Toprol-XL and headaches

I wrote on my side affects on sept. 7th on this site. I have been off topral xl for about 2 months, and my heart beats normal now, my legs are not swollen, no headaches, long story short, most my symptoms gone. I can think so much clearer. My blood pressure now goes from 160/90 to 117/84 which last weekend I did try Diovan hct, a new blood pressure med. and Sat. and Sun. were a nightmare. I do know how dangerous it is to have high bp. for my brother-in-law passed a year ago nov. 2nd and my aunt Bev 3 years ago. But I am happy with my decision to continue the Peptace and Celery seed extract and monitor my bp. closely. My son went to Doctor for his bp. and Doctor said that they get some kind of a kick back from meds. like topral so maybe thats why they push it along with other meds. True or not, I still can't figure out why they kept me on it when I asked them to take me off cause I felt so bad. It sure did take a toll on my whole body. Good luck to ya all and listen and feel what your body is telling you. I know whats good for one is not good for all.

Am in my second month of taking Metoprolol to control atrial fibrillation. Have been increasingly dealing with disturbingly vivid dream, headaches, slight nausea, abdominal discomfort and overall achiness. What is an alternative med to treat atrial fibrillation? I have glaucoma and a cardiac pacemaker for complete heart block. All suggestions welcomed. I'd like to dump the Metroprolol but appreciate that since starting to take it, I've had no problems with fibrillation (which my pacemaker isn't designed to control).

I suddenly had high blood pressure. I was put on a heart monitor for 21 days because I was experiencing frequent palpitations. I was given 25 mg Metoprolol ER the genic for Toprol XL on June 6, 2008. I had the usual symptoms extreme fatigue, headache, constipation,swelling, weight gain for the first month. I am 59 yrs. old.
The second month I started to have horrible nightmares, and headaches that would not go away. On Aug.12 while driving home I started to hear voices, had blurred vision and hallucinations. I was driving fast and screaming to make the voices stop.. I ended up in a parking lot. I was crying and for a minute I had a bit of reality. I called the cardiologist office and told the nurse what was going on. She said to immediately stop the meds because I was having a rare serious side effect. I sat crying for awhile and was able to call a friend to pick me up. I stayed at home for 4 days. The entire time my hands shook and my headache was horrible. It was one week before I was able to function properly.
I called my pharmacist and she told me that this drug affects the central nervous system. 2 % of 100,000 people have this side effect. I told her that it was not written on my paper with the prescription. She said that because it is so rare they do not have put it on. She printed out the side effects for me from her web site. A site that is only accessible to pharmacists or Dr.'s. My Dr. wants me to try Cardizeim now and I do not want to because I am afraid. I told him that the BP was down to normal but he still wanted to because of the palpitations. I was given the option of the Cardiziem or seeing and Electrical Man at the Cardiology office. As of yet I have not taken the Cardiziem. This is the first time I have read this web site and I hope that this information may help someone. I finally feel good again except for the rapid heart beat and glad to be alive.

I am a 45 year old black female. After the death of my father, I started experiencing blood pressure problems and headaches. I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea 2 years ago. Not having bought a CPAP yet has contributed to a lot of the blood pressure and headache problems. But, my GP put me on Toprol in June '08. I am having difficulty sleeping.Every time I eat, I have severe gas and my chest is hurting off and on. There has got to be a better solution. I started exercising and using Isagenix (******). It is simply wonderful - I have lost weight and toxins. When I go to my doctor on tomorrow, I am going to ask him if I can get off of Toprol. I do not like the way this medication makes me feel.

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.

What started out as a simple visit to dentist became a nightmare. My BP was high l73/90...so I went to a doc to get something for the BP. I knew it had been creeping up. I should have been more vigilent and done my own research first. He prescribed l00 milligrams of the generic brand--metropolol. I questioned the dose, but he said it was safe, and I needed something to bring my blood pressure down right away.

