Toprol-XL and insomnia

I am taking the Metoprolol generic and have mixed reviews, although I don't think that any of my side effects are life treating. My greatest complaint is insomnia. Most nights I get 4-5 hours of sleep. I also have the itching(hives), and sometimes numbness in my arms. I do feel much better since starting on this med in May, and my blood pressure is normal after being sky high. I can live with the hives, the insomnia is irritating, and my menstrual cycle was horrid before, and is now worse, 8 days out of every 27. Hopefully menopause is coming soon. I am taking 1 25mg tablet twice daily. My BP was out of control before starting any meds, so I will live with the side effects. I haven't noticed any weight gain, actually lost 14 pounds since starting it, but that could be the results of a low fat, low cholesterol diet too.

I was prescribed 25 mg Metoprolol-XL for irregular rapid HR episodes and slightly increased BP (after all the tests to rule out heart disease). It did the job, but I began to suffer with insomnia (a common side effect). So for the last month and a half, I've been only taking half the dose (I made sure that it was the type of tablet that was ok to break...it is, but they do caution you not to chew or crush it). No more insomnia, and the irregular HR has not returned, BP remains normal.
I figured out that the cause of the palpitations etc. was delayed anxiety attacks from a recurring family situation (the delay made it hard to link the cause and effect until I started journaling). Knowing that was the beginning of being able to better cope with the situation, so I thought I would be weaning myself off the medicine. However, I also am a migraine-sufferer and realized that I have not had to take an Imitrex since starting the metoprolol (3 months!). I used to get 4-5 migraines a month...now I may get none, one, or two and none so bad that one Ibuporfen can't handle it. Not so sure I want to stop taking it now.
New problem: Since cutting the dose, I find that any exposure to warm environment or to mild exercise, where I would normally only sweat mildly, if at all, now my scalp sweats profoundly, so much so that sweat runs rivers down my back, my chest, into my eyes and ears. The rest of me only sweats like I normally ever did. Is this because I decreased my dose...will it last forever? I did read that one should not go off this stuff cold turkey and that one of the things that would happen if you did could be excessive sweating. All I did was go from 25mg to 12.5 mg! What if I go off it completely...what am I in for??

I started off taking Tenormin 50 mg 1 x a day and Lanoxin 25 mg 1 x a day about 21 years ago. I continued to have constant palps and skipped beats even though I was on these meds. I wound up developing vertigo after about 5 years that got so bad I had it daily. I ended up with severe sinus problems and was given a cortisone packet of pills (the kind that decrease each day you take them) to take. The vertigo left for 6 months, coming back again with a vengeance. I begged the docs to put me back on cortisone pills again, once more helping to stop the vertigo. However, at the same time I also stopped the Lanoxin. ??? I totally believe that Lanoxin was part of the problem causing the vertigo. I now only have it from time to time, maybe only a few times a year. I still blame the Toprol that I now take for the left-over vertigo. I was taken off of the Tenormin after about 10 years of taking it and put on the Toprol at that time and have been on the Toprol xl for the last 11 years. The docs said that I needed to be on Toprol XL, as it was an extended release and would help me much more around the clock. I did not notice much difference throughout the switch, but looking back I do believe that a lot of the things that I have been dealing with through the years are side-effects of the medicines. I have had irritable bowel syndrome, told I have fybromyalgia, then told I did not have fybromyalgia, hip and back pain, skin problems on one of my hands that started with the Toprol, headaches, tiredness, horrible weight-gain (without overeating!! Honestly.), I have averaged 5 lbs. a year and the docs never even listen to me when I voice my concerns, I have been diagnosed with anxiety, joints ache, ankels, feet, face and hands swell, stomach bloats something terrible, acid reflux, hiatial hernia, and I had a tumor removed that could have been a problem off my rectum (who knows what caused it), I have had CTs and MRIs of my head, twice, for the vertigo and what I was told was probably psuedo-tumor cerbri (because of months of severe headaches), told by my eye doctor that he wonders if I have beginning MS, everything came back fine and things seem to resolve and go into something else. I have been passed from my general physician, to a cardiologist, to a ENT, and a neurologist. No one can ever find anything physically wrong, but they did conclude that I definitely had benign positional vertigo. LOL, that means they could not tell me why I had it. I put a stop to testing when they wanted to do the spinal taps.

