Toprol-XL and irregular heartbeat

Straight from Wikipedia:
Metoprolol may worsen the symptoms of heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort; dilated neck veins; extreme fatigue; irregular breathing; an irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs; weight gain; or wheezing.

This medicine may cause changes in your blood sugar levels. Also, this medicine may cover up signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid pulse rate. Check with your doctor if you have these problems or if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests.

This medicine may cause some people to become less alert than they are normally. If this side effect occurs, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert while taking metoprolol .

Side effects
Transient effects include dizziness, lightheadedness, drowsiness, tiredness, diarrhea, unusual dreams, ataxia, trouble sleeping, depression, and vision problems. It may also reduce blood flow to the hands and feet, causing them to feel numb and cold; smoking may worsen this effect.

Serious side effects that are not to be tolerated for any length of time include symptoms of a very slow heartbeat (less than 50 bpm) (e.g. persistent dizziness, fainting, unusual fatigue), bluish discoloration of the fingers and toes, numbness/tingling/swelling of the hands or feet, sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction (impotence), hair loss, mental/mood changes, trouble breathing, cough, dyslipidemia, and increased thirst. Other highly unlikely symptoms include easy bruising or bleeding, persistent sore throat or fever, yellowing skin or eyes, stomach pain, dark urine, and persistent nausea. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness. Taking it with alcohol might cause mild body rashes and therefore is not recommended.

Why on earth do Doctors keep prescribing these medications that are doing more harm than good? They are causing so many other symptoms, no wonder our Health Care in this country is "out of sight". We take drugs that continue to make us sicker , sicker, and sicker, which require more testing, testing and testing....HELLO people...you need to ask yourselves if you "believe" what that Doctors are telling you. I don't, not anymore. They are SOOOO misinformed by the Pharmaceutical Rep pushing drugs that the DRUGS have become the REAL DISEASE! You need to go back to "square one"...and get off of everything.

My girlfriend age 62 was taking 14 different medications that included BP Meds, Cholesterol Meds, and on and on. She's now laying on a Ventilator from all the interactions these drugs have caused her. She cannot even lift her head of the pillow. Her memory is shot! Just another side affect of the drugs. Are there any Doctors out there who can "step out of the box" ? You're killing people with the drugs your prescribing because you don't understand the interactions they have with each other. You just keep on prescribing. You need to study each medication before you keep prescribing them.

I've been taking 25mg toprol-xl since December 07, Went to Dr one day for something not heart related and he told me I have a heart murmur, after several test I found out my tricuspid valve was regurgitating. My BP has been a little high but nothing out of control. I have gained over 20lbs since Dec, I ve been extremely tired, swelling in hands and feet. Aches and pains in joints and muscles. I just recently stopped taking zocor thinking that was the culprit and probably was, but now I think it could be the combination of the two. I am going to take myself off of the toprol (monitoring my BP of course) and was wondering how. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I am a 56 year old that had an aortic valve replacement 51/2 years ago, I have been on toprol only 12 mg a day for around 4 years I have had minor side effects, cold feet, cold hands, optical migraine headaches (once in a while). I was on the real toprol for years and then the folks at walgreens offered a generic and I excepted, things were fine and I was rolling along until they chaned generic brands from SANDOZ to ETHEX, I seemed fine on the SANDOZ it even looked the same as the real thing, but when walgreens gave me ETHEX (which is a round pill about twice as large as the other) I began to feel sensations in the middle of my chest and sometimes while taking my pulse it felt like my Heart stopped or skipped a beat, this scared the shit out of me! I took about 22 days worth of EHTEX and the symptoms kept getting worse, I finally called the Cardio folks and they suggested that I wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours, which I did and felt that I had a few Heart stopping moments along with a odd heart burn sensation in the middle of my chest. Two nights ago I found some of the SANDOZ that I had saved for vacations and began taking 12 mg of that instead of the ETHEX today for the first time in nearly 3 weeks I had NO Heartburn problems and NO Heart stopping experience, mind you this was only day one! Looking forward to day 2 and now that I have read all of the side effects from all the good folks on this site, that are not listed when you purchase the drugs, my opinion is that all GENERIC drugs that are suppose to be IDENTICAL to the real thing is a huge lie! What the hell is the FDA doing? Are they trying to let the GENERIC FOOLS poison all of the good folks that actually need these drugs without doing or maybe reading the test results? Or maybe the drug company's have so much clout that they can grease a few palms and get there GENERIC shit to market. To think that these drugs are suppose to be IDENTICAL and then to receive a pill that looks NOTHING like the real thing and when you bust it in half it's a different frickin color (ETHEX)!!!! What was I thinking taking this GENERIC piece of garbage! The GENERIC buttheads along with the real manufacturers should be required by LAW to list ALL ingredients on the label so all of the good folks can read and compare to see what there swallowing and putting into there bodes! I hope to get off of thos drug soon but if I don't rest asure that I will seek out the real thing. I was so freaked out by the side effects that the Cardio Doctor scheduled an ECHO for this Friday, I think the valve is fine but we will find out! Good luck all!

