Toprol-XL and toprol xl

I was on 50 mg. then increased to 100 mg. After about 10-14 days on the 100's, I began itching all over ... broke out in a horrendous rash, especially on my back, arms, and legs. Went to my GP who quickly diagnosed a new BP med called Bystolic 5 mg. for a trial.
I've been on Bystolic now for only 2 days. Rash is driving me crazy! I realize now that when I was on the 50 mg. of Toprol XL, I was itchy ... but I never broke out in this huge rash until I had to increase it to 100 mg. I thought, because I was 52, it was *flushing* due to hormones. Boy, was I wrong! Dr. told me to take Zyrtec for the itching/rash.
Now, after changing to the Bystolic, I feel much better (B/P and heartrate). Seems like I was having an allergic reaction to the Toprol XL which is maybe why it didn't work as well. Even though the Bystolic is a much lower dose than my Toprol, my BP feels much lower, and so is my heartrate!
Toprol XL's big side effect is the itching and rashes which can be debilitating. Oh, I had horrendous nightmares on Toprol ... so bad, I didn't want to to go to sleep!

Hello everyone. I am a 40 year old female and have been on Toprol XL 50 mg. for about 6 years now. In the beginning I was taking Toprol, then because my prescription plan wanted to switch I am on Metoprolol. I was prescribed this after a stress test because my heart rate did not go down as quickly as the cardiologist wanted it. If only I knew what I did now, I would never have started it. HELLO!! I weighed 200 lbs. at the time and was a couch potato. What did he expect? Of course my heart rate wasn't going to go down being so out of shape. I am so angry that I was prescribed this drug for such a stupid reason. I am also on meds to lower my blood sugar and high blood pressure. I know that all of my problems are due to my weight and so I've made a decision to seriously change my diet so I can get off of all of this crap. I currently weigh 217 lbs. But as you all know, being on Toprol, it's so hard to lose weight. I want off of this crap as soon as possible. Can any one of you guys who has gotten themselves off of this medication please send me some information as to how you got off of Toprol XL? My doctor is a real moron who works solely for pharmaceutical companies so I refuse to go to him. I will be changing doctors soon.

I was reading your post and had to reply to it!! I have been on toprol xl for about 10 years or a lil longer! Started out at 100mg a day now take 200 mg a day. Am a 37 year old female,feeling like a 90 year old female! For the past 3 years or so experiencing numbness started in my toes, now my left foot to right below my knee is completely numb,right foot and leg getting that way!My hands stay real tingly also! When they are not numb they hurt me so bad. I just couldn't believe your post when I read it! Been to neuro telling me I have severe nerve damage in arms legs and feet? I am like from what? Had all kinds of tests and MRI, nothing.... Thank you for your post,printing it out and taking it to my doc! Maybe we have finally got a diagnosis!!! Sounds like it is the meds to me,Not to mention I am also on 3 other bp meds! Just scared me saying I might have M.S. More like toprol xl huh? How is your numbness now? Was wondering if u experience pain w/ the numbness? Thanx T.

My doctor has upped me from 50 mg to 75 mg Toprol and i swear I am getting fatter by the day. Up until i was 55 i weighed 125 lbs now 5 years later i am 138 and cannot for the life of me shift it even 1 pound. Not only do i eat 6 to 9 fruits and vegetables a day, fish 4 times a week and chicken, no sugar in anything and do the 10,000 steps a day or treadmill. I probably eat and drink less and exercise more than i ever did and have never been so fat. Just out of interest I plugged in Toprol and found this site. I am going to go back to my doctor and ask her to change my medication.

Hi. I started Toprol-XL 25 two years ago due to high blood pressure. Recently(Feb 2009) began an exercise program (walking) and lost twenty pounds. I was allowed to reduce to 12.5 mg for a few months. My BP was still looking great so I was told by my Doc to go to 6.25 for seven days and then completely off. Today I took my last dose! I'm going to keep up the exercising and really watch my weight so I never have to take this again. While taking this, I had cold hands and sometimes was dizzy. Also had some crazy dreams (I will miss those a little bit!) ! When you're on Toprol it seems you really can't over exert yourself. The first week I took it I thought I was going to die when I mowed the lawn. Literally probably should have gone to the emergency room. So if you are just starting please take it easy !!! I always took the pill at the same time every day with food before and after. Never drank alcohol during these two years (except for very small sips). Make sure to ask for the name brand, NOT the generic, even if you have to pay more. You want the time release version so the medicine flows more steadily.

