Toprol-XL and panic attack

I'm a 30 yr old healthy male. I went to the ER, and then the Dr., about 4 weeks ago after waking up with intense pain in the veins of my right arm and having pounding palps. I had just been told some extremely stressful news the night before, so I was pretty sure this was blood pressure & stress related. ... EKG showed Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, so that's what the Dr's assumed was the problem. I never knew what it was called, but I've had my heart race due to WPW many times since I was a young child .. this did not seem to be related. This was just pounding.

The cardiologist put me on 50mg of Toprol XL daily to control the WPW - even though that wasn't acting up. I left confused. Pharmacy issued generic Metoprolol Succinate mfg. by Sandoz.

I didn't want to be on meds, so I didn't take it for the first few days, hoping that I would return to normal. After all, I just woke up with this all of the sudden.. I had been fine the day before. Palps continued, though, so eventually I relented and started taking the meds.

The first two or three weeks were filled with ups and downs. Exhaustion, palpitations and anxiety would come and go.

This past weekend things got really bad. I began having anxiety attacks -- I think that's what it was, I'd never had one before -- and my vision was totally screwed up. I couldn't focus on anything and was sensitive to some lighting. Black text on a bright white screen (lcd monitor) was especially hard to read. I was completely in a dazed & confused state. Loud noises and crowds were bothering me... which was awful, considering it was my best friend's wedding. Also had headaches, lightheadedness & loss of appetite. These side effects came and went on Friday & Saturday and were pretty constant on Sunday & Monday.

I decided to quit Toprol cold-turkey on Sunday. I have been 2 days without. I have used L-Theamine to reduce stress and keep my blood pressure steady. It seems to be working. I also began taking CoQ10 today after reading some good things about it here.

My vision & mental focus is beginning to improve after 3 days of disabilitating problems. Anxiety has also improved. I even attempted to "get back to normal" at work today, but had to leave after only an hour of strenuous exercise in the heat. Vision problems returned, anxiety set in. It's like riding a really freaking scary roller coaster, except with a legitimate fear that this thing might kill you.

I will update this as time goes by, to let you all know how things worked out for me. I'm really hoping to be mostly back to normal in another day or two, since I haven't been on for very long. Hopefully this will be of help to someone in the future. Damn, I Wish I had never gotten on this stuff.

I am a nurse of 20 years and was placed on Toprol XL for super ventricular tachycardia (SVT) over a year ago. I was place on 25 mg dose after a stress test, ekg, echocaridogram and 24 hour halter monitor. I was not feeling any better and I was having periods of weakness, profuse sweating and being clammy. The cardiologist had me wear a 30 day event monitor and it showed frequent PVCs and runs of SVT. So he increased the dose to 50 mg. I continued to have the weakness, tachycardia, PVCs, extreme weakness, poor concentration and extreme periods of sweating with becoming clammy and some chest pain. Oh and I started having severe left leg pain that I had not had since my back surgery, so I went back to my pain specialist for treatment. I became so depressed, thoughts of life not worth living, poor endurance, not able to sleep in bed due to severe leg pain and increasing bouts of tachycardia, irregular heart rate, weakness, and sweating this is while at rest or working the symptoms remained. I forgot to mention that my blood sugar was increasing during this time to the point of in danger of being a diabetic.

I decided to stop the Toprol XL after reading some of the side effects that are less common. I was able to sleep in bed for the first time in 6 months, no leg pain. I called my cardiologist and he told me my symptoms were not consistent with Toprol XL side effects or reaction and to double the dose of Toprol XL. I refused and changed cardiologist, one who listened to me.

The result is I stayed off Toprol XL, after 5 weeks it is getting out of my system. No more sweating spells, cold clammy spells, extreme weakness, I feel part of life again and ready to go back into the world not hide from it, my blood sugar is getting back to normal. I am getting my strength and endurance back but have to rest some still, oh and I am losing the 25 pounds that I gained while on Toprol.