I am a 55-year old woman. I was first diagnosed with paroxysmal svt at age 7. It has never been much of a problem, but as I have aged, I have worried enough about it to make sure my doctors are all aware of the condition. I have had many ekgs, echos, worn a holter monitor, had every kind of stress test, but it wasn't until April that the svt was actually seen on an ekg. My internist freaked out, wanted to put me on Toprol immediately, but I resisted, since I knew that my irregular heartbeat could be back to normal by the time I reached the parking lot. I did heed her urging to see a cardiologist (two in fact), which led to an ep study, with the hope of a radio frequency ablation on August 5. I have been taking a full strength aspirin since April to decrease the slight risk of stroke during an svt episode. The ep study showed that the electrical problems in my heart were in places that made an ablation too risky, so nothing was done, but the doctor advised me to try Toprol (25 mg) for a month "and see how I liked it." I had my first dose in the hospital on Tuesday, August 5, and proceeded to take it as prescribed. By Thursday afternoon, I felt oddly on the verge of tears. On Friday, both of my knees were hurting, by Saturday evening, I was in bed feeling like I had the flu. Every joint in my body was aching. Sunday morning, I felt even worse. I found this website and decided to stop taking the medication at that point. Today, Thursday, August 14, is the first time I have felt vaguely like my usual healthy self. After stopping the medication, I had 2 episodes of svt, lasting about 10 hours each. I have had excruciating stomach cramps, headache, inability to sleep, depression. This is after taking it for 5 days!! My heart (no pun) goes out to those of you who suffered for months on the drug and then even more months off of it. I know it helps many people, my mother included, but thank goodness that those of us who have a bad experience have a place to realize that we're not crazy.

I've booen on 100 mmg of toprol for over ten years. Have all the side effects including tinnitus and impotence. Last week for chest pain spent the night at the er , three blood tests, three ekgs, a stellar stress test and echo. All normal and still the sense of doom and the pain under the breastbone... This has been ruining my life. I'm furious after reading all this testimonies . Olease someone give me advise. ******

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

My BP had been slightly elevated for over a year and my doctor felt it was time for medication. He started me on 25mgs and continued to increase it till I reached 100mgs. I started having anxiety attacks, lightheadedness, dizziness and finally ended up so sick that I was in bed for three days. It was the toprol. I was only on toprol for 3months but found out that trying to come off the drug was the hardest thing I have done. I never had BP spikes before but at the end of the first 24 hrs. without Toprol my BP was hitting 200/104. I went to ER. Matter of fact, the spikes continued and I was in and out of ER until I was finally admitted for tests. The spikes were also accompanied by flushing, rapid pulse(122 beats per minute), lightheadedness and diarrhea.Many times I thought I was having a heart attack. I have seen two cardiologists, an internist and now an endocrinologist for these "BP spikes". All tests come back normal. No matter what the new medication is, nor how low my BP might stay for up to three days....the episodes still happen. My BP can go from a normal range too 200 systolic in a matter of less than 1/2 hr..........Has anyone else had spikes in their BP when coming off toprol. It has been 11 months since stopping this awful drug and I still I no answers....but I have a pile of medical bills.