I have been on Toprol-XL for about 8 yrs. I just found this forum and I'm glsd. I thought I was going crazy - but after looking at all the msgs, most of all I have been experiencing lloks like it could come from the Toprol-XL. I have gained about 40lbs in the last 7 yrs and just started a diet and it is extremely difficult to lose weight - could this all be from the Toprol? Are the dreams related to it as well? Some of my dreams(almost all) are so vivid. Has anyone stop taking the Toprol and had good response from it?

I was on Toprol XL for 6 years. This drug is not good. I am a 47 year old women that weighs about 120 and am 5'3". I have had HBP since I was 30 and have tried most of the medicine out there to try and control it. Toprol made me feel horrid. No sex drive, tired all the time, sometimes so tired I couldn't even get out of bed, dizzy, chest pains and tightness, feels like my throat is closing, panic attacks.... the list just goes on. I am now on Azor and it seems to work great for me. Coming off Toprol was another nightmare and it took me several months to completely wean myself off of it. Today is my 5th day completely Toprol free and I am starting to feel like me again.

I am 23 years old and I am here to post how I'm feeling on 12.5 mlg of toprol xl. The first week I felt fine, my BP continues to be low but my headaches are almost completely gone. The second week I only had problems 12 hours after taking the pill. My heart rate goes up to 95 bpm. I try to ignore it and fall asleep. When I wake up I feel ok. Then I take the pill and same thing the next day. Wednesday I will go completely off pill. I am very nervous. I do have the cardionet heart monitor and it comforts me. I do not want to end up in the ER due to palpitations. I will keep you posted.

I'm taking 25 mg Toprol XL once daily following a mild heart attack in June 2008. What I have experienced is just an overall feeling of aging--tired, muscle aches, fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness, short fuse. I have very little motivation to do things around the house and tire easily. I accepted an invitation to golf this week, but I already told the group that I may only be able to do 9 holes. I don't feel like I could do 18. That's just not me! I have cut back to 12.5 mg. but still feel like a really old man. I complained to my cardiologist, but he said that my dose is too low to cause these problems. I am going to slowly reduce my dosage to 6.25 mg. to see if that helps. I feel my quality of life has suffered for taking this drug.

I am 44yrs old and have been on toprol xl for about 4yrs. I get short of breath every morning and I can't sleep. Sometimes my body feels like it's internally trembling especially at night. I cannot lose weight and actually gained 30 lbs since I've been on it. My hands also go numb sometimes at night. I've been reading eveyone's complaints and really believe it has to be this medication. I must get off this crap soon. Goin for a second opinion.