I still have irregular heart rate and that is okay but I am on a new medication that really seems to work. Oh, and the spinal implant that I was to have has been cancelled because the leg pain is almost gone and I sleep in a bed not a chair.

I am 29 and i have been taking Toprol XL for 3 yrs. now and i was amazed when i seen what everybody had to say about this med. I had been on other meds for Anxiety, Panic Disorder. I was on Paxil CR and also Klonopin. I had gain 70 pds in 5 yrs and thought this is from the Paxil so i decided to come off of that and the Klonopin. Well, I'm still taking the Toprol XL and i am still haveing problems and it's just like alot of the same things i have read from other people on here. I am concerned about this med. And i hope everyone can find something that works great. If any one has any good luck with a different med please post it. I'm looking for a different way to deal with the rapid heart rate without all the nasty side effects of Toprol.

i so happy to have found this forum. i'm 47 was given 25mg of Toprol XL by doc for high blood pressure approx 9 weeks ago. also have history of panic attacks and rapid pulse rate and have been under alot of stress. first week on med, found my B.P. dropping too low 90's/50's, feeling dizzy and extremely tired in the middle of the day. called doc and was instructed to keep taking it, i'll get used to it, and don't make sudden movements!!! i didn't take his advice and cut pill in 1/2 to 12.5mg. then got extreme muscle and joint aches (a feeling very much like lyme disease) this was accompanied with profuse sweating upon minimal exertion and just no energy and shortness of breath even during an easy moderate walk. i think my heart beat has become more irregular. 2nd month into this low dose noticed chest pains so i tried the pill every other day. this weekend got the scare of a lifetime, however, got out of bed and entire left side (arm leg and foot) were numb. i had a major panic attack. this stuff is poison. i haven't taken a pill since. i'm going to find a different doctor this week (a D.O./MD) and hopefully devise a hollistic approach before i try another drug. ps also weight gain, but that's seems to be the least of the bad 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.

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 been on toprol for almost 30days 25mg. I have been having anxiety, panic attacks especially at night. My body feels like it can't settle down and my heartrate is always faster than normal. My heartrate is normally around60's to 70's now it over 90's and I'm very tired and the first syptom I notice was tiredness. I am short of breath a lot I also thought it was allergies because my nose was stuffy but now I know it is this medication. I was doing just fine on my other B/P meds and I'm going back on them ASAP!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you all for sharing these horrible side effects I hope everyone gets off these meds and on something different.

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.

well, this has been an enlightening forum.. glad to know im not crazy. I started taking toprol xl about 1 1/2 months ago..and it's been DOWNHILL ever since. I went to the ER one day with a rapid heart beat and overall weird feeling, they say it was either a panic attack or dehydration. anyway, the first 4 days after that i took 25mg of metroprolol, and my first side effect was tingling and pain in my leg. Then, my Dr. prescribed 50mg to keep my BP and palpiations down. Since then, i've felt bad EVERY day. Tingling in legs, arms, face and lips. Fatigue. Consitpation and Gas. Nausea. CRAZY dreams. An overall bad/weird feeling. Weird heartbeat. Though, I have to say i havent had any weight gain. I told my Dr, his first idea was i was having panic attacks, i tried zanax for about 2 weeks, didn't really help. He insists what im feeling isnt from the toprol...(must be in my head?) I had blood work and and echocardiogram-everything came back normal. I guess he's all out of ideas so his next suggestion is for me to see an neurologist who i'll be seeing this week, if that doesn't work, he suggested a psychiatrist... That's not gonna happen. If it comes down to it i'll just have to ween myself off these crazy pills.. After reading all these posts, i'm convinced it's the toprol....

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.