I too had HORRIBLE experiences on Toprol-XL. I was put on it after I walked into a doctor's office and my BP was 235/152. Yep..you read that right! Scary times. I started taking the med, and I too gained 35 pounds with no change in diet. I was tired, weak, groggy - I honestly felt like I was slowly dying. At that point, I decided that high blood pressure was far better than the experience I had on Toprol. It ruined my marriage. Can you say ZERO libido? I decided that I would try a different form of metroprolol - metroprolol tartrate versus succinate. I did this when I went out of town - I honestly thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest - coming off this medication was horrible, and if the other posts are true about this being worse to come off than opiates, I REALLY feel for addicts now. I have been off the Toprol now for about 9 months, and I feel so much better. I've lost what I call the Toprol weight, and I made some life changes. I did the following: (A) I purchased a rebounder (mini-trampoline) and have built up from 5 minutes per day to 15 minutes per day (goal = 40 minutes per day) - there are HUGE health benefits in rebounding and it's really easy on my joints (google the benefits - I promise you won't be disappointed). I turn on the TV or turn on my Ipod and bounce away. (B) I joined Freelife International, and began drinking Go Chi juice (www.pbowen.freelife.com) because it has three scientific studies proving its effectiveness. (C) I stopped drinking caffeinated soda and began drinking a homemade blend of green (matcha) & darjeeling teas (if you want the recipe, e-mail me and I'll send it pamela.bowen@gmail.com), and (D) I bought a device called RESPERATE (www.resperate.com). I HAVE MY LIFE BACK!!! Don't think you have to live the way you are forever!

I am a female, 55 years old, and have taken Toprol XL 100mg. for the past 5 years for an irregular heartbeat. The symptoms of the premature beats caused an annoying sensation in my chest that I could not tolerate. My cardiologist prescribed several beta blockers before I finally found that Toprol worked the best for me. I have suffered with leg cramps for years....even before taking the Toprol. A nurse who worked for my internist suggested that I try a calcium supplement called "Calcet". This triple calcium supplement is a life saver. I only have to take half of the recommended dosage to have excellent results.....no more being awakened at night by severe leg cramps! The product is sold "over the counter" and can be purchased in any pharmacy or grocery store. As for the side effects of the Toprol; I am sure that I suffer from some adverse reaction as a result of taking the medicine. In any case, as with all medications, the outcome is a trade-off.....one must determine if the harm outweighs the good that the medicine offers.

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

Was put on Toprol XL while in the hospital. Taking 50 mg along with 50 mg of Vasotec. Discontinued the Vasotec because of cough. Put on Cozaar. Dr also prescribed hydrochlorothiazide which I decided not to take. For a month I was lethargic, no appetite or thirst, worsened sleep problems, and MAJOR depression. Started to research and decided it was the Toprol. On Wednesday I cut the dosage in half, by Saturday I started feeling more like my old self. By the following Wednesday I was back to normal as far as I could tell. Cut the dosage in half again and a week later, stopped Toprol all together. Best decision I ever made!!!!!

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 am a 56 year old female who was very active ranching, balng hay taking care of irrigation etc. 3 years ago I had pain in my left arm and my heart was racing went to the E.R. where they did a 12 lead ekg. Could not find anything wrong other than my blood pressure was up to 160/90 they gave me ToprolXl 100 mg and told me to see my primary care physcian. Which I did. He continued the medication.

Since that time I have complained to all of the symtoms I have seen on this site. With one exception. Two months ago I was watching TV and had double vision. It only lasted for a few seconds but noticed the next day my peripheral vision was gone. I made an appt with an opthomologist and he spent 3 hours with me and recommended an MRI which was conducted some 2 weeks later. I was referred to a neurologist who ran a lot of blood work. My first batch of blood work showed a raging inflamation. They started testing for MS, lymes, lupus etc. Last week i met with my neurologist for the follow up blood work report. Everything is normal he says but by the way you have myathenia gravis. You get double vision again you call me I will give you medicine. Like I am a two year old.

I have researched myasthenia and the one thing you dont want to do is be on a beta blocker or a calcium channel blocker, as both of these will aggravate the condition. I called him to ask that he change my blood pressure medication. He says I wont do that. My primary care physcian is no longer in practice with the original medical group and has left the area. I saw him only 2 weeks ago and nothing was mentioned. The point is folks Don't trust anyone. Oh and by the way the side effects you are seeing mimic myasthenia gravis. Now no one knows what causes it for sure. Stress is a factor. But if you have not been tested get yourself tested. I may not even have this disease but I am getting off this medication and I am going to find out for sure what in the heck is going on. By the way I have seen a cardiologist last month without a referral because I wanted answers and he says there is absolutely nothing wrong with my heart...so why was I put on this medication? Heaven help us all.

I have been having chest pains every afternoon since July 13th, which was right after the doc prescribed me Toprol-XL. I have had SOOO many tests and they can't figure out what the problem is. The chest pains happen in the afternoon while I'm walking, I don't mean walking for exercise I'm talking about walking to the bathroom or just to the other room and my chest feels like it is about to explode. I accidentally quite taking the Toprol for about 5 days. My husband had knocked my pill bottle off the cabinet and out of sight out of mind. Well, Saturday was the first day in over 2 months that I didn't have a chest pain. I didn't have any problems for the 5 days, then I realized that I had been forgetting to take the Toprol and started it back up and the chest pains have come back. Has anyone ever had this same problem?

