Toprol-XL and drugs

I have only been taking Toprol xl 50mg. for a few days, but i notice a difference already. (I take this to block migraines.) I feel out of it when i take this drug. I cannot sleep anymore! i cant fall asleep... and when i finally do, i am up a few hours later. I have been having weird dreams. (not about spiders, but other vivid, crazy dreams) Do you get used to the drug after a while and are able to sleep???? anyone know?? I have problems with anxiety and depression... and i think that lack of sleep would only add to that. I know that since i started taking toprol, i have mood swings like crazy. I will be happy and having a good time, then i will just switch and starting going off the handle. (about the littlest things too) So i ask, why do we take these drugs if we cant sleep, eat, think, have mood swings, etc???

I am a 37 year old female that went to the ER 3 days ago for chest tightness & extremely high blood sugar. I have had high blood pressure in the past years but as of a year ago when I was diagnosed as being diabetic my blood pressure has been normal about 117/75 so I go to the ER and they give me 2 EKG's and a heart monitor for 24hrs and put me through a stress test,they also give me this little pill and say it will help me, well not feeling well and wanting to feel good again I take the pill no questions asked. I have never felt so tired in my life. I thought well chest pains will do that to you so I dismissed it. I know they were making sure I do not have a heart attack but, my blood pressure seems to be going lower and lower and I am more tired by the minute, they released me from the hospital and gave me a million RX's including toprol and lisinopril both of whch lower blod pressure ??? do they want me to pass out? so yesterday I took the toprol only and felt like I was sinking , my thinking seemed foggy and my legs felt rubbery. I am sooooo glad I found this site because I will not take this drug ever again I already suffer weight issues being diabetic I don't need anything else. I would prefer to be interested in sex and be able too function this drug seems like it is more negative than it is worth. I think I will stick with the lisinopril, and why would they give me two blood pressure meds when my blood pressure is already normal??? If anyone has a comment please let me know I am very scared about this whole thing

I am a 39 year old white male that had aortic valve replacement surgery five years ago. About three months after the surgery (which went off without a hitch) I had a tremendous spike in my BP that went on for a few days (200/100 - enough so I could see my heartbeat in my eyes!). My Dr started me on Toprol XL 75 and while it brought my BP down some, it didn't bring it down a lot. He moved me to 200 mg a day and now my BP is around 105/55 with a resting pulse around 50.

While I experienced many of the side effects listed here (feeling groggy, confused, etc) they only lasted a few months. I must admit that I did pack on about 20 lbs over six months. However, unlike so many who choose to blame drugs (or lack thereof) for their problems, I took it upon myself to start exercising and guess what?!? The weight comes off! I now weigh less than when I graduated high school, I am in better shape than any time in my life and I believe that exercise helps me sleep better at night. All of this even though I still take 200mg a day. Given that some of you say that you're practically dead at taking 25, I should be 6 feet under or weigh 400 lbs.

I guess what I want to say is that perhaps instead of jumping on the bandwagon here that Toprol causes all of your problems, perhaps you want to take your own health into your hands and begin to eat a little better and exercise (and don't give me "but my ankles are swollen!" excuse - there is something called water aerobics). I don't deny that it can cause some side effects, but it can work wonders with your BP. You just have to DO SOMETHING to help keep the weight off (which then help with the sleep problems, mental clarity, etc).

I decided a long time ago, Doctor's are not the best listeners!! I am a nurse, I know!! Read my post today June 18th. I have been praying for an answer to all my symptoms, especially the profuse sweating I have been having for the past year!!! I believe I have found my answer at this site. Thank God I found it. All because I was looking up info about Toprol because after the doctor increased my dosage yesterday , today my ankles and feet swelled up like balloons!!!!! Now I have pitting edema!!!
I have gone to a # of doctor's in the past year and a half and I think they believe it is all " in my head"!!! I have been so depressed. My husband has even threatened to leave me. NO interest in much of anything. I don't know what it is like to sleep anymore :-( My husband says " just close your eyes and sleep like a normal person". Maybe after he reads the posts at this site he will begin to understand that everything I have been going through is "REAL". I am calling my Dr. in the morning and she will WEAN me off this awful drug!!! My BP has been going up since I have been on Toprol instead of going down. I have wondered why the Dr. didn't just change the med. It really makes one wonder. DO the Dr's ever hear what we are saying???? I would be happy to share stories with anyone on this site. How many of you have experienced profuse sweating???? The doctor will WEAN me off this drug!!! :-)
God bless everyone!! I pray you all get off this drug!! It needs to be pulled by the FDA!!!
Joyce47oh ;-)

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.

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!

I am 57 years old, and never had HBP, I went to the cardiologist and told me I have 140/80 and prescribed Toprol XL 25mg. I bought the generic ones. Today is my second week and I did not know that my headaches (never had headaches before), electric chocks ringing ears , breathing problems, were a side effect of this pill until reading all these experiences of so many people. I am going to cut half the dosis and lower it, so I get out of this medicine. The doctor made an EKG and gave me Toprol because my left atrial was big due to untreated HBP. Is there any natural product, better than this killing medicine, please advice.