A year ago I was misdiagnosed with Sinus Tachy. I did have HBP though and did not know it. We just moved across country, looking for a house to buy, living in a hotel until we closed on the house, and then moved in and started renovating it. Lots of stress...on top of that i was not eating right. i went to a new doctor in our new town. I had an echo, stress test, and holter. the only test she used to diagnose me with tachy was 1 time of having a heart rate of 148 for a second or two. after being put on toprol i started having crazy symptoms. i changed doctors and the new doctor sent me to a cardio. i had a catheter done. the cardio didn't find anything that he said was alarming and wished his heart was like mine. the results were sent to my primary doc. my new doctor sort of listened to me and when i took the results of the initially holter that showed the tachy, i asked him if i indeed had sinus tachy. he looked at the results and said NO. i asked him if i can get off toprol xl...and he was hesitant. after telling him my symptoms he relented. he told me to go to 75 mg and then check with my cardiologist in a month and see if he wanted me to go down further. my bp and hr prior to lowering the dose averaged 100/110- 55/72 with hr averaging 65-70. July 5 was my first day of tapering my 100 mg tablet to 75 mg tablet. the first couple of days were pretty rough. my heart rate would spike to 110 with activity (taking a shower and walking very slowly around the house) and during an "episode" while sitting down would be 75-90. the BP spikes would go up to 140/90 during the "episodes" but would come back down with lots of deep breathing. i had chest discomfort, weird headaches and just an overall feeling of like i might die of a heart attack. around the 5 and 6 days...i was able to slowly move around without the above mentioned symptoms being less severe and by the day 7 and onward my heart rate had re-stabilized back down to around 105/118 over 65/80 with h.rate hovering around 70-80. after 2 weeks on 75 mg...i decided to lower it even further, down to 50 mg. the first 2 days of 50mg, there didn't seem to be any serious things happening but on the 3rd day it hit me. my pulse upon getting out of bed was 100-105 bpm. when i walked around slowly around my house, it stayed elevated..high 90's. it sort of settled in between high 80's and low 90's. my BP was now hovering around 118/125 over 79-89...sometimes spiking as high as 132/90 a couple of times. after the day progressed, the heart rate settled back down to around 80 ish and was in the upper 60's and 70's when i was reading in bed last night. my blood pressure last night was 116/78 with pulse at 66. i thought ...not too bad. Well this morning at 4am i woke up feeling hot and scared. i checked my BP and it was 109/74. a few minutes later i checked it again and it shot up to 126/83 pulse ranging anywhere in the 110-135 range. it finally settled around upper 80's. this spike occurred with me still lying in bed...not moving a muscle. i had my husband to get my toprol 50 mg tablet and a banana and once i took this my blood pressure lowered a little with occasional spikes along with erratic pulse as well. my blood pressure today has been ok....anywhere from 123/75 down to 108/69. my pulse on the other hand if hovering around upper 80's at rest (rest meaning sitting down on computer or driving) and it shoots up to mid to upper 90's while moving around..like going to the bathroom or walking from room to room. while i was making lunch it was in the low 100's. I guess all this to say that this is a roller coaster ride. i want off this med. once i have realized how potent it is, makes me more determined to get off....it is scary though. last night i swear i thought i was having a heart attack. my chest started constricting and my right leg became heavy...like it was losing blood flow...weird.. i know. i know that its rebound effects will occur, but when they are happening, i begin to think ...ok...do i need to stay on this med???? what i found interesting is that when i dropped the first 25 mg the rebound symptoms would occur around 11 am and last until 4 or 5pm. I attributed this to when i take my med...i take it right after breakfast around 8am. when i was on the full 100 mg these were the times i would feel the MOST fatigued....like a walking dead person going thru the motions of life..pretending to be ok. And im a homeschool mom so you can imagine how hard it was to pretend. i wasn't that surprised to find that my rebound effects occurred during this time. This last drop in dosage was different. The first 2 days i did not have the mid day rebound effects...they seemed to be elevated continuously throughout the day with the less rebound effects being right before bed. What was even more alarming was the middle of the night scare that woke me up..... i just wanted to share my current experience with withdrawing/tapering from Toprol Xl 100 mg down to 75 and then now currently at 50. i see my cardiologist in a few weeks and don't think i will taper down anymore until then. he is going to redo all the heart tests...and if i have a green light then i will continue to taper down until im off. For the record, my side effects while on the 100mg XL tab were......frequent...and i mean frequent urination, hair loss, (i have long very thick curly hair that i wear in a ponytail and i had to figure out how to hide the side bald patches..im only 38) seeing spots and floatys daily that i thought i kept seeing spiders move across my floor or walls, upper back/should pain that was very debilitating, vision focus problems, ankle joint pain...(i would wake up with a limp cuz the pain in my ankle joint was bad then the next day it would be gone only to return a few days later), hands and feet tingly all the time. i have also had thyroid tests... Weight gain or stubborn pounds that would not budge...even with daily exercise and a diet that consisted of fish 3-5 times a week cooked without oil or fats and eating only sauteed veggies and fruit. i have not had a piece of bread or processed carb in months relying on an occasional small baked potato with no condiments. i have calculated my nutrition so precise that i making sure i consumed 4500 mg in potassium, 2-300 mg magnesium, less than 600 mg sodium daily, 1200-1300 calories with 50-80 grams of protein and less than 30 grams of fat. all this and my weight would not budge. after dropping my dosage down to 75mg from 100, i lost 4 pounds in a week without changing a thing..I was even sitting a lot due to the crazy spikes in BP and HR. During that second week of 75 mg...i lost 1 pound. now that i have dropped down to 50mg i have lost 2 pounds and its only been 4 days. I would like to know anyone else's experience with withdrawing from toprol xl.

I take 25mg of Toprol XL for mitral valve prolapse. The only thing is I feel tired like I could fall asleep all the time. Is this common with this medicine on such a small dose. My doctor said this small dose shouldn't bother me. Anyone else take this dose and feel tired?

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

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

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

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

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.

