Toprol-XL and shortness of breath

It seems as though a lot of people here have experienced what I have...shortness of breath, feeling like you can't get enough air, lightheadedness when standing, etc. I'm only 21 and on 50 mg of this sh**. The past 2 days I have cut myself down to 37.5 mg and hopefully this will help. Being anxious about not being able to breathe correctly makes it worse. I'm pretty sure the shortness of breath is not cardiac in origin as I have recently had a normal chest x-ray and echocardiogram. I even tried a peak flow meter to see if I had developed asthma, and my reading was 400, which is normal for my weight and height. 5'3, 108 lbs. I am convinced that it must be the Toprol, which I was taking for inappropriate sinus tachycardia. If I had some kind of cardiomyopathy (which causes shortness of breath) that symptom would be HELPED by taking the Toprol XL, as it would relax the heart. I want off this stuff, or at least reduced a lot.

I am a 56 year old female & have been on toprol for 7 or 8 years. I was a small business owner & under a lot of stress. I had couple of times where my heart would race & pound & I felt really strange. I went to the ER where they of course checked my blood pressure. It was a little high, but I was stressed out! After the second time this happened they put me on 50mg of toprol. I have since weaned myself down to 25 mg. I think I was having a panic attack, which I had never had before. I regret the day I ever started taking this poison. I have had such shortness of breath that I can hardly walk to my mailbox & back. I feel like I can never get enough air in my lungs. I feel a tightness in my chest all the time, sometimes my heart feels like it is beating abnormally. I am always aware of my heart beat which I never was before this med. I have gained about 20 to 30 lbs, which is very hard to lose when you feel like you are dying if you exercise. I have pain in my left shoulder, which I don't know if it is from the med or not. I do not sleep well at night & am so tired all the time it is hard to get through the day. I just overall feel like crap! It seems doctors are no help they just want to try you on other meds, I have tried that too. They are all poison I felt even worse on some of the others. I don't want to go through the rest of my life like this. Has anyone successfully gotten off this stuff? I would love to hear from you. Thanks, K. L.

I have had a cough for 4 mos.nothing shows in a breathing test,cat scan & blood work.I have no mucas coming up .Occasionally ,small
amounts of water like substances which is thick comes up.I take avapro 300mg & Toprol xl , could either one of these meds be the cause of my problem? I really do need an answer I am exhausted.
I have coughed so much that my head hurts as well as my throat when have the coughing episodes.

I have been on Toprol -XL Metoprolol ER 100 MG, I have been on for about 2 mos. Not quite sure have to check dr records. I have had Weight gain about 20 lbs, headaches, swelling of ankles and feet,shortness of Breath, a horrible feeling of not being able to catch or take my breath, fear anxiety, stomach pains, depression, vivid dreams, waking up and not being able to sleep, tossng and turning until 4am. could feel heart beating fast but subtle. numbing in my hands and fingers lack of motivation. I have been going to a nurse practioner who is helping me to wean off of this drug. It has changed me I ave never been ill in my life except for the common cold. and having babies. There is really nothing wrong with my heart according to tests they have run, My Blood pressure was high and they were trying to get it under control, tried other meds and then went to this. It has been a horrible experience especially when you just learned you have HBP and then you get all these terrible side effects from the medicine that is suppose to be saving your life or help save it. I do not know how I will do with weaning But i will sure try and keep you posted. I am a little nervous about being weaned off, but hopefully I can find something natural to help me out. This is literally been poison to my Body ******

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 just started taking Toprol XL 50 mg about a week ago. I feel a little confused though on the doctor's judgment. I have a slow pulse (tends to run in the forties) from running a few miles a day and have mild hypotension. I was dizzy, lightheaded, fainted a few times, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest palpitations and chest pain. My pulse would go from 35 to 170 just by standing and walking ten feet. The doctors determined I have what is known as POTS Disease, even though i suffered some of these symptoms lying down. Although the Toprol is helping with my palpitations and chest pain, it makes my resting heart rate and blood pressure even slower. Doesn't that seem dangerous, seeing as it's already low for even an athlete? My symptoms seem to be remaining the same besides that (which I guess is good seeing as Toprol can cause my symptoms, therefore I thought my dizziness, etc. may get worse). It's causing trouble sleeping, vomiting, cold feet and fingers.