Wow. Thank god for this Bulletin! I was diagnosed with hypertension at age 28
and tried a variety of drugs with no control over the BP. So, about 2 1/2 - 3 years ago, I was prescribed 100MG of Toprol XL which seemed to control it well, but with debilitating long term illness. I had no idea until today that Toprol XL was causing similar grief to others. The horrible symptoms that I have been experiencing now for several years are Extreme Chronic Fatigue, Profuse Cold Clammy Sweating, Dizzy spells, weight gain, seeing specs of light and thousands of eye floaters, severe depression, muscle aches, headaches.

After reading about others with similar side effects, I am confident that it's from this medication. I have had all kinds of testing done including T3 & T4 Throid levels and a full array of blood work with NO LUCK! Regardless of the consequences, I am going to quit this damn medicine today because it appears to take 5 weeks or so to get it out of the body to notice a difference. I am so desperate for change. It is ruining my life because I can
't wake up, I'm always tired even though I get 10-14 hours of sleep. My wife and kids are bummed because I have no energy to do anything, EVER!

If you have any other suggestions or would like to comment about this.

Sincerely,

Sean

I have been on Toprol for over 5 years. I have finally (after numerous attempts) - been able to wean off of it. I am on my 10th day (7 day step down and now 3 days with NO Toprol). Can anyone that has successfully gotten off of Toprol please tell me how long it took to start feeling better?

It has caused be severe GERD/Acid reflux, SEVERE breathing problems, and has stopped controlling my HBP - in fact my B/P is HIGHER on Toprol than it ever used to be. It also caused my heart to race from time to time.

I want to get excited about feeling better - just waiting for that to happen. Anyone know what I can expect? Thank you so much.

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!!!

55 year old who had been taking Toprol for over 4 years with no side effects to speak of UNTIL switched (due to UniCare health insurance) to the generic, which is making me soooo sleepy daily, so I had to find another answer, and I did...

I am also an herbalist and I have finally found some herbs that keep my BP down, so soon will be off of it all. Contact me if you are interested in getting your BP down naturally. These drugs are not good for us. You can make this herbal infusion at home. Contact me if you need help of information. I always rely on natural remedies and herbs, why not for BP - it is known to work, well, and it does!

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 am a 66 year old female with high blood pressure, 150 or 140ish over 90 or a bit higher. Was on 25,, then 50 then 100 and now 200 a day and also taking lisinopril. Can't sleep, and I always was a great sleeper. Not a big fan of taking drugs. Now she put me on Lipitor for 229 cholesterol. Feel I'm being overmedicated but Dr says it's just fine. Have a daughter who is a hospital RN and she says none of her patients take 200 doses. Does anyone else think 200 is unheard of?

This website may not have saved my life, but it has certainly saved my sanity. Beginning in May 2007 I was prescribed Toprol XL for a supposed heart condition. I was instructed to begin with 50 mg per day and go to 100 mg per day after 10 days. Since I already had the 50 mg tablets, I simply started taking 2 of them together when I raised the dosage. On July 25 I ran out of the 50 mg tabs and filled a prescription for 100 mg tabs. Immediately upon starting the 100 mg tabs I began experiencing side effects which increased in severity daily. By Monday July 30 I was convinced I was losing my mind. Then I discovered this website, and read that many other people had suffered in the same way. What I have trouble grasping is why the same dosage had different effects. I tolerated the 100 mg/day dose just fine when taking 2 50 mg tabs, but the 100 mg was dreadful. I've checked the pills, and both the 50 mg and 100 mg are Astra-Zeneca products, not generic. The markings, shape and size are consistent with 100 mg tabs, so I haven't been inadvertently given an overdose. I immediately backed off the dosage, and am gradually going to reduce and stop the medication. I urge anyone who is having these problems not to stop at reporting them here, but also to contact Astra-Zeneca at www.astrazeneca.com, and to report them to the FDA's Medwatch website, www.fda.gov/medwatch. It may seem fruitless to contact Astra Zeneca, but they need to be made aware of these problems.

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...

Friend who is 70 developed cough whichi kept him awake at night. He switched off Topril (generic Metoprolol).

I was taking Coreg...inferred with sleep first week or two...took 1 hour then 2 hours to fall asleep for 5 hours. Then wide awake.

After three weeks, did not get to sleep..stayed up all night, wide awake. Went 7 days with maybe 10 hours total sleep. Doc switched me to Topril 25mg. Problem continues - after 4 days, still wide awake all night. No desire to nap during day..wide awake but very tired and exhaused.

It may the be 'class' of drugs that are similar. The Coreg sleep problem worsened with time. The Topril continued it when I switched. Doc has taken me of Topril now.

I just stopped taking my Metoprolol. I had the worse panic attack in the world while working. I felt I was always gasping for breath and semi alive. These drugs suck, it also gave me hypoglycemic symptoms which is not fun. I will deal with my blood pressure without drugs I was taking 25mg twice a day and it messed me up.

