Toprol-XL and fatigue

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?

Weight gain, swollen middle,ankles,and feet. Tired and eat every little and exercise by walking most days. Can't walk too fast because I experience shortness of breath. I take 150 mg a day.

My mother is on Toprol-XL, and she has complained of being so fatigued, she sleeps so much, and this is someone who has always had a tremendous amount of energy. The other thing, and I would love a reply to this - she said she's experienced something at night while sleeping that feels like a seizure. She describes this as follows, "like my brain is shaking or trembling inside my head and my hands are trembling too." Has anyone else experienced this? Please let me know.

I have taken toprol for seven years. I never had any bad side effects and it controlled my blood pressure most of the time. However, I suffer from anxiety and depression and was recently put on Lexapro. My heart rate dropped into the 40's and I was exhausted all the time. Turns out Lexapro interacts with Toprol in that the drug (Toprol) does not break down in your system and keeps building up! Because the Lexapro was helping my anxiety I decided to lower the Toprol dosage. Down to 12.5 mg and still extremely low heart rate and fatigue. Decided to go off the Toprol and monitor my blood pressure, which has been amazingly good so far. Went off completely six days ago and it has been rough. Anxiety, insomnia, pounding heart, heart palpitations. This stuff is a real B*tch to get off from. Have talked to both the pharmacist and my doctor and both said to NOT start taking it again. There are plenty of newer medications out there. I also experienced weight gain when I first started taking it...I think because it slows your metabolism down. So now I am on xanax to counteract the Toprol until the Lexapro kicks in more. It it isn't one thing, it's another.

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

I started taking the generic of Toprol (metaprolol) 3 months ago. I'm on 150mg per day for a rapid heartbeat, I'm 39 years old. It has helped my heart problems but I don't know if the side effects are worth it. I experience major fatigue that may last a week at a time and subside for a few days, aches in my back and neck (which I've learned may also be attributed to the Lipitor that I am also on), and my worse symptom is constant diarrhea. Some days I will run to the BR 15 times in one day. It seems to subside by dinner time, but that is probably because I stay away from food all afternoon. I'm fortunate that I am a stay at home mom I can't imagine having to go to work in this condition!

I have been taking Toprol-XL for a long time. I have recently been switched to the generic and it is not controlling my blood pressure as well and my heart is palpitating a lot. I think I had problems before with the brand name but this is far worse. Is there a possibility that this drug causes Fibromyalgia??? I've seen some posts about that and I was also diagnosed with it because of severe muscle pain. If anyone has noticed a trend please respond, I am desparate.

I just discovered this after 3 months of total misery, 7 different doctors, multiple tests, 1 hospitalization, 16 pound weight loss, almost lost my job, etc., etc., etc.. I want to know if this will have permanent effects on my body and heart and will I ever be the same again. I have been back on the brand TOPROL XL for 9 days now. Keep in mind I didn't know what was happening to me, I never thought twice about the switch to generic, it was cheaper and I also had a lot of stress going on in my life at the time.