My 90 year old, very mentally sound, grandmother was admitted to the hospital 2 days ago after complaining of severe pain in her back. While in the emergency room, after being diagnosed with a pinched nerve, her blood pressure rose and the staff doctor decided to admit her and put her on this horrible drug! He started her out with 100mg 2 times a day. My grandmother went from her usual calm perfectly sane self to a combative, babbling, lunatic within 6 hours of her first dose! It scared my aunt so bad that she started calling everyone to come say goodbye while there was still a chance that grandma would recognize us! I just knew that there was no way my completely lucid grandmother could go into dementia overnight so I told her to find out if the doctors had administered a new medication since they admitted her. They had and it was toprol XL. The stupid doctor tried to tell us that her behavior was related to a very low dose of prednisone that she taking for 2 years. We immediately demanded that the toprol be stopped and within 8 hours she started to return to us. She had spastic tremors, severe dementia, hallucinations, shallow breathing, agitation(went from laughing to combative in the space of 10 minutes!), dehydration, very frequent urination, extreme mood swings, brain fog/confusion, eyesight and hearing loss, her tongue swelled up, and her eyes were rolling back. It has been 36 hours since her last 100 mg dose and she is still fading in and out. We pulled her out of the hospital and brought her home today where the side effects have decreased but continue none the less. Since 11 this morning she has had bouts of not recognizing her own home and asking us to do things like take things out of the oven that she said she put in it, which of course she had not. I am praying to God that this medicine does not leave permanent damage. My grandmother is an unusual case for mental soundness at her age and it would be so unfair for that to be stolen away from her because of some stupid medicine that she was not only forced to take but over dosed with as well! DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE WITHOUT RESEARCHING IT THOROUGHLY!

I've been taking .25 of Toprol XL for about 5 years now. The firs few years were fine but the fatigue slowly starting getting worse. Now for the last 6 months I've been battling hypoglycemia. Does anyone know if the two could be related? It's a pretty awful feeling.

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 or the generic for over seven years. After the first two months on it I started to notice small, scaly patches appearing on my hands and arms. I was told this was just a coincidence. I had the areas biopsied and was told it was Granuloma Annular. Whatever?? Apparently there is no cure. I have never had any skin problems in my life and I,m sixty seven years old. I also noticed I,m constantly fatigued, cough constantly, still have heart palpitations and seldom get a good nights sleep. I,ve tried to get the doctor to discontinue it or put me on something else and they all act like they are afraid to try it. I,ve been tested and was told my PVC,s are benign, so why the concern? I just want to get off this stuff.

Vivid dreams, anxiety, spikes in blood pressure, stomach pain, shoulder and back pain. Discontinued Toprol XL a week ago and still experiencing some side effects. How long does this process last.

I have been on Toprol-XL (BRAND) for 3 months. I took the generic for 2 months with no change in BP so I requested the brand name. I found your website by surfing the web looking for answers to my complaints. I have weight gain, vivid violent dreams, extreme fatigue, my breathing is slow and I am just dragging around in a fog. I felt better when my BP was high and I didn't take all this medication. Currently, I am taking first, Lisinopril, then added Toprol XL AND then added Clonidine. My BP is still not properly controlled. I am going to the doctor today to have my medication changed. Thank you for sharing your comments.

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 ******

having vivid dreams dealing with the past. thought I being shot at while hanging on the trunk of a car then decided to jump off the trunk and lay below the rear bumper....only to find out I had thrown myself off the bed and was awakened by bumping against the wall,. I instantly awoke and
realized I was laying next to my bed confused and remembering the dream vividly and know that was why I had thrown myself off the bed. This is extremely scary to me and have been yelling (not talking) never just talking, always confronting...always yelling at someone or an animal.
I take 100 mg of Toprol a day for blood pressure. I also take a multi vitamin, 10 mg of lexapro, 800mg of fish oil and enjoy a vodka martini or 3 three times a week. I am 52 and still having regular cycles. Sometimes heavy sometimes extremely light. I drink a whey protein mixed with 2% milk every morning along with the above mentioned.
Can you give me advise please?