I have been on Toprol XL for five years now. My heart was beating too fast and after taking multiple test my doctor put me on Toprol XL. In the beginning I use to have nightmares. I use to see big spiders all around me. After taking the med I figured out that I couldn't take the med and lay down to go to sleep. The side effects that I have experience is nightmares, hair loss at the top of my head and shortness of breath. I am afraid to try anything else.

Chest Pain (external), shallow breath, shortness of breath, anxiety, mild depression, lethargy.

I have just started taking Toprol XL 50 MG because of a scary Atrial Fibrillation episode last week.

When I was 30 my Doctor opter to put me on Norvasc to "control" my BP. My BP was 130/73. A couple of years later my new doctor changed me to Lotrel 5/10. My BP stayed in the same range despite me exercising less and gaining weight, and drinking more. Basically, I did all the wrong things. Despite that I never had any side effects from either Norvasc or Lotrel. Only other thing to note is I do have sleep apnea, untreated as of yet.

Well, last week as I stated, I had an episode and went to the ER. They pushed Lopressor and eventually Toprol to get my A-Fib back to level. I was completely freaked out of course. I went to my doctor the next day and he prescribed Toprol XL 50 MG at bedtime, and to stop the Lotrel.

I have been taking this drug now for 4 days. Here is my experience...

I take the pill with dinner at around 9 pm. I then go to bed soon after. While I lie in bed, I feel like I need to consciously breath or I will stop breathing. If I get up this feeling goes away. My breaths are very shallow. I have sleep apnea, so I can visualize myself falling asleep and not breathing. I do have some anxiety surrounding this, but I would not say it is out of ordinary. Right now it is 3:33 am and I cannot sleep due to this issue. Every time I start to fall asleep I jolt back awake because I feel like I am not breathing.

In the past three mornings, I wake up and feel anxious and downright depressed. I feel tired and wrung out. This appears to last until approximately 1 pm and then things start looking up. Then at 9 pm the whole cycle starts again.

My mother and father take this medication. My father takes 2 * 100MG and he does not complain of side effects. My mother takes 2 * 50 MG and she has similar side effects as what I have described.

I started Metaprolol Succ. 2 weeks ago when I had a racing heart and ended up in the ER. I was actually dehydrated and low in potassium plus going through a fungal detox and that's why my heart was out of whack. The metaprolol has put me on the couch for 2 weeks. Extreme dizziness like I am being pushed down to the ground, depression, crying, fear, some diarrhea,shortness of breath, feeling drugged out, fatigued, weird vision, and the most awful high anxiety I have ever had! I cannot believe someone could have this much anxiety and not jump out of their skin. The first few days I was taking this, I felt great! Then it just went downhill.. I am trying to take magnesium and inositol (all natural) to help curb the anxiety. I told the doctor to wean me off of this, NOW! I am only taking 25 mg per day and I was told to cut it in half for 4 days and then stop. I can't wait to get this stuff out of my head and system. I never had high blood pressure and taking something for high blood pressure is just not right for my system. All I really needed was magnesium/potassium to get my heart under control. I am going to start Enzymatic Therapy Krebs Cycle Potassium/Magnesium in a few days.

I just started Toprol XL on Friday (four full days ago). I was put on it to decrease heart rate and palps, I have Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. I am 35 years old. I was prescribed to take 50mg twice a day, and I am on the generic. Almost immediately, stomach upset started with diarrhea. I still had some palps at 25 mg. twice a day, which the MD told me to start with for about two days. So, after doing the 25mg for two days twice daily, I went on to the 50mg twice daily. Last night I slept for twelve hours straight, and then felt like I had a sedative after I got up. After taking my next 50mg dose this morning, I got so sleepy again, and felt like sleeping and was in a fog after the twelve hours of sleep last night! I can't imagine mixing anything else with it that causes drowsiness, you would pass out. I feel like I can't think clearly,and feel more crabby and irritable. I called the MD this am. and was told to go back to 25mg twice a day, and that side effects would lessen over time. I have had this sinus tachycardia problem for years, and got diagnosed with it officially in 04. It is very annoying, with shortness of breath, pounding heart,and feeling like you are running a race which sitting still. I have also had an increase in feeling like it skips a beat. All this prompted the Toprol usage. It does help the heart rate and palps, but now I feel so tired I can hardly put one foot in front of the other. I try to walk for thirty min. at least five days a week, and today it was all I could do to make it. I have to watch my twenty month old daily, and I can't keep up with his energy now for sure. I plant to go back to the 25mg twice a day starting tomorrow, and maybe eventually get to the 25mg once daily. I never would recommend anyone stopped something like this cold turkey, you could find yourself in the ER, never play with any heart meds!! I pray that a slow decrease will be the answer to finding some symptom relief of my condition, yet still being able to function daily. Thank God also I am a stay at home mom for now, starting this and trying to work, I would be sleeping on the job!