My pharmacy switched my "Toprol XL 50 mg" to a Generic one called "Metoprolol Succinate ER 50 mg" (manufactured by Sandoz) in December 2007. I have been on some form of Beta Blockers for years due to PVC's, AVNRT, Bigeminy, Trigeminy and Couplets. NOT High Blood Pressure. In my case I get very symptomatic from the arrhythmias: very low blood pressure, chest pain, fatigue, blacking out. I've had EP studies and attempted ablations in the past, but they were unsuccessful. For the last 2 years I had been under control on this med. Within a week of starting the new generic, I was at my eye doctor because my left eye went from 20/20 to 20/60 and was so blurry that I felt like I had suntan lotion or something in it. The new symptoms just kept coming. Since Dec 07, I have been to a Neurologist, Neuro-Ophthalmologist, Endocrinologist, Gastrointerologist, Ear Nose and Throat Doctor, Cardiologist, and many more. The generic form caused my arrhythmias to come back with a vengeance, I got depression, I couldn't sleep, my chest hurt, my BP was like 85/45, I lost 16 pounds and couldn't eat. I was almost passing out, seeing stars, I had bigeminy/trigeminy day and night for days on end, I was crying for nothing, very moody, I was coughing and wheezing, I had tingling in my arms and hands, loud ringing in my ears, I couldn't concentrate let alone think. I had tons of blood work that the doctors said, "just didn't look right". Upper GI test discovered a hiatal hernia, MRI discovered brain lesions, I had a high red blood cell count (but not anemic), my ferritin was high, my blood sugar was high, I was tested for MS, Lupus, thyroid, everything under the sun and was borderline for these diseases! I thought I was going to die, I had never been depressed in my life and this was the worst. I was beginning to think I was a hypochondriac. But, it was all there on paper, all the tests showed something wrong, but they didn't know what.

I googled Toprol brand versus generic and found out that it wasn't just me, thousands of people have had these same reactions since they started making Generic Toprol. Please read up on it, everyone who writes their story can't be wrong (there is at least one from every state complaining of the same thing). I've been taking the old TOPROL XL BRAND for the last 9 days and my arrhythmias have completely stopped, I have an appetite again and the depression has lifted. I hope it didn't cause any permanent damage.

I know this is probably happening to people everywhere who don't have access to the internet or maybe don't get out much. If you ask the pharmacist, they will tell you that they are exactly the same and they are NOT. The generic may work perfectly for you, but it doesn't work for all. In trying to figure out why I was so symptomatic, the doctors in the hospital took me off the beta blocker completely....I could have had a stroke or heart attack. I started back up on the brand name when after I googled it and realized that you can't just "go off" Toprol. I just wish I would have discovered it about 3 months ago. They thought for sure I had either MS or Lupus and were trying to rule out all the mimics of these very serious diseases. I'm going back to my doctors and have them repeat all the blood tests, etc. to make sure everything is back to normal.

I'm trying to get the word out.

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 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 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.

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?

Ive been on toprol 25mg for almost a year. My hair started coming out. I get sharp chest pains. I thought I was being lazy with school work and all, but I realize that it was toprol doing this to me. It was fatigue. My cardiologist took me off of it and did not replace it with anything else. This sounds odd to say the least. I thought you had to be weened off of it.

September 15, I first started taking Toprol XL 50 mg for an irregular heart
2007 beat. That was about 2.5 years ago. It didn't help me at
1:27 PM first so my Dr. upped it to 100mg. It helped for about a
year and a half before I began having diarrhea and loose bowels for over a year now. My doctor didn't seem too concerned about
that. At the same time I was taking 1500mg of Niacin a day. I thought
the loose bowels came from too much Niacin, so I asked the Dr. to take
me off that. That did not help me at all. I am seeiing my Dr. next week
I do hope I can get off of Toprol. I have other side effects as well, enlarged thyroid, dizziness, short term memory, depressed,sleepy. But I do mow the lawn without any fatigue. I am tired of the diarrhea every day 2 to 3 times a day. Thanks to everyone who has posted their side effects/ It helps to know others are having the same side effects I am with Toprol.

I was on toprol , however because of my side effects- fatigue, ringing in hears, foggy-thinking, general overall felt bad, - my doctor has taken me off and put me on dilta- a calcium channel blocker. Just changed 7 days ago so I am still adjusting to the dilta. I've had fatigue and general overall felt bad , some anxiety , not sure if from the change from toprol or just adjusting to the new drug. It's very depressing to keep having problems. Good luck to you all!!