W Female Age:29
i began having high blood pressure just before my second pregnancy 3 1/2 years ago. I have been on Toprol for over 2 years straight to today. I had tried several different medicines that could not control my blood pressure after he was born. Toprol XL 50 mg x 2 daily was the only one that seemed to work, but i do have the side effects. I have had several instances of panic attacks with feeling of dying. By the time i could be seen at the hospital it had already subsided. The doctors have not been able to give any indication as to the reason for these attacks other than it was a panic attack and have prescribed Zanax. I have experienced the heavy left arm with chest pain, the dizziness and nausea along with ringing in the ears. I am now changing cardiologists and will try new medications to rid of the side effects. Again, the medicine has done its purpose, but the side effects are begging to take their toll.

Be carful stoping your toprol you can experience episodes of rapid heart rate, when I forget mine it's like im in a perminent panic attack.

definitly you should check with the Dr before stopping cold turkey. you probably need to ramp down the dose

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.

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

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.

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!

I've experienced extreme anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Can I go off of it? My doctor said cut in half, which I did. Still feel the same, so he said to stop it. I'm concerned from reading others comments that I will really be messed up.

IVE BEEN TAKING TOPROL FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND DOING JUST FINE UNTIL UP ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I STARTED HAVING PANIC ATTACKS, SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND SOME TERRIBLE MOOD SWINGS,,, OH YEAH . AND WEIGHT GAIN CAN ANYBODY HELP?

I was on 50 mg of Metropolol for 4 years for HBP. While on it I gained 50 pounds, could not lose weight, although I would eat less, developed anxiety, depression, loss libido, was irritable etc.
My husband could not figure out what was wrong with me. Before taking it, I was always a happy go lucky person without mood problems. I also developed palpitations while on it. I have recently weaned off due to cardiologist putting me on a Triamterence, a diurectic and have lost 18 pounds.

But watch out, I weaned myself off from 50mg to 25mg and then to 12 mg in a period of 30 days and have now experienced extreme anxiety, fear of losing control (panic attacks) and shaking at nighttime. Has anyone experienced these withdrawal effects even after tapering off so slowly?

Multiple side effects from low dose of toprol. Severe depression and mood swings, panic attacks, tired all the time, brain fog, dry mouth. I have been reducing my dose gradually. Things are improving. This is a bad drug!

I am a 43 year old female with mitral valve prolopse.
My cardiologist prescribed toprol 25mg.
After 3 months I begin to experience lightheadness
and bouts with panic attacks and extreme slowed heart rate.
I've had all caradic tests(nuclear test, stress test, no valve damaged, or blockage)
My heart rate slowed up so much, I began to sweat. Went to emergency room 4 times in 1 week. Chest x-rays perfect,
I will try 12.5 mg of tablet and see how this works..
If no changes I am requesting to take something else..

Hi all! Glad to have found this site, I was starting to think I was going crazy. I am 36yr old female, started taking 12.5 mg toprol xl daily in March 2006. I had pvc's after working out in the gym and had a panic attack which sent me to the hospital twice in a week. The cardiologist prescribed the toprol and said it would help with both the panick attacks and pvc's. At first my side effects were mild chest pains, which have since gone away, but about 3 months ago, I stated experiencing dizziness and lightheadedness especially while driving or shopping, also instead of cold, I get hot easily and have had weight gain maybe 15 lbs. I have been unable to go back to the gym, I get very fatigued every time I even try to do any form of excercise. The panic attacks still come especially when I feel particularly bad from what I think are the side effects of this toprol. I am going to try to cut my dose to 12.5 mg every other day and see what happens, I will keep everyone posted.

I've been having terrifying panic attacks and dreams that are all related, with the feeling that these things have actually happened some time in my past because they seem related to actual memories. I dread the next incident.

I have been on toprol for four months. After a stent was put in my heart, I had very hard time adjusting and developed panic attacks and added xanax to the mix. After two month I had to stop taking Zocar because side effects. Still I was always exusted, mini black out spells, light headed during exercise, cold hands, no tolerance to cold weather, palpatations and memory loss. One day I was looking foe my cell phone in the office for ten minutes before I realized that I was talking on it. I was always leaving things behind and had to check I had everything I needed. But I knew things were not right when my BP range was 110/98 over 68-60 with a pulse of 56 to 39. I believe it is called bradycardia. Needless to say my doctor took me off the Toprol and the Zocar. After one day there is a 100% difference. I needed to do this months ago.