Back in July I was experiencing rapid heart beats and shortness of breath. I'm a 43 white female with a high stress job. I went to the doctor expecting him to prescribe a sedative. He hooked me up to an EKG which showed I had a left bundle branch block. He then ordered blood work, chest x-rays, an ultra sound, and a nuclear stress test. All test came back fine, but my stress test showed a heart attack, which apparently is common with the left bundle block. I then wore a 24 hour Holter moniter which indicated tachycardia. That's when the doctor prescribed 50 mg Metoprolol. My BP and heart rate are now almost normal and the shortness of breath has gone away. I still experience a mild heaviness in my chest, but that is only when I allow my self to be stressed. I have gained over 5 pounds in less than 2 months and my dreams are more vivid than usual. One side effect that was listed on my drug info sheet that I haven't read about on this site described a cough, which I have had for over a month. I mentioned the cough to my doctor and he said it was prob post nasal drip so he prescribed 180 mg Fexofenadine and told me to cut the Metoprolol in half so I would be taking 25 mg. The Fexofenadine has helped with sneezing that I have always experienced, but the cough is still there. The cough is not always severe, but it has interrupted my sleep twice and my job once. The last bad coughing episode lasted 90 mins during the night. Has anyone else experienced the coughing side effect of Metoprolol?

I had taken Toprol XL for years and thought I was doing fairly well. The side effects began to get worse with the absolute worse being that I woke a few times in the middle of the night with the room spinning out of control and sweating. The usual side effects I've now read such as weight gain, dizziness, dreams, shortness of breath, digestion not quite right, etc. had always been there, but I didn't quite recognize them realize until I came across this web site. Thank goodness I did. I have now been completely off Toprol XL for over a month and truly feel so much better (and normal). Even though for years I've watched my diet carefully and exercised faithfully, I would gain weight extremely easily and when I did go on a "diet", I would have to practically eat nothing in order to lose a few pounds. I'm so hoping now my metabolism will return to normal, and I can lose these extra pounds I want to lose. I realize everyone can't get off the medication, but if at all possible, P L E A S E consider doing so. This stuff is scary!!

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

55 year old female
I have been on Toprol 5 years. 50mg. it works for me but since it went generic,I wonder...I am on 10mg lexapro and December started the vivelle-dot for my hotflashes. It is now June and the last 4 weeks my hair is falling out big time.
It is so thin I have to wear a scarf as not to scare small children at work.!! :)
I have talked to a couple of hairdressers and they have told me many of they're clients with thinning hair were on Toprol.
Anyone heard of this? Please help me figure this out.

Hi all! I have recently started to have a very strange feeling and thought I would post here to see if anyone else can elaborate on it.

I switched from private healthcare to the VA system in March 2008 and the MD at the VA immediately switched me from Toprol XL 100mg per day to Norvasc ( Amlodipine Besylate) 5mg, a generic version and from Zetia 10mg to Zocor. This is mainly due to the fact that the VA does not have the Toprol XL or the Zetia in their pharmacy.

I am a very active person, work out 3 times per week, play tournament level racquetball and generally stay very active. I was feeling fine on this medication for almost 3 years with the only side effect being a little light-headed feeling with hard physical activity. Approximately 2-3 weeks after changing meds I started to get this lumpy feeling in my chest and then it started to progress into an air hunger feeling which felt like my breath was being taken away for a split second. I called the MD at the VA and requested to go back on metoprolol tartrate, which is what the VA has in place of the metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL). The air gasp feeling has only gotten worse and with any excertion I become tired now and start to get the gaspy feeling. Very scary. When it started to get real bad one evening I called 911 and went to the emergency room. Tests came back "ridiculously normal" the ER MD stated. Went back to the VA and the same MD, who doesn't listen, says I am under stress and prescribed me Paxil. I am completely lost as to what to do. I am going in to have another EKG and a holter monitor put on as well as a stress test.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I am desperate to get this resolved as fast as I can. Feel terrible lately and the MD doesn't seem to be listening to me.

Help!