By the third day I felt like I had a hangover when I woke up. I started feeling not quite right. Tiredness, depression, and headache. My BP got higher. On the 5th day my heart started racing, with a pulse in the l30's. I spent 6 hours in the ER. My pulse was in the 60's, but BP 210/110. They injected me with 5 mg of the stuff, and also gave me clonopine. My EKG had been normal at the doc visit. In the ER it showed abnormal with sinus tachycardia and First Degree AV nodal block. It returned to normal, and by BP dropped to 150/80 with the clonopine. My glucose was also high at 300. I could feel an immediate relief with the clonopine. Heart enzymes normal. ER doc denied that the Topol caused the racing heart. He said that's not a side effect..perhaps there was an underlying cause. He did say the episode could have been triggered by low oxygen to the heart. I think they all stick together----he's not going to say the first doc was an idiot.

They wanted to transfer me to the "big" hospital for cardiac workup. I refused, since I had an appt.with a cardiologist in a couple days, and the doc that prescribed his awful med. I didn't think my insurance company should fork out $50,000 for an adverse effect from a drug.

I had been doing heavy exercise the morning of the racing heart...it was after I sat down I noticed the increase in pulse rate. NO ONE gave me any warnings..not the doc, or the pharmacist. Both said this was a safe drug.

I cut the dosage in l/2 for two days, until I saw the cardiologist. He said ok to stay on the clonopine for now, and a diuretic. I feel much better, and BP has dropped to the l40's over 80 something...pulse near 80. I am going to do a stress test. Based on a heart scan, 3 arteries have 0 plaque, and two mild.

I read that this drug is not recommended as first choice for BP. In the UK they're weaning people off of it because it causes diabetes, and there's other better drugs out there. I did not wait to "ask my doctor" to take me off of it. I told him I am not taking it....I don't know how much longer he will be my doc. I don't think he should have started at l00 milligrams to begin with...and should have started out slowly at the least.

Caveat emptor (buyer beware) when it comes to this med...and do your homework, and don't be afraid to fire your doctor!

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 was put on Toprol xl (GENERIC) 3months ago. Its been a nightmare. I was put on it for rapid heartbeat. My blood pressure was great 110/70 sometimes lower. I was happy with it for about 2 or3 weeks.Its been all down hill since. Sleepless nights, horrible sweats, leg cramps from my knees down, cold hands and feet. And horrible headaches. It was at the point i didn't want to get up. Called my doctor and he said to stop taking it.Today is my second day without it and last night i finally slept all night first time in 3 months. Woke up with no headache and i haven't had any sweats. I see my doctor tom. I am not going back on. I don't think its the medicine for me.

Update on EKG. No blockage, no plaque. I'm relieved. I take Flax Seed everyday with vitamins. Pays off I guess. Cardiologist said all looks great! Still having headaches though, Only been about 4 weeks since I've been off Toprol-xl. Recently saw a Doctor that occationaly goes on tv for health updates. We talked about Toprol-xl I mentioned he needs to do a show on this product. He said he might. He is aware of side effects it can cause. My physician started me on Cozaar now for my b/p. High b/p makes her uncomfortable. She feels it may now be needed. I'm considering going off it all together. I still feel it would balance out with time.

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

Today is my ninth day coming off Toprol (had been on 25 mg for 2 1/2 years, then 50mg for 1 1/2 years) - today is the first day that the Dr. does not want me to take any Toprol. It has been SO DIFFICULT... Extreme chest tightness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, headaches. She has me switching over to Diovan (80 mg) which I have been taking for 7 days now. I want to believe that everything I am feeling is from the Toprol Withdrawal and not NEW side effects from the Diovan - but I am scared. I feel really awful, I have no energy. I lay in bed waiting for the bad feelings to pass and they do not. I have lost 7 pounds in the past (2) weeks. Not sure if it is from going off the Toprol - or just not feeling that well. This website has been my only source of sanity and peace. Anyone else gone off this and can tell me what to expect? THANK YOU!