Now I am experiencing tightness around my lower rib-cage and feel as though I am sucking for breath, I have a terrible time falling asleep at night, I wake up gasping and swearing that I am dying. My rib-cage is numb around my right side, not so much the left side when I lay down to go to sleep at night. After a few bouts of this I finally fall asleep and sleep all night most times. My blood pressure is now on the rise 150/99 at the highest. I have been working out lately with a few positive effects, more energy, more endurance, less aches and pains, muscles are starting to tone up, however, no weight loss. I thought my bp was starting to lower, but found out it was actually up. I went to my family doc and she listened to me really good, realized at last that I was not shedding the weight despite the efforts I was making. She cut my toprol to 25 mg 1 x a day and put me on lisinopril, I did not tolerate the lisinopril so she switched me to dyazide, lowest dose 1 x a day. I have great positives ...no more swelling, weight loss, lower bp, HOWEVER, I am now having jitters, anxiety (somewhat), no appetite at all, a few muscle spasms in my arms and legs, nothing painful or severe, dizziness, slight headache that comes and goes especially through my eyes. I am also experiencing coughing, and raspiness...but I am also coming out of a bout of bronchitis, which got really bad with the lisinopril. I believe it is partly due to the meds.

I called my doc today to tell her about the twitching and buzzing feeling and to ask about the dyazide. My feelings are that I am experiencing a lot of different things, first the bronchitis, and all the meds I was taking for that...albuterol, musinex, tylenol w/codeine, and biaxin, then the decrease of my toprol xl, the bad effects of lisinopril (coughing and raspiness), and now starting the new drug dyazide (generic form). I really want this to all settle down and work out for the best, but it is getting to me now (after 2 weeks). Last Saturday I would up in the ER with shooting pains through my chest that left me very pale and lightheaded when it happened as well as very tight throug my chest and sucking for air. The ER did chest xray, chest CT w/contrast, bloodtests, urine test, bp's sitting, standing and lying down (it is highest while sitting), everything came back good. No heart attacks, no blood clots, no bronchitis anymore, nothing. Blood work was good, urine was good. I am beginning to think that perhaps my body is reacting to cutting the Toprol xl in half. Sort of a withdrawal. There is really nothing else it can be and I really don't think that the dyazide is that bad of a drug and probably not causing all of my problems now, maybe just a part. Which are the tingling, dizziness, anxiety, twitching, and coughing. I have only had 3 of the dyazide medication. But have read that withdrawal symptoms of Toprol can cause these problems for a while. I am also thinking that the shooting chest pains last week were also withdrawal of the Toprol as it had been 1 week at that point that it had been cut in half.

Any opinions, if anyone can make heads or tails of anything that I have wrote. Sorry for the length and if it is confusing.

I have been taking 12.5 mg Metoprolol for my palpitation and occasional racing heart. Few days ago I got a rapid heart rate again and I increased the dose to 25 my as original prescribed. Now I have chills, cold hand and feet, insomnia, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc. I have cut back to 12.5 mg. The problem is that even with 25 mg my heart races once in a while but I can't tolerate increasing this drug. I want to wean off of it. What is the best way to stop this drug?

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?

Up to 50mg for supraventricular tachycardia. Also clinically depressed and extremely stressed. Now having more depression, anxiety, mood changes, fatigue but insomnia at night, Also, gross diarrhea and increased ringing in my ears. Somehow, I think it may be better to have the ablation procedure, which I am told can totally fix my electrical rhythms in my heart. Am thinking of it as I already have struggles with diarrhea from ahivng Crohns disease and having a few feet of large intestine removed. Also, lack of appetite, not increase.

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 started Metoprolol 6 months ago while in the ER. I was weak with a virus and every time I got up and did anything, my heart would race and would feel weaker. I have white coat syndrome so while I was in the ER my BP went up to 227/110. They gave me 25 mg of Toprol and a prescription for 12.5 mg a day. I have gained 17 lbs in 6 months, have zero energy, tired all the time, insomnia, and am depressed for the first time in my life,ad I know it has to be from the Metoprolol. I tried to quit it and 3 days later my heart was racing so bad and my blood pressure was real high. I want to try to quit it but am afraid to. Any suggestions on how to quit it?

I have been taking 25mg generic for about a year. Have had increasing short-term memory loss and beginning to have episodes of slight tremors. I can't correlate this with anything else except starting this med - can these things happen on such a low dose?