I'm a 56 year old woman. 5'4" 116. Very fit .Have hypothyroidism and take Synthroid.. Was diagnosed with high blood pressure (which I beleive is due to a too high dose of Synthroid) Was prescribed toprol, just 25 Mgs. Wow!! Was that a bad experience. With the first few days of taking it, began the Foggy brain, dizziness, no ability to concentrate.. no energy.. Head aches, joint pains. Complete lack of interest in doing much of any thing including sex!. Have became almost reclusive because I didn't feel confident interacting with people (I'm a VP of Sales.. not good for my job)! I was bumping into things.. Felt like I was on another planet.. Thought I was nuts... Great to have found this site Also.. Have gain 5 pounds that are not falling off since I stopped this med on my own after only 10 days.. YIKES! Who does this stuff work well for?

I am a 38 year old female and was put on Toprol XL for anxiety/rapid heart beat/stress. I have experienced weight gain, hair loss/thinning, tiredness, walking up/down a flight of stairs takes all the energy I've got and I need to sit and catch my breath, memory loss, loss of sex drive, gas/bloating problems, lack of activity due to fatigue. After I began reading these comments I can't believe that all the symptoms I'm having is due to this medication. As I was reading everything was coming back to me and I kept saying to myself, "That's exactly how I feel!" Just like most of these people! I'm not alone! Thank God for these posts! I'm going to stop taking this medication, gradually of course. I'll have to deal w/my anxiety/stress in other ways.....Prayer!

I am a 30 year old woman who has been on Toprol (25 mg) for a week now. My doc prescribed it for mild hypertension and rapid heart rate. So far, I have had terrible indigestion and other "digestive issues", as well as difficulty sleeping. Fatigue and frequent urination (especially at night) have also plagued me for the past week. I have been taking my BP and heart rate readings every day and have yet to see a noticeable improvement. After reading all of the posts on this page, I am extremely nervous and wondering if I really need to be on this medication

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?

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.

It's strange that I'm seeing racing heart rate as a side effect... I am on toporol xl 12.5 to control my rapid heart beat and it has been effective. I do get leg cramps and fatigue though, and if I get a little stressed out I feel like passing out. I was experiencing anxiety and waking in the night before I began toporol and it has seemed to cure this for the most part.

Heavy chest, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety. Now trying to go off and have horrible tremors, racing heart, hightened anxiety.

Wow! I am also pleased to have found this site! I am a 41 yr old woman with MVP, diagnosed about 2 years ago. I was put on 25 mg of Toprol, and almost immediately began experiencing fatigue and apathy. It did, however, reduce my syptoms of MVP.

After awhile, I questioned the fatigue and modest weight gain and my MD allowed me to cut my rx in half. I was still feeling all day fatigue, which I cannt afford as a full time working Mom. (Who can, really!?) I was really over people telling me "you look tired", even on days I felt fine. I would wake up sometimes and be shocked at how exhausted my face looked. Had I really aged that much in two years!?

My MD finally told me that if my next heart scan looked OK I could try going off the drug. I cant wait! The cure IS really worse than the disease, for me at least! I would rather deal with palpitations and occasional twinges than this fatigue anyday, as long as I feel confident there is not blockage, which there is not, so far.

I have tightness and sharp pains in my chest that I have never experienced before taking Toprol XL 25 mg.

The medication was prescribed to slow my heart rate down. I was experiencing 140 beats per minute, but now I
have a regular bleed pressure and my heart rate is at an average. I feel extremely weird in the mornings. I am light headed and feel fatigue. The chest pain is somewhat constant
until I take my next dose of Toprol.

Four years ago I weighed 105 lbs.; was happy, vigorous, energetic, positive, adventurous (skiied, sang, gardened, backpacked, roller-bladed, ballroom danced. Dr. prescribed Toprol for moderate/high BP (140/90). Now: 155 lbs., majorly depressed--don't care if I live or die--terrible fatigue, everything HURTS--bones, muscles, joints, irritable, never sleep more than 1 hr. any time. Sometimes think I'm going insane...fade in and out of awareness and don't even care...even having trouble concentrating to write this--like adult A.D.D. Bad case of tinnitus (high-pitched electrical noise inside my head; at one point, thought I was picking up Morse Code from somewhere! No kidding. I KNOW I'm not nuts, but wondering what's happened to me. Female, age 60; IQ 160+ and NOT a goofball, but feel like I've died and been reborn as a monster. I suspect the Toprol, since I'm not taking anything else. Is there an acceptable substitute without these ghastly side effects?