36 yr old female. Was started on Toprol -XL in Sept 07 during my angiogram to relax my heart and lower my heart rate. Have also been on Lisinopril for several years prior for hypertension. Since starting the Toprol, I have had increasing depression, lethargy, shortness of breath, chest pains that have worsened, my feet are FREEZING all the time, I have gained 17.5 pounds, my fasting blood sugar is now up to 160-170 range, I have had many headaches (like the kind you get when your BP is sky high) and the other thing I have noticed is that my BP is bouncing ALL over the place. Last week it was down to 90/54 and I felt horrible. Then it will go up to 140/99(ISH). Find it really hard to finish my own sentences lately, and if I had nothing else to do, I could easily sleep 12-16 hours a day-everyday. I am down to 12.5 mg a day, and will be speaking to my cardiologist about this asap, had NO idea that Toprol could have been the culprit until I was told about this site. Thank you to everyone for sharing their stories, and good luck and blessings to all.

An update to my recent postings - on Saturday 11/24/07 - I began the step down of Toprol and the transition to Diovan 80 mg -- it is DIFFICULT. My B/P at times has skyrocketed, I have gotten headaches, and intense chest pain. The finally straw was when my pulse went over 200 and woke me up @ 5:30am - my husband rushed me to the E.R. and the Dr. confirmed that it was side effects from coming off the Toprol -- he said that I should have been given a long term acting anti-anxiety medicine to help me "not feel the side effects" as much. They tested my heart, etc. and all tests came back great - so he prescribed me some Valium to help get me over the worse of the re-bound symptoms and said that I should start to feel some relief in a few days - but to keep on it because getting off this medication (Toprol) - is the best thing for getting my asthma back under control.

I have been taking it for two weeks. The first week I noticed severe itching lasting 30 minutes or more within 3 hours of taking the 50 mg pill. I also had headaches, insomnia, nightmares, ringing in my ears and short term memory loss. I thought these symptoms would decrease when my body adjusted to the medication. After taking it for one week, my blood pressure did not go down, but increased. I called my doctor's office to let them know. I should have reported these side effects at that time, but since I just talked to the nurse on the phone, I didn't mention them. The nurse told me the doctor wanted me to double my dose since it was not decreasing my blood pressure. I then began having swelling of the hands, feet, ankles & lower legs, joint pain, increased thirst, dry lips and mouth, shortness of breath in addition to the original side effects. The only thing that stopped was the itching. I am going to call my doctor's office Tuesday (we are in the middle of a 3-day weekend/holiday) and report all of this.

I have been off of toprol for over a month now. I had some withdrawal effects, pains in my chest, ringing in my ears, headaches, few other minor ones but I am glad to be off the medicine. I am not having the pains in my chest now, they were like angina and I had never had them before I started the meds. I no longer have that foggy head feeling and my memory seems much better. I also am not as fatigued now. I also had gotten very depressed but not sure if it was from toprol or from another med. But now I seem to be out of that funk. Good luck everyone!!!

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 have been on Toprol-XL 25mg for 3 months. Shortly after I started this medication I developed hip/upper thigh pain which feels better when I walk. It seems the muscles are very sore in my legs. Never had this prior to taking this medication. It just gives you a sick feeling. I am going to start weaning myself off of this med by cutting it down to 1/2 a tab. I will say one thing it has regulated the PAC's but perhaps the flutter in my chest that will not hurt me, is better than the side effects of this drug. Of course the doctors deny that this drug has these side effects.