Have been taking Toprol XL since about June 2007. About three weeks ago suddenly developed insomnia. Went to my Doctor this past Thursday and told him about insomnia problem and asked if it could be connected to Toprol XL. He said he was unaware of insomnia problems with Toprol but that I should cut dosage in half from 100 mg to 50 mg per day as I had not had any problems at 50 mg per day. My blood pressure has also shot up this past three to four day after being low at the start of the week.

My doctor prescribed Ambien for the insomnia problem Slept okay the first night obn ambien but did not sleep well last night.

I just want to get back to normal. So, I am going to stay on top of doctor to get over the terrible insomnia problem.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have been 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 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.

I am a 34-year old women who started 50 mg of Toprol-XL 4 days ago for a rash of panic attacks I experienced earlier this week, after having high blood pressure and occasional panic attacks in the last 3 months. Since then, I've had migranes for the past 2 days, bad allergies, stomach pain, loose bowel movements, slight difficulty breathing, frequent urination, and tiredness/lethargy during the day with trouble sleeping at night. I was already feeling strange my 2nd day on it and called my internal medicine doctor, who, of course, told me to stick with it. At this point, I'm ready for safer, natural alternatives. I'm will call the doctor tomorrow to tell him that my mind is made up and ask for instructions on how to wean off of it safely.

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have been on Toprol XL for over 2 years and I can't believe what I am reading on this website. I am so glad that I googled. I have had many of the same problems and I am taking 100 mgs once a day. I cannot lose wait, my memory is horrible, I am always tired, I even had the itching thing go on, my joints ache some thing fierce, so bad that I went to a joint specialsit to have them checked because I thought that I may be getting arthritis at 37. I suffer from both depression and anxiety and was given this medication called Lexapro and had a panic attack in the middle of the night so that was the end of that. I have also had the sleeplessness and the sleeping too much and most importantly the edema of the hands, ankles and feet. I can't wear shoes that are too flat because they swell, I can't wear shoes that are too high because they swell, I can't eat salt because they swell, I can't stay out in the heat or humidity for too long cause they swell, I am so tired of swelling I want to scream. I also get very bad leg cramps and leg pain when I walk too far, also my menstural cycle is crazy. I bleed so much (sorry guys) that I have to buy new at least 2-3 new pairs of jeans a month because of "damage". I get overly fatigued and everything because fo blood loss. I am so tired of this it is not funny, but I like the fact that it is time released and is somewhat gentle. I am going to speak to my doc next week about changing though because I thought that I was in a very small group that was having these issues, even down to the inability to lose weight.

I have been taking Toprol XL 25mg for about 10 months. I had triple bypass surgery. The only things I have notice is less sexual drive, trouble sleeping between 3 am and 5:30 am, and trouble staying awake between 11 am and 3 pm. My blood pressure stays around 100/55 avg and pulse around 70.

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 started Toprol Xl 50mg daily about 2 1/2 months ago. I experienced trouble sleeping and vivid dreams right off the bat. I saw my doctor last week and he suggested I take it at night instead of the morning, but that seems to make the insomnia worse. I find myself waking up a lot during the night, sometimes I feel wide awake. Also, last night, I woke up and both legs were itching intensely, as was my chest. I have no idea what that was. Has anyone else experienced similar? I don't know what to do.

I started taking 25mg of Toprol and I started feeling really weird, having bad dreams, and i was so deppressed i laid in the bed for a week. I had horrible insomnia and I slept all day.

I've been taking toprol xl 50mg once a day for a couple of years now for "hypertension" along with atacandHCI 12.5 mg . I have gain A LOT of weight and it is very unusual! I was a vol. wrestling coach for 20 yrs. so I stayed fair to very active. I also work all day in my business as a jeweler so I don't get around as much lately. After reading posts on this sight, I am CONVINCED that My meds. are the majority to blame! I get edema if i don't watch the salts, but I took a bunch of copies from this sight to my Dr. and he about called me CRAZY! This weight problem didn't start until I took this stuff. I also am experiencing sleeplessness, frquent trips to the bathroom at night ( probably from the diuretics I NOW have to take), tiredness, and overall lack of energy. I will be seeking a second opinion about my meds and condition and will up date afterwards. STAY AWAY FROM THIS MEDICINE!!!!