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 am a 66 year old female, usually in very good health. I came across this discussion, while looking for some side effects of Toprol xl. I have been taking 25mg of toprol xl for approximately 3 1/2 years. recently I have been suffering with excruciating pains in both shoulders, right hip ,and right thigh. I also have the ringing in the ears. I am diabetic so I had almost convinced myself that I was having problems from the diabetes. My doctor seems to think that my problem is from the dosage of Zocor that I was taking for cholesterol. This Doctor prescribed Lisinopril 5mg daily along with the toprol and zocor that I have been taking for a while now.. After viewing the side effects on this site, now I am convinced that my problems will go away if I just stop taking these medicines. The pain pills tend to stop some of the pain but I know its still there, because I can barely lift my arms, or sit in a chair..

I have been on Toprol XL 25 mg for a few years, then 50 mg for 2 years. The last two have been spent on 40 mg Benicar and 25 mg of Toprol XL. Originally I was put on to elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and palps at 24 years of age. I blame it on anxiety, especially the white coat kind, but have since gotten seem to get that control. Not to mention I have quit smoking, both cigs and pot, and cut down on the late nights of boozing from my twenties. In any case, I am still taking the Benicar to make sure my bp stays in control, but off the Toprol completely for a week now. I can feel my heart rate is more elevated at times, but I think that is good and actually natural. My energy has increased, especially while working out, and I am thinking clear for the first time in years. Not that I was stupid, I managed to get promoted twice and an MBA during my time on Toprol, but feel much better. Will see if I have any of the side effects from that everyone describes, but my experience both on and off the drug was pretty good. I think most people on this drug already have anxiety, so learning to control that is key to living a life off the drug. Good luck to everyone, but glad to be off at least one medicine.

I have been on Toprol XL for 8 years. I began taking it when I was 19 after a "attack" where my heart rate was close to 200 bpm for a couple of hours. I was put on Toprol 50 mg for my SVT. This appeared to help but in the beginning I definitely had a slight difficulty with breathing which was exacerbated by stress. It took me a couple of months to get use to the drug especially since my heart rate didn't necessary adapt to the drug right away. I have been trying for a while to get off the medication without the ablation surgery. My cardiologist(s) never thought I should have the procedure since I was so young. It has been a challenge to get off the medication because my heart rate is so high. I was told that my body is so use to the medication that I need to ween myself off. I went down to 25mg for the last year and just in the last week went off of it completely. While I can feel my heart rate (very rarely) every once and a while, it's not enough to get me to go back on the meds. The one side effect that I have had that my doctors have told me about is stomach trouble. Toprol can weaken the muscles in the esophagus (the flap) and cause pain/burning/nausea. My doctors are not 100% certain that this is what is causing my stomach issues but they feel that my prolonged use of the drug has lead to a weakening of my muscle.

I have only been taking Toprol xl 50mg. for a few days, but i notice a difference already. (I take this to block migraines.) I feel out of it when i take this drug. I cannot sleep anymore! i cant fall asleep... and when i finally do, i am up a few hours later. I have been having weird dreams. (not about spiders, but other vivid, crazy dreams) Do you get used to the drug after a while and are able to sleep???? anyone know?? I have problems with anxiety and depression... and i think that lack of sleep would only add to that. I know that since i started taking toprol, i have mood swings like crazy. I will be happy and having a good time, then i will just switch and starting going off the handle. (about the littlest things too) So i ask, why do we take these drugs if we cant sleep, eat, think, have mood swings, etc???

My heart doctor had put me on toprol xl for my heart arrhythmia but I was also having really bad dizzy spells and feeling like I want to pass out before the toprol.I did pretty good on it for a good while.then out of no where the dizzy speels started back up and feeling like I want to pass out.Had all the other tests and nothing abnormal was found.But I'm still having the same problems.I had done an oxymeter test and found that I was only getting 79% oxygen to my brain.Then was put on an oxygen concentrator.It worked for a short time but the symptoms came back.So I called the doctor Friday to see if I could quit taking the toprol.They you can't quit cold turkey cause you could have a heart attack.That's scary..And I'm a 44 year old female.I'm not quite ready to go just yet.Especially from quitting a medicine.

I am a 40 year old woman. I was having to do a lot of mediation for my work and discovered I had situational high blood pressure. BP was 160/105, pulse 90. Started taking metroprolol and have had terrible dreams about huge spiders at night. That they're in my bed or dropped on my head. Creepy.

My major complaint however is that I feel fuzzy in my mind. I am a paralegal and I have difficulty grasping the word I'm looking for in situations - which is a terrible problem. I do believe that the medication calms me down - but I feel a tiny bit out of it - not really forgetful, just a lot of difficulty grabbing onto and expressing what I'm trying to say. "Fuzzy" is the best word I can use to describe it.