2-27-06
I was prescribed 25mg Toprol and took one pill two successive days. Immediately got a headace enough to "blow off the top of head." Shortness of breath, left side chest pain, spike in BP, and panic attacks. Twice took a painkiller which did nothing the stop the headache. Now, on the third day after last Toprol the side effects have subsided only slightly. I will be calling the dr today and better not be told it is my just my imagination!!!

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 was on Toprol 40mg for a little less than 2 years. During that time, I've experienced panic attacks which led to driving phobia, cold chills, decreased sex drive, vivid dreams, constant fatigue, unsteadiness, disorientation, and weight gain regardless of decreased food intake and exercise. My bp seem to have benefited from it, but at a cost of these other side effects. My MD recently switched me from Toprol 40mg to Avapro 150mg. The switch seem to be a good move. For those of you who are experiencing major side effects, you might want to consider alternative beta blockers other than Toprol.

I HAVE BEEN ON Toprol xl 50mg taking 3 tablets at a time, I have not had a good night sleep after takingTHIS MEDICATION. Had doctor to give me amben 10 mg hopeing to sleep only last 4 to 5 hours, then wake up with panic attacks, make me so hiper that I talk for hours at a time. some time ater 3 hours I may be able to sleep for a hour or two' My surgery was an emergency on the christmas holidays so I have not gotten help to stop this terrible ordeal

I have taken toprol for about a month and am refuseing to take it anymore my blood pressure was at 170/110 and im only 20 years old before taking toprol... I have experienced so many side effects i cnat even live a normal life. My anxiety has gone from barely having any to having terible panic attacks daily. I have experienced extreme back pain, tingling in my legs and arms, vomiting, dizziness and light headness. My cardiologist says it has nothing to do with my meds which i simply can not believe!!! If anyone knows anything else I can ask to take to help decrease my blood pressure please help!! inderal and other beta blockers all seem to have a negative effect on my body!! goodluck to everyone

I have been taking Toprol XL 50 since August 24,05.
For the past week, I do not have enough energy to take a shower hardly. I am so sleepy and drowsy that I almost fall asleep at my computer.
I am having chest pains, arm pains and my mouth has a horrible dry taste and I can't seem to get enough water. I have panic attacks and they are worse. I am easily depressed and my moods change quickly.
I love to walk but my legs feel like they are going to fall off now. I get what feels like restless leg syndrone when sitting with my feet up. I have to constantly rub them.
I have creepy feelings ( that is the only way I know to explain). If I could stop suddenly taking it, I would.
I plan to see a Cardiologist shortly. GP gave me the meds for high blood pressure.

I AM 40 YEARS OLD STARTED TOPROL ABOUT MONTH AGO GAVE IT TO ME FOR HBP 160/98 THINK IT WAS JUST THAT DR ALL OTHER DRS GET READINGS ABOUT 138/84 BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN MY PERIOD SINCE STRTING THIS MED AM 10 DAYS LATE NOW HAVE NEVER BEEN LATE BEFORE. ALSO SUFFER FROM OCCASIONAL PANIC ATTACKS FOR LAST 8 YRS AFTER READING YOUR INPUT HOPE IT DOESN'T INCREASE THEM

Hi,

Had BP spike due to panic attacks and primary high BP 170/110. Was put on "water pill" and 25 mg, did nothing, 50 mg, lowered it some but not enough. Then 100 mg. BP is 127/79, but have had modest weight gain, short-term memory loss, decreased interest in sex, and the mental fogginess. See the Dr. in Feb., can he substitute anything for this? Heart rate is down to 65-70 was 100-110. Also eating less, and walking but still the weight gain. Thanks. 46 year old male.
Randy