I have been on Topol XL for two years now for hypertension. I started with a dosage of 25mg. but that was bumped up to 50mg. two months ago. I have tried to take off excess weight to cure the hypertension ( Toprol of course merely treats the symptom but does not cure). Not only was I unable to take the weight off, I even gained pounds on this medication. I was also fatigued, which did not help with my workout plan. I also experienced insomnia and panic attacks at night. (It gave me something to do since I could not sleep).
I told my Dr. and she agreed I needed to get off the med. She told me conventional wisdom now is to start with a diurtic for hypertension ( She was not the Dr who originally prescribed the Toprol). For the next couple of weeks I will be weaning myself off the Toprol. I have read some horror stories of what that is going to like.

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.

MAJOR EDEMA~non cardiac! VIVID DREAMS~insomnia, joint pain, and odd heart beats, even while resting. This is scary!!!
Increased weight gain (from fluid retention) huge appetite!

Let me just say, if you are thinking of starting Toprol then you need to consider this. It works great at lowering your heart rate, but it also with make you gain weight, have anxiety attacks, severe shortness of breath, insomnia, and a low libido. Your doctor's are not going to tell you this and will blame all the side effects on other things. At least that was my experience and what seems to be many other experiences according to this site. I was put on Toprol due to an elevated heart rate (186 beats per minute) that was caused by being severly anemic. Now other than being anemic, I was a completely healthy and fit 29 year-old female without any other heart problems. After being on 100 mg of Toprol for 4 days I would periodically feel a dull pain in my chest and would get extremely pale. On the 6th day, the pain was so bad I went to the emergency room, they told me that it was just an anxiety attack. Up until this point in my life, I had never experienced any sort of anxiety or depression and could not think of anything that would cause it (no stress in life, great marriage, etc.) After the visit to the ER, I decided to reduce my Toprol down to 50 mg a day to see if that helped my problem any. After reducing my meds, I felt 85% better. No chest pains. Well, I'm not one to take medication for long periods of time (I think in the long run they can sometimes cause more harm than help) and since I was only to take the Toprol until my anemia was under control, I decided recently to start to wean myself off (without doctor's consent.) I am currently down to 25 mg a day, which hasn't been easy. I've tried to move down to 12.5 a day, but have trouble sleeping and feel very anxious. I've been on Toprol for 2 months and I have gained 10 pounds (eat like I always have...fruits, veggies, whole wheat and lean meat) and have a low sex drive (never a problem before). I'm too young for this crap.

Wow..thanks for this web site! I'm taking 50mg of Toprol a day. I've gained 75 pounds...while on a diet! I have NEVER been this fat in my life. I've had problems with dizziness, tiredness, and trouble sleeping. I called the pharmacy and was told these are very rare problems. He said he would'nt blame the weight gain on Toprol. As far as wakeing up around 2am and not being able to go back to sleep, he said to take it in the morning and not at night. He said "if a person gets a hang nail, they have to list it as a possible side effect".
As I read the problems on this site, I see I'm not alone. What should I do? Can I quit taking this drug and how?

I am realy glad you all have came forward about all these side effects because i am on toprol XL 50mg a day for high blood presure and irregular heart beat it seems that my heart starts to beat irregular when my pulse gets into the 110 beats a minute to about 121 beats a minute and the Toprol sure is a life saver when it comes down to slowing my heart rate it will slow my heart rate down to about 85 beats a minute,but as for the rest of this medicine i have bad side effects too, i get realy bad chest pain on my left side around my heart area and go all around my chest left and right side and i have real bad panic attacks at night they are so bad that i cannot sleep, sometimes i feel my heart take off beating very rapidly and then back to normal it always realy scares me when this happens.thanks for you all posting your experiences about this Toprol drug it has realy eased my mind now I was realy thinking there was something realy wrong with my heart or body, now i know it's Toprol doing this too me thanks again.

I have been on Toprol for about a month now. I started off on 25mg twice a day. After I had severe palpatations and very slow heart rate (which resulted in a trip to the ER) i called my doctor and he cut me back to one 25mg tablet a day. I still have weird palpatations in which i feel as though my heart gets startled and i believe i can feel the blood drain from my head and out my arms. not fun.

I have also recently developed a cough around bed time as well as a weird tingly feeling throughout my body and slight insomnia. I called my doctor today and he told me I could stop taking Toprol. He did not reccommend that I ween off, simply saying I should just stop taking it as of today.

Have been put on Toprol 3 different times and I was foolish to allow a cardiologist to convince me this 3rd time. Insomnia, weak, swelling, and the most awful never-ending slight shortness of breath. After taking myself off this junk everything returned to normal!