I have been taking 25 mg. of Toprol for about a year. I am 48 years old. For the past several months, I have been fatigue, having chest pains, swelling in my feet and severe muscle weakness and joint pain. My head throbs on just one side very often and I feel light-headed. I have had complete blood work( including a sed rate) an EKG and stress test, all coming back NORMAL. From everything I have read lately, I believe that my problems may be from the Toprol.

I had Open-Heart Surgery in Mar/2006. I'm 55-years old & this makes the 3rd Open Heart surgery for me. I have 2 artificial valves. I was told to take Toprol XL twice a day along with all my other meds. I had never been on ToprolXL & I have noticed that my INR (take coumadin-- blood thinner) has been out of control; unbearable itching on my waist; fluctuating weight gain due to fluid build-up; horrible nightmares and sleepless nights at times; fatigue. I know all this is related to Toprol but I cannot seem to convince my doctor. I just cut back my own dosage to 1-tablet per day & already feel better.

I have been takig T 50mg. for 4 months now. I had a ministroke...brought on by dehydration in January. The fatigue from the T had me bedridden. and depressed.The pounding in my heart and head terrified me. I cut back to 25mg at night. Weird dreams..and recently my BONES "hurt" and I have been experiencing "numbness" in my legs. I stopped taking T yesterday..as a test..I have never had these issues before. last night the dreams were gone. I can only hope the additional symptoms will disappear as well.

Does anyone experience a high pitched "buzzing" in there head with these BP meds?

I started Toprol .25 for in the beginning of July for high blood pressure and it brought my blood pressure down about 30 points, along with alot of fatigue. After a week they increased the dose to .50 mg and I had nightmares, a racing heart and no change in my blood pressure. I tapered off the meds and have been off them for 3 days, but still have the racing heart. This stuff is poison.

I am a 40-year-old female taking 50mg/day of Toprol (for HBP) and have experienced the following side effects:

Fatigue
Lethargy
Pain in legs and arms
Loss of breath (even when walking very short distances)
Odd dreams/nightmares
Rapid weight gain (despite no change in eating/exercising habits)
Unusually heavy menstrual flow
Nosebleeds

The cure is worse than the disease! :-(

I had been taking 50MG of Toprol for approx 1 yr with no apparent side effects. A few months ago, I went through a Cox-Maze open heart procedure when my dosage was doubled to 100MG to help reduce my elevated heart rate of 120-140 BPM. My heart rate continued to remain high and I had a very pronounced shortness of breath, went to the ER where I was found to have fluid around my heart/lungs. After being treated with diuretics and a couple additional medications, the heart rate continued to remain high so my dose of Toprol was doubled to 200 MG....since that time, I have noticed increased muscle weakness, fatigue, and have almost passed out several times. It is a very scary and insecure feeling not being able to go anywhere or do anything in fear of passing out.

I am most glad to find this site! I take 25 mg T. I have the joint pain and numbness in my hands, elbows. My nails are really bad and I think it is from the t. Also have the fatigue feeling and I can't lose weight. I'm able to hold it steady at least. I feel much better having read some of the posts - don't feel like I am going crazy

I started 50mg a week ago for palpatations.

I've experienced:
lower sex drive, fatigue, moodiness and cloudy thinking. It's affecting both my homelife and work. Calling the Dr. on Monday.