Hi my history started from last couple months when I realize my bp went up very high(160/100) so I started metoprolol succinate 25mg,for couple days i felt fine and my bp went down but I noticed some pain in my right side so i thought maybe is the liver problem and i started to get off.After a week i was suffered from withdrawal(first week i decreased dose to 12,5mg)then my bp was very high so i called doctor and he prescribed metoprolol 100 mg and lisinopril 25(i never used this one)and hydloxiazyde 12,5 and i felt better for couple weeks then I started to get heart palpitation and very low bp so I quit hydroxiazyde and now I'm on toprol xl (oryginal brand) and still have chest tightness (i switch metoprolol to toprol one day ago)and how you guys divide the tablets to get exact amount its hard

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

Shortness of breath, foggy headed, joint pain, weight gain, stiff neck, clicking sounds, loss or flexibility of joints, tired. Felt old! Went on Toprol-xl for maintenance only. Never had high b/p. Talked with a friend, then found this web sight. Guess I'm not alone. Guess it's not me! Changed doctor now, one that will listen. She urged me to go off it and monitor my b/p. Took about 2 weeks, been off for a total of 3 weeks now. Feel great. Most symptoms are gone. No more inhaler and feel better. Clear headed again. Blood pressure is now high though. Don't know if it's me or the drug. Don't know if drug has done any damage. Had an ekg done. Dr. said heart is working to hard now. Wants to do a complete stress test. My wife and I are worried if its the Toprol-xl wearing off, or not. Anyone else had an ekg done. Does Toprol-xl damage your heart? Need answers. Looking for feed back. I'm only 53. Never had health problems before. Thought I was just growing old!

Hello All!!!

I have posted here a few times about my Toprol XL experiences - yuck the worse being shortness of breath and sever breathing problems, anxiety, depression, and heart palps...

My Dr. has tried several other drugs to control by HBP (Diovan, etc.) - all with too many side effects. So for now I am on a low dose of Toprol XL while we continue our search. I cannot STAND IT - the longer I am back on it the worse my breathing becomes - and it is not really helping the HBP.

My question is - has anyone tried a natural supplement with good effect - like Hyperexol, etc.??? I would really prefer to try something natural rather than ANOTHER prescription with side effects.

Thank you!!!

I was started on Toprol-XL after a triple bypass in 2000. I had experienced several episodes of rapid heartbeats. For the next 7 years I took it daily and had no side effects that I was aware of other than feeling a little weak if I missed a dose.
During this time, I was diagnosed as a diabetic and started on Lantus insulin. I had some gastric side effects from the Metformin but other than that I was doing ok. I was and am still overweight but I was also in good enough shape to walk 30 minutes everyday on my treadmill and to hold down a stressful job.
In September of 2007 I hosted a large family reunion at my house and had no physical problems. Right after that I came down with a bad sore throat and was put on Clindamycin. At the same time, my husband went to refill my meds and came back with the generic version of my Toprol-XL. Our insurance now requires us to use generics if available. Within two weeks I was having shortness of breath just walking up the steps into my house. I at first thought it was a hang over from the sore throat and went to my GP. He had me switch back to the original Toprol-XL and I felt an almost immediate relief. However, the symptoms did not go away entirely, in fact after seeming better, they came back again. I went back to my GP. He was concerned enough to want to send me to a cardiologist. Since we had just moved here a year ago I had not visited a cardiologist as yet so this doctor was new to me and my symptoms.
So far we have done a nuclear stress test, echocardiogram, EKG's, heart cath, lung scan, and numerous blood tests. Everything looks good according to the cardiologist. And yet, I cannot walk through my house without stopping to try and catch my breath, I have had to quit work since I can no longer climb the stairs to the second floor offices, I cannot sweep a floor without having to sit down.
Is it possible that a side effect from this generic drug could have damaged something permanently? Has anyone else had any kind of problem like this?

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

I'm 50 years old. Have been on beta blockers for at least 10 years. Recently I developed a wheezing and then got the cold from hell. I was referred to a lung specialist who asked me to stop taking Toprol-XL immediately as it was causing me to wheeze and have shortness of breath. I stopped taking Toprol and the wheezing stopped. I'm still coughing though. I hope it goes away soon. I think I'm going to look into natural cures for my hypertension. These meds have too many side effects.