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.

I have been on 50 mg. of Toprol xl for 5 years I find it so hard to breathe. Like I have to make myself breathe or I'll just stop breathing. I can't sleep because my breathing gets worse even with my head elevated. I'm getting terrific migraines, ready to tear my head off. I'm short of breath, can't hardly do anything and I feel I ran ten miles.. I have heart failure and low blood pressure. He's giving me this for now and then palpitations. I think this pill is causing all my troubles including anxiety. HELP!!

Similar problems. A-fib @ 37. Unknown etiology with no conclusive cause. Possible due to taking prescription allergy meds with sudafed for 15+ years.
Anyway, tried to go off of Toprol XL 25mg once a day several times. The first time I felt horrible, weak and lethargic, chest discomfort. Lasted for a few weeks. Went back on and in one day symptoms disappeared.
I tried this week to wean off by taking a half a pill a day. Made it one day! I was feeling great so I decided what the heck and tried. What a mistake.
I have tried several different ways of coming off (weaning) with no success.
My cardiologist would like me to try to go off... We need to come up with a better solution.

Things that I have found that "work" for me taking this drug is:
1. I take it after lunch. It is the only time of day taking it that I don't feel bad.
2. The generics made me feel bad. Tried several different manufacturers.
3. If I miss the normal time I take it as soon as possible. Usually by dinner time.

Good luck trying to come off or maintain with Toprol XL. Please post if anyone has success.

Toprol XL seems like a necessary evil at this point for me.

Well.....ain't this drug wonderful!! Glad I came here first. I am currently on Diovan 80mg. basically doing very well on it, but I started to loose some hair, and do have some sinus issues, so talked w/Doctor he gave me a prescript. for Toprol XL yesterday, got it filled (my proper prescription for 3mos. supply mail in is written for the Brand Name) the prescrip. I filled yesterday locally (he gave me 2mos to fill locally before sending in my mail in prescrip.) My God! When I read the patient info, scared the living crap out of me! See if I TAKE that medication - NOT! I will stick with the devil I know, Diovan and hope that the hair loss thing will resolve itself. I suffer from anxiety, so can push my BP up at will, and it's been up since I started stressing on the hair loss - I have made up my mind to just try and chill about it, but Diovan appears to be one of the least "evil" of the BP meds I'v taken so far. Lisinopril was a nightmare, Diltiazem wasn't too bad, but thought my teeth were going to fall out! I swear, the anxiety about these meds. does nothing to help ones BP but I definitely am not taking this poison, probably would make me stress worrying, I'd give myself a stroke. I am making a copy of the patient info. and sending it to my Dr. (whom I love by the way) and ask him "what the hell were you thinking Doctor?" Good luck everyone

I noticed that everyone has written here the side effects of the Toprol XL but no one has said that they have had success on getting off the drug. I'm 39 years old and I have had some side effects from it too. I'm on Toprol XL 50 mg once a day and everyday my neck gets hot like it's on fire,my face gets flush, my feet sweat and my hands get ice cold. I keep my faith in the Lord that he will help me find a way to get off this poisoning medicine. My blood pressure was 164/110 and I ended up in the hospital back in August of 2008 and after running all the test they chalked it up to anxiety. My belief is that it's the medicine. I'm going to try to find a Doctor who is a Homeopathic and see what he says and I will let you know what I find out.

Okay folks, I've been taking metoprolol for nearly two months and It sucks big time. Came to this site because of feeling dizzy and I find that's a big problem. I keep feeling dizzier, more tired and I'm a zippy old gal, not overweight, none of that, but dang I just feel like crap and tend to drink more coffee and stuff just to keep zipping. I will take a half dose tonight and call the doc in the morning. Also have gastric problems. Heck, I would rather die of heart attack or brain aneurysm (sp, I know) than live life dizzy.

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 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!