HI IM A 3O YEAR OLD MALE IVE BEEN ON TOPROL 50MG FOR2 1/2 YRS.I WAS PUT ON IT BECAUSE OF A BUNCH ON PANIC ATTACKS I HAD IN A WEEKS TIME WHICH GAME ME A RAPID HEART RATE AND ALSO THEY TOOK ME OFF MY NORMAL BP MED AND SAID TOPROL WOULD HELP.WELL MY HEART RATE IS FINE AND BP IS GOOD BUT I HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH DURING THIS TIME IVE GAINED LIKE 30 LBS I DNNT FEEL DOING ANYTHING CONSTANTLY TIRED,I HURT IN MY BACK,HAVE HEADACHES,I JUST WANT TO BE MYSELF AGAIN...IF TOPROL IS DOING THIS I WANT OUT!HOW CAN ISTOP IT ON MY OWNWITHOUT HURTING MYSELF

I have a tendency for high blood pressure, and due to several major stress factors, I knew my pressure was high & I was having anxiety attacks & not sleeping & migraines. It was my pressure. It was like 137/100. My heart rate was fast. I'm 41. I started ToprolXL 25 mg & really felt better for a couple months. No more headaches. I did, however, always think I'm hypoglycemic or perhaps diabetic. I feel like I need to eat sugar with this med. My scary problem is that I decided to lose weight & started working out at a much higher intensity than my normal walking. I feel REALLY weird. It's like this med is fighting your heart rate when you work out & I feel like I need major sugar. I feel like my heart is swishy in its beats. I'm calling dr tomorrow to get in. The warnings do say that when you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, this med could mask it, but I feel like my blood sugar feels lower taking this med. I also feel like I still have racing heart, but I was under terrible stress & running around when these symptoms started like 2 or 3 days ago.

I take toprol 2x per day(50 mg/100 total). I get extreme headaches all over my head. I also get panic attacks(feel like I need to call 911 due to increased heart rate) at night and can't sleep. I feel nauseous at bedtime, and the feeling continues through mid-morning. I used to work, work, work, but now I worry and am very lethargic. When I work hard, my heart races and again I feel nauseous. I have had cardio-version two times now to get my heart back in rhythm. I am 49 years old. These problems run in my family. My mother's grandmother died at the age of 49 and my mom has had cardio-verson 4 times now. Who wouldn't worry? I am also on tambicor, and aspirin once a day. I have gained weight! Just what I needed.

Bless the internet, and bless this site! I have had HORRID panic attacks as I'm relaxing into sleep. While not glad about others misery with the same symptom, I am glad to find out it's most likely this medicine! I've been on Toprol for about nine months now. My Dr. started me off on 50MG, then we had to increase it to 100MG. I then started having extreme shortness of breath, and cut myself back down to 50MG. Mind you, my Dr. is not the one who realized it was the Toprol causing my S.O.B., but rather, I did! I recently had to increase the dosage back to 100MG ( with her approval) as my BP was creeping back up. I've taken up walking about 30, fast paced, minutes, if not daily, than at least five times a week. I've cut down to 1/2 pack of cigarettes a day ( I know, but what's an addict to do?) I'm trying to watch what I eat, and with the exercise I have now lost 13 pounds in a month and a half. =) Sadly, my headaches have returned, as have the ringing ears. I'm afraid it's time for a change in medication. Thanks for easing my mind about the nightly panic attacks!

It has worked fine for a few years. In the beginning I was taking a Generic only to suddenly realize it wasn't working and my skipping beats were as active as ever. Upon questioning the Pharmacist, she allowed that LEGALLY, the drug companies only had to put %80 of the active ingredient in the Generic drug! I was put on Toprol and everything was fine until one day my lips began to swell up especially in the morning and then a few weeks later I got a nasty migraine and I never get headaches. I suppose it could be anything but I have my suspicions. The next step is to contact my Cardiologist.

I started Toprol XL after I was hospitalized with rapid heart beat...I was on Diovan HCL for high blood pressure and had
virtually no side effects. The doctors took me off of it and put
me on the Toprol to regulate my heart rate. I had another
bout of rapid heart rate and my dosage was increased to 50 mg a day. I have overwhelming fatigue...I used to work out
every day and now I can barely do just normal activities. I
practiced karate....not now. I have headaches and my legs
feel very heavy. Does anyone else have these symptoms. I
am a 56 year old female.
Thanks,
Janis

My doctor took me off toprol and put me on a ace inhibitor
I was on toprol xl 100mg for 7 years. I gained over 100 lbs and was tired all the time. I started to experience anxiety attacks about 5 weeks ago. I want to know if she should have stopped my toprol without tapering me off. I have had angina, tingling in my head and headaches after being taken off. I did not expeience any of this before. i was told i could get tacartia from just stopping. does anyone know?.