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 have been taking Toprol for 2 1/2 years following bypass surgery. Some weakness has occurred, but I have bicycled 5,500 miles and even finished in the top five in a couple of amateur races during that time. I often have leg cramps, but have noticed taking a potassium supplement (or eating more bananas) and drinking more water seems to alleviate that problem. Other side effects include reduced sex drive and a need for more sleep and rest. When I don't get enough rest, I get so tired I can barely function. I am also taking Crestor and Avapro (the combination of which has caused even more side effects -- weakness, BP drops, dizziness, sharp muscle pains, sleeplessness, etc.)

I experienced sinus tachycardia with a rate of 236-was started on Toprol XL 25 mg once daily beginning April 2002-these are the side effects I have been having:

Regular episodes of an itchy rash on my neck.
Occasional episodes of chest pain.
Occasional periods of Shortness of breath.
Weight gain of 20 pounds ( have not changed my diet )
Fatique.
Insomnia.
Calf cramps.
**** losing my hair *****
I am going to switch to another drug-
remember if you are taking Toprol-you should be titrated off gradually as stopping this drug abruptly may cause fatal arythmias ****** Read drug insert ******

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.

have been taking toprol 25mg for only 5 days for rapid heart rate and feel worse on it then i did dealing with the rapid heart rate and occasional flutter. trip to the er told me i was fine. cardiologist and family practitioner want me to increase the dose to 50mg and tell me the following are not side effects though i am experiencing them: jolting surges of chest pain on the left side (never had before taking toprol), nausea and loss of appetite. i also have depression/anxiety, dizziness, insomnia. i hate the feeling of the medicine as it kicks in. they say if i take more i will feel better. they also prescribed and told me to take xanax for anxiety. last night i tried taking half dose to see how i feel. i don't feel better...feel worse. i am afraid i will be on this for life. i just want to be a normal person and feel normal. i can't work, can't function, and my husband can't deal with it anymore.

I was already on Cardizem and Enalapril and 2 mos. ago I went on Toprol 25 mg. which I take 1/2 of everyday. Now I am experiencing hearing problems as if I'm in a tunnel during the daytime until the med. wears off some at night. Is anyone else experiencing hearing problems from Toprol? I'm also experiencing shortness of breath, sleeplessness, and severe neck pain. I know 12.50 is a very small dose, but I feel these problems are a direct result of the Toprol.

I have been on Toprol for several years. I used to be a ball of energy. Now I can hardly clean the house. I am having pains in both my arms. Have problems with insomnia and have to take Unisom each night just to sleep. Frequent bathroom trips at night keep me up. Obviously some of my side effects are the same as experienced by others. My question is, why the heck the pharmaceutical companies get away with putting this kind of stuff on the market. More importantly why does the FDA let them get away with it?

Physicians need to do a better job of listening to their patients and not just poo poo away their symptoms as all in your head. The stuff they are prescribing can be dangerous; they need to listen to the side effects their patients are reporting and address the issues.

52 yr old male-I was taking 100 mg and experienced
shortness of breath,weakness,dizziness,stomach bloating,
insomnia, and cold hands and feet. I cut back to 50 mg and
side effects have decreased. I am checking blood pressure
often and getting more exercise along with a better diet. So far no increase in blood pressure.

I am a 47 year old male. Taking Vasotec 20mg,Norvasc 10mg,was taking toprol 50mg but stopped gradually. Now am totally off toprol and will never go back on it, replaced with hydrochlorothiazide 25mg. Its been about a week since I stoped toprol.
The only real side effect I had was my sex drive and performance. The effect was devastating, really depressed me bigtime. I am slowly geeting function back but its very slow. Does anyone know how long it will take to get back to normal in this area???
Other slight side effects where sleeplessness,tired,stomach problems, bloating.

depression; cold and tingly limbs; constantly tired; emotionally labile; trouble sleeping.

Been on 25 mg for 1 1/2 weeks gained 6 lbs already. Sleep for about 4 hours then awake rest of night duing last 4 days.
tired, fatigue. Also stopped smoking this week, so that may account for the insomnia which I'm told is part of nico. withdrawal.

Irritability besides the weight gain, feeling exhausted/sleepy, sometimes insomnia also having trouble with memory but that could be my age.

i agree with most of the other side effects; itching, exhaustion, weight gain
and sometimes insomnia. but the good news, my heart doesn't pound in
my chest anymore- ann