Hi- I was on Lopressor 50mgs. twice a day for my slightly elevated BP, MVP, SVT, palpitations, and anxiety attacks. Started having some intermittent chest pain (not bad, just annoying). Dr. switched me to Toprol XL 100 mg/day. Of course, insurance made me get Metoprolol ER 100 mg/day (the generic) but I haven't had a problem with it!! I love taking just 1 pill a day instead of having to juggle the two pills and remembering if and when I took them. I take the pill every morning with breakfast (which is usually an apple and a small bowl of cereal and a glass of water). I have gained some weight since being on the Lopressor, but I started the Dash Diet and have lost about 8 lbs. in about 4 months, not too good but I'm not following the diet as well as I should be! I also get tired and occasionally have problems with hearburn and gas, but anytime you take any kind of medication you will have side effects. Wish I didn't have to take any meds but am not willing to subject myself to the effects of high blood pressure, I would rather have the side effects from the meds. My BP is usually 110/75 now and my heart rate is around 70-75. I'm 47 years old and feeling like I might make it into my 90's now!!

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 HAVE BEEN ON TOPROL-XL FOR 2 YEARS. 25 MG. IN AM AND BLOOD PRESSURE WOULD FLUCTUATE UP TO 170/116 AND GO BACK DOWN TO 140/85. THEN WAS ALSO PUT ON NORVASC 25MG. IN PM. I ALSO AM HYPOTHYROID WITH HASHIMOTOS. MY SIDE AFFECTS HAVE BEEN EXTREME. SWEATING, HAVE TO CARRY A PAPER TOWEL OR SCARF TO WIPE SWEAT OFF, SPACED OUT, TIRED, FORGETFULNESS, RACING HEART, LEGS ANKLES SWOLLEN, THEY FEEL SO HEAVY, WEIGHT GAIN, EYES WATER, NOSE WILL HAVE NASAL DRIP, CONSTIPATED, SORE NECK, HEADACHES, THE LIST GOES ON. THIS SUMMER I WENT TO THERAPY FOR MY NECK, HAD ECHO AND WORE 24 HR. HEART HALTER, WHICH I HAVE FOUR EXTRA BEATS, WENT TO ENDRICONE DOCTOR WHO RAN TESTS FOR EVERYTHING, 24 HR. URINE, TESTS CAME BACK WITH TSH HIGH, EVERYTHING ELSE WAS NORMAL BUT FOR MY HEART EXTRA BEATS ENDR. AND FAMILY DOCTOR TOOK ME OFF NORVASC AND PUT ME ON TOPROL-XL 25MG IN PM ALSO AM. WELL FEELING LIKE I WAS READY TO GIVE IT ALL UP, LIKE I WAS DYING, I QUIT TAKING IT LAST NIGHT AND HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ALL YEAR, TRYING PEPTACE AND CELERY SEED EXTRACT. I FELT SO BAD THAT I KNOW IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO QUIT THE TOPROL-XL LIKE THAT BUT I FELT LIKE MY HEART WAS GONNA BURST AND IT WAS GANNA TAKE ME OUT ANYWAY, AND DOCS. WOULDN'T LISTEN AND I HAVE BEEN IN TO THEM A LOT WITH ALL MY ISSUES. I AM 56 AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ACTIVE, OUTDOORS TYPE PERSON. I WALK 2 MILES ON TREADMILL EVERYDAY AND 30 MIN. OF TAE-BO EXERCISE. I WORK 5 DAYS A WEEK AND HAVE LOTS TO DO AT HOME. THEY TRIED TO PUT ME ON CYMBALTA, LEXAPRO, ELIVOIR FOR THEY SAID WHEN YOU FEEL THAT BAD YOU CAN GET DEPRESSED, I TOLD THEM NO, I AM NOT ADDING ANY MEDS. KNOWING I WOULD GET WORSE. PEOPLE AT WORK, MY FAMILY WILL SAY YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU FEEL GOOD OR IS SOMETHING WRONG, HOW COMPLICATED IT WOULD BE TO EXPLAIN. SO I AM LISTENING TO MY BODY CAUSE FEELING THAT BAD ISN'T RIGHT SO I HOPE THIS WORKS. I COULN'T FEEL ANY WORSE ANYWAY. SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL AND ALL OF US ARE UNIQUE TO FIND WHAT MIGHT WORK FOR US, AND MOST THOSE PRESCRIPTIONS ARE FOR ONE THING AND THEN TRIGGER OFF OTHER THINGS THEN YOU GOTTA TAKE ANOTHER MED. FOR THAT. I AM GLAD TO FIND THIS SITE.

