy, and depression. I think now that I have my blood pressure under control it's time to start ramping down the dose.

Talk to your doctor before you get off this medication. I quit cold turkey once before and my blood pressure skyrocketed.

Depression and fatigue; was supposed to be taking 50 mg and am still taking only 1/4 of a pill each day and still have these side effects. I'm afraid to go any higher.

I had what a nurse called as a hypertension crisis with a 220/130 bp. I went to the ER in an ambulance. After trying me on several meds over a short period of a few days, I am now on Toprol XL 50 mg. and cardizem LA 180 mg. I have only been on Toprol for 1 day and I already have leg muscle weakness and feel a sense of depression that I never have. I am also dizzy and have some shortness of breath. The doctor says that my heart is strong and that all my blood work was great. I am just worried that it won't stay that way. I have an alternative medicine physician that I will be talking to and looking for safer alternatives. Does anyone know if only 5 days on bp medicine and then weaning myself off will hurt me?

I've experienced extreme anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Can I go off of it? My doctor said cut in half, which I did. Still feel the same, so he said to stop it. I'm concerned from reading others comments that I will really be messed up.

wow. i am a 36 year old female that started taking 50mg of toprol about 1 month ago for frequent pvc's. all these side effects i am reading about are just blowing me away. i have several...foggy, tired, difficulty falling asleep, muscle aches, weakness, tingly legs, weight gain, depression, nightmares, swollen ankles, hopeless feeling, decreased sex drive, cold hands and feet, leg and foot cramping.... NONE of which i had before. THIS MEDICATION IS EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i will be weening myself off of it starting NOW!!!! i would much rather feel my heart beating funny than feel like this.

I was on 50 mg of Metropolol for 4 years for HBP. While on it I gained 50 pounds, could not lose weight, although I would eat less, developed anxiety, depression, loss libido, was irritable etc.
My husband could not figure out what was wrong with me. Before taking it, I was always a happy go lucky person without mood problems. I also developed palpitations while on it. I have recently weaned off due to cardiologist putting me on a Triamterence, a diurectic and have lost 18 pounds.

But watch out, I weaned myself off from 50mg to 25mg and then to 12 mg in a period of 30 days and have now experienced extreme anxiety, fear of losing control (panic attacks) and shaking at nighttime. Has anyone experienced these withdrawal effects even after tapering off so slowly?

I take 100mg of topprol twice a day for high blood pressure. It does keep my blood pressure under control. However, I am constantly tired & am feeling a bit a depression which I never felt when I was taking a lower dose.

I am taking 25 mg of Toprol XL once a day at bedtime and it is effectively sedating as well as antiarrhythmic. However, I feel tired and I end up taking naps much of the day, which is extremely unusual. Actually, I am getting twice the amount of sleep I have ever gotten.

Some of the side effects and symptoms that others are mentioning on this board are also symptoms of magnesium deficiency, which is the cause of many cardiovascular problems in the US and West due to a naturally magneisum deficient diet based upon refined wheat. ******

my side effects include HEAVY menstrual flow,muscle pain,leg & back pain,tiredness,weariness,depression,nightmares,dazed,confused,double vision,blurred vision,in a "fog" all the time,cant remember things from one room to the other,screeching in my ears,muscle & joint pain,insomnia,VERY,VERY tired all the time,loose my temper quickly,no energy,weakness,no desire for sex,lethargic

I am 73 male, treated for High BP w/Ace Inhib and HCT for many years. Started Toprol XL 50mg about 1 month ago, primarily for palpitaion. LOST weight, 10lbs in 3 weeks. reduced swelling in ankles and wrists. BUT, tired, fatigued, depressed, (depression from fatigue or fatigue from depression??) ache in lower back. rapid fatigue when walking a mile. no ambition to do anything

36 yr old male. E.R. doctor prescribed generic toplrol for tachycardia March 9, 2006. Had really wacky feeling first week. Then anxiety, depression. Bad stomach problems. Would have to get up in the middle of the night for a bowel movement. It also screwed up my blood sugar. If I didn't eat every couple hours I would get a bad hypoglycemic attack where I couldn't focus and shaky with a really sick feeling. Was on 50mg twice a day. Cut it to 50mg once a day and felt 90% better. Slowly weaned myself off of it. Been completely off for 30+ days. Feel better and tachycardia is no worse than when I was on the med. Have always felt the tachycardia was caused by something gastro-intestinal . anyone else experience this?

I had mild heart attack 6 weeks ago. I had a 90% blockage in one artery and minimal or none in the others. I Left the Hospital with a mdicated stent and on Topral XL and Lisinopril, and Lipitor. Since then, no energy, depression, insomnia, generally bad feeling. I stopped topral and lisinopril 4 days ago. My BP and heart rate are still very low 40 to 60 beats per minutes, BP 110 to 120 over 60 to 80. How long do these drugs stay in your system? 52 year old male with no other health issues and previously active life.

I have been on topral xl for several years now and my doctor has been telling me the symtom are not from topral...vivid dreams, tiredness, pain, depression, weight gain 30 lbs, and now my musles lock up thought i had a form of ms but doc's test ruled that out, fuzzy thinking, cough...any one else have a problem with not being able to use musles

I have been taking Toprol 100mg for 3 months now for tachicadria. I am also taking 50 mg of Elavil(Amitriptyline) for cronic pain. Between the two, I think I have had every thing listed here. The bigist thing i have noticed is Tiredness, Weight gain, Lethargic and depression. I take the medications at night 2 hours befor bed. Some times i just cant waik up. I have tried all different times to take the meds and have found this time to be the best. I will keep taking the meds until something comes along that works better.