Hi, I have been on 100mg of TP now for a year. I am 48 yoa, male and in ok shape otherwise. I was put on this drug for a fast heart rate. 145 - 160 at rest. I also have had all of the other side effects as every one else. I am just wandering if any male on this drug has used any ED drugs. I have been putting off the trip to the doc to ask. I would love to here from any one that has tried any of the ED drugs.

Terry.

Toprol is a very weird drug guys.

I was given a large Rx dose after I had quad bypass. First came the night sweats, then feeling in a fog and tired all the time, horrible nightmares, weight gain, zero sex....finally I told my Dr. He said to cut back on it but do it very slowly. I now take 12.5 mg a day.

My pharmacist said that Toprol is one of the BEST drugs....yeah right!

Male, age 63

started taking ToprolXL50 and am now experiencing extreme muscle and joint pain. Can this be caused by toprol? Can it be a side effect with interaction with other drugs?

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.

I, too, was originally prescribed Toprol XL 50 mg last 1/5/06. I took it for about two weeks then stopped and switched to Benicar. Toprol was too potent for me. Although I like the relaxed feeling and being able to fall asleep right away, I dreaded falling too sound asleep. This drug caused me to have nightmares and vivid dreams. Every night, all my fears and phobias seem to play itself out in my dreams. I'd wake up thinking it all actually happened! Very creepy! I also felt that heavy and hollow feeling that someone else here described. I really felt sad and depressed, lack of energy, sleepiness, night sweats, lack of appetite--which would have been a plus :), but with all the other side effects, I just didn't think it was good for me to continue taking it. We are currently on the experimental stage on which meds work with the least horrible symptoms. I am also on HCT and Lisinopril. I stopped taking the latter due to incessant, hacking coughs.

I'm glad this website is here, as now I know my symptoms from all these meds are not at all uncommon. Most doctors will never tell patients what side effects these drugs can cause, so as not to scare or plant ideas in their heads. Their job is to prescribe what they think will control HBP...then they just wait how the patient will react. It's up to us the patients to listen to our bodies and complain if we must when the drug has adverse effects. They will switch you to a better alternative. If that is too costly and wasteful....make sure to ask your doctor to give you samples first before you fill that Rx, because even if you tell the pharmacist not to fill the 30-day prescription, the price per pill is more expensive. At least that's what my Costco pharmacist told me. I really think these doctors get a payback/kickback, what have you, for prescribing these drugs. So, ask a lot of questions before agreeing to take anything. Doctors are humans--not God. Their opinions a
re subjective and YES, they make mistakes too.

I, too, was originally prescribed Toprol XL 50 mg last 1/5/06. I took it for about two weeks then stopped and switched to Benicar. Toprol was too potent for me. Although I like the relaxed feeling and being able to fall asleep right away, I dreaded falling too sound asleep. This drug caused me to have nightmares and vivid dreams. Every night, all my fears and phobias seem to play itself out in my dreams. I'd wake up thinking it all actually happened! Very creepy! I also felt that heavy and hollow feeling that someone else here described. I really felt sad and depressed, lack of energy, sleepiness, night sweats, lack of appetite--which would have been a plus :), but with all the other side effects, I just didn't think it was good for me to continue taking it. We are currently on the experimental stage on which meds work with the least horrible symptoms. I am also on HCT and Lisinopril. I stopped taking the latter due to incessant coughing (more like barking).

I'm glad this website is here, as now I know my symptoms from all these meds are not at all uncommon. Most doctors will never tell patients what side effects these drugs can cause, so as not to scare or plant ideas in their heads. Their job is to prescribe what they think will control HBP...then they just wait how the patient will react. It's up to us the patients to listen to our bodies and complain if we must when the drug has adverse effects. They will switch to a better alternative. If that is too costly and wasteful....make sure to ask your doctor to give you samples first before you fill that Rx, because even if you tell the pharmacist not to fill the 30-day prescription, the price per pill is more expensive. At least that's what my Costco pharmacist told me. I really think these doctors get a payback/kickback, what have you, for prescribing these drugs. So, ask a lot of questions before agreeing to take anything. Doctors are humans--not God. Their opinions are subjective and YES, they make mistakes too.

No sex drive. I am 45 and my doc doesnt discuss the affects of Toprol XL on my sex drive. What ED drugs can be safely taken with Toprol? What are some of you guys doses of Viagra/Cialis/Levitra?

Help

I was prescribed 50 m of Toprol. After taking it for almost a year, I produced muscle pain in back of hands and the tops of my feet and toes. fingers feel arthritic. Lifting elbows have limited range of motion without pain.

Doctor finds nothing wrong. I know my body and that it is the Tropol. I want to get off of this stuff ASAP. I have been taking every other day until my next doc appointment.

Don't they study these drugs before prescribing them to people? Being in this kind of pain from head to toe - I wonder what it could be doing to the muscles of the heart.