I have been taking topral xl for about two months and feel worse than before I started it. I had mitral and aortic valve replacements 4 years ago and recently started having preventricular contractions. The doctor has not been able to determine the reason this has started, but Dr put me on topral xl to stop them. It has stopped the contractions, but I have gained a lot of weight, have increased depression, fatigue, tingling toes, sore breasts, extreme bloating and constipation and overall feeling terrible. I feel that I would be better off just learning to cope with the contractions than having to deal with not wanting to do anything at all. I have always been an active person, even after the heart surgery, but now all I can do is sit. I can't get the doctor to understand that the cure is making me feel worse than the problem. Granted, preventricular contractions is no picnic, and causes a lot of anxiety, but now I don't have the energy or inclination do do anything. What good does it do to have me gain weight and be so depressed and fatigued? I really feel that I would rather have a pace maker than all of the side effects of this drug.

I was started on Toprol XL 50 mg 3 weeks ago and am stopping it immediately. I have had 3 trips to the ER with shortness of breath and left sided chest pain. Other symptoms include a 10 pound weight gain, leg/feet swelling, difficulty swallowing, tremendous fatigue, headache, periods of feeling faint/lightheaded, extreme nausea and constipation with abdominal bloating. I have never felt so horrible in my life and will NEVER take this drug again.

I've been on several medications for my heart including Toprol. I've begun checking side effects on all to see which one may cause sleeplessness. I've been experience shortened sleep patterns, awakening in the early hours around 2:30am and unable to go back to sleep. I attributed this to external factors until recently when I missed all my medications for several days in a row and noticed I slept the nights through. I do have most of the other side effects mentioned, fatigue, lightheadedness, mood swings and memory problems. I also take Niaspan and Zetia.

I am very distressed. I have gained 30 pounds in the lst year and I don't eat like a pig, in fact, I watch what I eat. I attribute the weight gain to the toprol XL, that I have taken for the past year. I also have chronic urinary and vaginal infections. I'm anticipating going off the medicine after conferring with my doctor.Fatigue is my constant friend.

TOPROL XL 25mg (43yr old white male)

I went to the dentist where they took my blood pressure (180/95). they suggested seeing my medical doctor. my doctor started me on 50mg to get the pressure down. the first three or four days I felt like I had run 1000 miles everyday, I was so fatigued. I called the doctor and told him and asked if I could cut them in half (they have a cut line on them). I have now been taking 25mg for about year maybe a year and half (time flys). I am still fatigued but not as badly, I am over-weight by 30-40lbs and I also smoke. additonally, my knees "ACHE", my calves ache and most recently my right hip and my wrists and forearms are aching (like carple tunnel of something). Finally, my indigestion is back (after starting toprol that kind of subsided for several months). I have just been passing it off as getting older and having to chase two small children around.

after reading some of your posts, I wonder if it's not the toprol causing the fatigue, joint pain and the return of my acid-reflux.

I am sitting here typing and my knees are screaming, right now!

has anyone else experienced all these symptoms?

I am 42 and have been taking Toprol XL for 8 months now for control of hypertension. Started at 50 mg, went up to 100 mg. Side effects have been almost constant cold hands and feet (especially at 100 mg); occasional fatigue; difficulty exercising within 3 or 4 hours after taking it (heavy, tired feeling when running); sometimes very low heart resting rate (ll see how irritable I get in the transition.

FATIGUE,MUSCLE ACHES,HEADACHES,DIZZYNESS...BEEN TAKING TOPORAL ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW..DON'T KNOW IF SIDE EFFECTS IS TOPORAL OR NEXIUM

I am a 33-year-old male. I take 25 mg of Toprol along with Avapro and Hydrochlorothizide and Lipitor (whew!). Didn't have much of any side effects UNTIL I started Toprol. A lot of fatigue, some dizziness, kind of a "heavy" feeling. Pretty much everything else discussed here. BP and HR are right on track, though.

no energy; no motivation; fatigue and weight gain

HOW ABOUT HOT FLASHES, DAY AND NIGHT. ALSO FOR SURE FATIGUE.

Debbie - shortness of breath, loss of energy, fatigue and weight gain. Help!