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.

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

Hello, my doctor has me on Toprol xl 50mg and just a week ago lowered it to 25mg. Since then i have had mild dizzy spells and just feeling of uneasyness. Please let me know if this is normal and if anyone out there has experienced this when they had Toprol xl lowered by DR.
Thanks

Hello to you all. I have been on Toprol XL for 8-10 months. I have "palpitations" which is why I was placed on this med. Also a diagnosis of Mitral Valve Prolapse. My doctor told me that the MVP can trigger the palpitations and that Toprol is the drug of choice. It helped for a few days. I felt like a new person at first. Then the palpitations gradually started to come back. I have gained 10 lbs. I am 50 years old and assumed that my wt gain was menopause. Now I think that is NOT the answer. I am an RN and I intend to wean myself off of the Toprol after reading the messages here! Why do I need to keep taking a medicine that is causing me to get fat and is NOT controlling my symptoms? Good luck to you all.

Went to the Dr. for allergy meds and left with 50mg Toprol for high BP. I was moving 1500 miles the next day and he told me it was some scary Sh** (exact words) and I needed to find another Doc immediately and that it "may" cause sexual disfunction. Sure enought the very next night I proved him right. 27 years old and couldn't get it up for the first time. Immediately started having irregular heartbeat during the night, sometimes racing, others times down to 40-50 bpm, other times just skipping altogether. One month later my body is so fatigued I feel like an 90 year old man. Got to get off this stuff....

Hello All. I have been on Toprol 25mg for over 2 years. I had a mild heart attack & also have an irregular heartbeat. In the begining I did not really notice any changes. Since My heart attack

I have been jogging, Lifting weights, yoga etc. About 12 months ago I started gaining weight for no reason. I now have gained about 20 lbs in the last 8 months. I stopped taking it today on the advice of my Dr.

A few weird dreams but I for the last few weeks I have noticed feeling a little buzzed after I take the Toprol.

Peace

I've been taking Toprol for about 6 years to control irregular heartbeat. I can't remember what I felt like before taking the drug, but am fairly certain that the sleep disturbances I've had for several years may be attributed to the Toprol. Also, I've got alot of fluid retention in my feet and ankles--something that I didn't have before. Overall, I feel just plain 'blah' and tired . I have no motivation or drive. I am finally going to go through with an EP study--something my doctor has been recommending for many years. If the find extra electrical pathways in my heart, they'll burn or 'ablate' then. Supposedly, that will 'cure' my irrigular beats and I will be able to give up the meds. Kept putting EP study off because it is invasive---catheters fished through arteries in leg, groin, and up to the heart. Had a recent, scary event that convinced me to go through with the study. Anyone else out there have an EP study?? What can I expect?

I have gained weight despite my eating habits staying the same. I experience cold sweats in the night. My head tingles and I become very dizzy. My chest (left side) feels like I am about to have a heart attack and I am only twenty nine. My doctor seems puzzled. I am weening myself off of it -taking it every other night. I started taking it for chest pains and irregular heartbeat / palpitations. It has not helped. I have been on it fot six months. Sometimes I feel like I am going to die. It is a horrible way to live.

I am 24 yrs. old and have been taking Toprol XL 25 MG at night for three weeks now, doctor prescribed for Palpitations and irregular heartbeat, also have Mitrovalve Prolapse. The problem is weight gain, and I have not changed my eating habits. If anything, I have been exercising more, eating about the same. (Also started herbal supplements about a week ago, pretty harmless, just vitamins/sage/etc.) and I STILL cannot lose any weight and feel like I'm actually GAINING. Has anyone else experienced this on such a small dose? I also feel like the toprol has affected my sleeping, however I was having problems sleeping before I started taking it (something that the doctor hasn't gotten around to addressing).

Interesting point. I too wore a monitor for 4 weeks, and after transmitting obvious "episodes" to the nurse, I was told my heart was normal so yes, why are we on Toprol if we are "normal" and who really reads the results anyway before transmitting it back to my PCP? Been on this med for 7 months for rapid/irregular heartbeat and some days I am too tired to care for my children, toes tingle, loss of appetite,short of breath/pressure, whole body aches like I have the flu, my heart still "thumps hard" and I get very light headed. I am seeking a second opinion next week. I'm an active, healthy 29 year old so I hardly call living like this NORMAL.