I've been taking toprol for over 3 weeks now for slightly fast heartrate. I've been experiencing headaches almost daily and a fuzzy (not with it in my head feeling) and my feet are cold alot, other than this, it's hepled me pretty much with the fast HB but I also experienced palps. before takinf the toprol, especially around that time of month, hoping it's hormonal and was told it probaby was, but the Toprol hasn't seemed to be helping that alot. I'm not real sure how I feel about the medication. I have another appt with my cardiologist on Monday the 21st of March. We'll see what she has to say. It's freaky putting crap like this in my body but a fast HB is creepier, but if I could get rid of the headaches, I think it would be fine.

In August 2005, I nearly fainted from dehydration and went to the ER. I am a 47 YO Female and perimenopause may be a factor in my condition. At the ER, they found my BP was 230/130 and put me in the hospital overnight until I could have a stress test late the next day. Then I was put on 25 mg Toprol. My BP came way down, but within a week or two, I was lethargic, couldn't wake up, had no personality, couldn't accomplish the most mundane things. I also had frequent panic attacks that would send me back to the ER with BP in the 200 range. At the beginning of Nov., I went to 1/2 Toprol (12.5 mg) and felt much better (better than dead, that is) but still had surges in BP to 200 3 or 4 x a month; depression, and lethargy. At the end of Feb, my doc had enough, and this is day 3 w/o Toprol---I take Alprazolam 3X a day until we figure out what is next. Eating high-potassium foods, no alcohol, no caffein, has my BP in the 125-140/70-90 range the last few days. I FEEL LIKE A HUMAN BEING AGAIN! The headaches are awful, but I don't care, and they are getting better. Toprol is a bad drug because it stops adrenoline instead of regulating it. None of my friends on BP medication of other types have these problems! Get off Toprol!

I'm depressed, tired all the time, no enrgy but I can't sleep. whenI do fall asleep I have weird dreams. Restless leg sybdrome is 10 times worse than it was and my muscle cramps are back. Had to get up and walk four times last night pain was so bad in my leg. Headaches and sharp pain in my head, dry cough, eyes feel dry and I'm very thirsty. Had to get up twice the other night I was so thirsty but I can't drink because I'm so bloated. My belly feels like its twice its size.
I've only been on this a couple of weeks and I noticd all this already. What's going to happen if I stay on it.

I am a 23-year old female who has been on TOPROL XL 50mg for high blood pressure for about 2 months and already i see a change, i have terrible headaches, sleepy, fatigued, i have rapid heartbeats for no apparent reason, increased bowel movements, and chills. haven't gained weight yet THANK GOD.

I have been on Toprol for 6 months have gained 30 lbs, sore muscle,REAL bad headaches,mood swings and low sex drive. I am 40 years old and feel like I a 90. I am on the lowest 25mg I want to get off this. Please help

Kim

hot flashes, pain in mid-back and around rib cage. Also, very sharp headaches at crown of head (gab)

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

My mother, age 89, was diagnosed with high blood pressure after cataract surgery. At the 6 month check-up the opthomologist found flame hemorrhages and hypertensive vessels on the back of the eyeball. The internist found her BP 190/90. She started taking Metoprolol 100 mg twice a day and Lisinopril 20 mg once a day . The BP went to 160/80 in 2 weeks so the lisinopril was increased to 40 mg per day. She is now is lethargic, lost her appetite, lost 16 lbs, slightly nauseous, confused (particularly ater taking the Lisinopril), bad headaches. For the last 3 days she has had diarrhea pretty bad. and taken to her bed. We can't figure out which of the medications is to blame. Anyone else experience these symptoms?