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

45 y/o female, nurse, prescribed Toprol XL 50mg daily. Could not take drug at bedtime as suggested by MD. Was not able to sleep. After a few months experienced visual problems, joint and muscle pain, anxiety, gi upset, weight gain as well as sleeplessness and heavy sensation of chest along with shortness of breath. Complained to MD to no avail. Called cardiologist, he suggested brand use as opposed to generic. Apparently, generic drug does not provide continuous steady release. Also, he lowered dose to 25mg daily. Will report subsequent effects but hope to be weaned off the drug entirely. I appreciate all the information that has been posted on this site, especially the beta blocker info. Hope this helps somebody else!

I am a 45 year old female & am on the Toprol-XL 50 mg & take 1 twice a day...I have noticed I have blurred vision & problems with my eyes & also suffer with my legs hurting a lot & also have joint stiffness & cramps in my feet & legs & have trouble sleeping & some memory problems at times along with feeling tired all the time & some depression & shortness of breath & no matter how little I eat I seem to put on weight & look & feel bloated...don't know if it's the Toprol-XL or not but have only had these problems since I been on that & Crestor.

Day six of weaning off the Toprol. Had been taking 50mg when I was told to change medications. I took 25 mg for 4 days and since have been taking 12.5 mg daily. Chest tightness is excruciating at times, shortness of breath off and on (more ON than off) - headache, and tons of anxiety, barely sleeping because chest tightness makes breathing difficult. And all this with taking 80 mg of Diovan to help keep the rebound effects down. This is such a HORRIBLE experience. I hate it. Wonder when I will start to feel better.......

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

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 too am having many of the side effects listed on this site including chest pains, fatigue, shortness of breath, foggy head, dizziness, to name a few. I am wondering if anyone has had heartburn or an increase in heartburn while being on this drug. They have recently switched me from Toprol to the generic form, Metaprolol. More of these symptoms seem to have come on since switching to the generic. Any thoughts?

I constantly have loose bowels, hair is thinning, shortness of breath. does'nt have any energy at all to even do little minor things. depression. some of u say that u have gained weight with this medication. I am experiencing weight lost. i've been on this medication now for 7 months along with bp med enalipril.

Shortness of breath, abnormally excessive sweating, unable to loose weight, extremely tired after doing a simple task (must take break). Felt much better after being off Toprol XL.

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.

Hi Toprol-XL Victims. I was put on this med because the doctor felt that I only needed to be on one blood pressure med and not two. I was told to take 100mg a day, but after telling the doctor that I almost passed out 5 times just after 3 days of use, he quickly cut it in half to 50 mg. There are days when my BP spikes. It's only spiked about two-three times over the past 6 months of use.

As with all of you here, I have good days and bad days. Mainly the fuzzy, cloudy feeling in the head, the shortness of breath when going up flights of stairs. My BP was 160-180 over 90. Now it stays about 98/62 - 130/78, and when it does spike it goes up to about 160 or so. Some days I get up and I feel just great...I just wish I had a larger % of good days vs. bad days.

I look at the alternative though.....I almost had a stroke one year ago, and that was not pleasant. I still suffer with slight palipations/seizures (have had two attacks so far). The doctor says it is stress related, but like I told him, I never had problems before. I watch what I eat now. I've lost a good 45 lb.s with another 65 lbs. to go. I'm hoping once I lose all of the weight the BP will drop by itself. I cannot stress enough the importance of removing salt from your diet...oh my goodness. I'll give you an example. One night I had ground meat over white rice (that was prepared on top the stove - no salt of course, but the meat brought its own bad elements to the table). I stood up to walk a straight line and wound up walking a slant. My BP shot up just from eating that.

So far this drug was the only thing to kind of keep me in check w/ my BP.

I have been taking toprol xl for approximately 9 mos. It was givien to me for rapid heart beat. My dosage has been doubled twice so that I am on 50 mg. I hate this medicine. I still have some rapid heart beat, I wake up every two hours at night, my legs hurt, and I have gained 20 lbs. I also wonder if it is this medicine that makes me sweat profusely. When I am doing yard work, or anything else in the summer heat, the water just pours off of me. I have never been a heavy sweater and I am out of doors all of the time. I want to get off of this stuff. Can I wean myself off by lowering the dosage a week at a time?

I wanted to give an update. I'm the 31 year old cancer survivor who posted yesterday about my concerns with Toprol XL and some side-effects I was feeling. After a trip to the doctor, everything was made clear to me.

After having some bloodwork done and a chest x-ray, we determined that I, in fact, have congenital heart failure. This is when the heart is unable to pump blood fast enough to the body's organs. The result is weight gain due to fluid retention, shortness of breath, and especially trouble breathing when lying down. So, I imagine, the body's natural remedy to this is to speed up the rate in which the heart pumps, to compensate and get the needed blood to the body. That would explain my elevated heart rate.

Toprol XL did exactly what it was supposed to do: lower my heart rate. But, in my case (and, as it seems to me, might also be the case for many of the people posting here), that was not the right solution for me. Slowing the heart rate caused the natural side-effects of congenital heart failure to emerge. So, what I thought were side-effects of Toprol XL were in fact simply the my body's "normal" state, being someone with this heart condition.

As of today, I have stopped taking the Toprol XL and have been placed on a few new medications in its place. I have been correctly diagnosed now, and I look forward to feeling better soon.

I have just weaned myself off toprol but am still feeling bad after a week. I have a constant sensation of being suffocated. My throat is very tight and I have shortness of breath. I'm still having diarrhea. Some mornings it doesn't seem worthwhile to get up and wait for the suffocation to set in. It's been very upsetting emotionally. The hacking cough is finally getting better but I wonder if I'll ever be able to breathe normally again. I too was taken completely by surprise by this awful drug.

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.

I had what a nurse called as a hypertension crisis with a 220/130 bp. I went to the ER in an ambulance. After trying me on several meds over a short period of a few days, I am now on Toprol XL 50 mg. and cardizem LA 180 mg. I have only been on Toprol for 1 day and I already have leg muscle weakness and feel a sense of depression that I never have. I am also dizzy and have some shortness of breath. The doctor says that my heart is strong and that all my blood work was great. I am just worried that it won't stay that way. I have an alternative medicine physician that I will be talking to and looking for safer alternatives. Does anyone know if only 5 days on bp medicine and then weaning myself off will hurt me?

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!

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?

Help, I have been on Toprol XL 25 mg for about 4 months, I had to argue with the heart Dr. about the side effects, I told him I was having shortness of breath and that I was blotted and am gaining weight, my mood swings are awful, I cut my own self down, and now this week I just stopped taking them at all, is this wise to do? this pill is a nightmare, what can be done about such dangerous meds?

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!

I have been taking Toprol, with Lipitor for 2 months for high BP and have gained weight considerably. I run on a treadmill/outdoors 4 times a week and can not get past the shortness of breath. The weight gain is mostly in my upper torso area. I have been athletic all my life and this is a new occurence. Additionally, I do not sleep well and I sweat profusely during the night to the point that my pillow and sheets are soaked. I plan to speak with my doctor soon for a replacement.

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've been taking Toprol since August 2005,the last couple months have been a nightmare for me. Was rushed to ER with horrible chest pains shortness of breath and a thumping in my chest that was unbearable.EKG showed irregular heart rate and blood pressure high.was released from hospital and followed up with stress test and nuclear stress test.I also have gained about 25 lbs and have a very little energy.Can anyone help me

I've been taking topral for about 4 or 5 months.
It was prescribed to me in order to slow down my heartbeat.
SInce I've been taking Topral, I seem to itch a lot.
A couple of times, I purposely skipped taking it and seemed the itching stopped.
I called my doctor and they said the itching is not from the drug.
I check my blood pressure everyday and sometimes it drops to 100/55 and 115/60 and the dr. office told me not to be alarmed.

I have been taking Toporal XL 50 mg & altace 5 mg for about 3 years. Had 4 way by-pass 1-year ago and went through cardio rehab sucessfully. Been back to work for about 8 months and recently began feeling stressed out, shortness of breath, short term memory loss, tired and depressed. Recently admitted to hospital for chest pain, vertigo & nausea. All tests came back negative & allowed to go back to work. Toporal reduced to 25 Mg per day and altace increased to 10 mg per day. Given new prescription for anax (?) for anxiety. Hope this will help me get back on track.

Started taking toprol about 6 months ago, during certian times of the month i would have bouts with anziety, I thought it was having to do with hormones but my levels always come back normal. About a month or two after starting the medicine i been having a little bit of shortness of breath and a definite foggness. it is very fustrating.......good luck to all.

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

I TO HAVE HAD THE SIDE EFFECTS OF RASH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DISCOMFORT OF HEAVY FEELING IN THE UPPER CHEST AND ACROSS THE BACK BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES.PLUS A NAGGING COUGH. THIS ON JUST A FEW MONTHS TREATMENT FOR HIGH BP