TWO PIECES OF ADVICE:
DO NOT DRINK alcohol within 6 hrs and EAT right before taking Toprol. This should help with all mentioned side effects!
I have noticed that if I drink ANY alcohol within six hours of taking Toprol (before or after), my HR skyrockets to 190+BPM. I thought this might help others. Also, I MUST eat at least 2 slices of bread each time I take it. Otherwise, I will feel very dizzy, faint and have bad dreams.
If I eat, I have no side effects.
Also, there have been a couple times where I missed a dose or took it late and each time, I feel my heart starting to race and the PVC's coming back.

I have been on 25 mg of Toprol for 6months due to PVC's and rapid/ racing HR (160+)/ palps and BP spikes. My 24hr Holter (six months ago) showed 370 PVC's in one day, so I was put on Toprol. All other heart tests were normal. Anyway, it has worked wonders for me. I had another Holter done last week and there were NO PVC's and steady HR and BP. Since being on Toprol HR is 65, BP is 105/60 or so.

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!!

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

I lost 30 pounds on Weight Watchers in 2005 - lost it in 6 weeks (on the proper diet) because of my insanely fast metabolism. Shortly after that, I was put on 25 mg of Toprol XL for PACs/PVCs. Upped that to 50 mg after I started getting migraines. Gained 55 pounds in the process, though I tore a hamstring in a couple of places and put a lot of the weight loss up to months of inactivity.

Then I started back on WW and tried to lose. Did everything just right--nothing. Added exercise and adjusted my points. Still nothing. Finally googled "toprol metabolism" and found tons of people complaining of the same types of problems.

I finally got down to 12.5 mg of Toprol and my body has adjusted to it, and in the last 2 weeks I've dropped 10 pounds. I'm debating going off it altogether, since there's nothing wrong with my blood pressure, and since lowering it clearly helps.

Note to anyone who tries this - every time I lower the dose I tend to gain a little weight (it's mostly water weight--I bloat up when I lower it for some reason) while my body adjusts, but it always comes off. So if you lower your dose (with doctor's permission, of course), don't be disheartened if you gain at first. You'll get there.

I am a 39 year old white male that had aortic valve replacement surgery five years ago. About three months after the surgery (which went off without a hitch) I had a tremendous spike in my BP that went on for a few days (200/100 - enough so I could see my heartbeat in my eyes!). My Dr started me on Toprol XL 75 and while it brought my BP down some, it didn't bring it down a lot. He moved me to 200 mg a day and now my BP is around 105/55 with a resting pulse around 50.

While I experienced many of the side effects listed here (feeling groggy, confused, etc) they only lasted a few months. I must admit that I did pack on about 20 lbs over six months. However, unlike so many who choose to blame drugs (or lack thereof) for their problems, I took it upon myself to start exercising and guess what?!? The weight comes off! I now weigh less than when I graduated high school, I am in better shape than any time in my life and I believe that exercise helps me sleep better at night. All of this even though I still take 200mg a day. Given that some of you say that you're practically dead at taking 25, I should be 6 feet under or weigh 400 lbs.

I guess what I want to say is that perhaps instead of jumping on the bandwagon here that Toprol causes all of your problems, perhaps you want to take your own health into your hands and begin to eat a little better and exercise (and don't give me "but my ankles are swollen!" excuse - there is something called water aerobics). I don't deny that it can cause some side effects, but it can work wonders with your BP. You just have to DO SOMETHING to help keep the weight off (which then help with the sleep problems, mental clarity, etc).

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

Hello all,
I'm a 45-yr old Air Force Major (Male) recently diagnosed with asymptomatic chronic Atrial Fibrillation (As in I have it and was walking around not knowing it). When I went to see the cardiologist, my B.P. was only 120 / 74 (Which, until they changed the rules, used to be normal)and he puts me on Diovan 80mg once a day plus Coumadin 5mg. Well the Diovan almost made me faint and I had numbness in both arms, plus a funky rash, kind of like chicken pox showing up on my arms and thighs.
I went online and read horror stories of Diovan so I stopped taking it immediately (I had only taken four doses and never had any horrible symptoms until after I took the meds!). Then the Dr. put me on an Event Monitor and it showed I was indeed in A-fib all the time, plus at night, my heart was racing briefly to 200 a minute while I was sound asleep. So he puts me on Toprol XL 100mg once a day.
Immediately I had trouble sleeping (Which I never had before, ever!) with crazy dreams and tossing/turning. My B.P. dropped to 88/65 and my fibrillating heart rate was 64!!! I was so mad because I actually felt better before the meds. I found this site and saw what everyone was posting and immediately took myself off the Toprol XL.
The day after stopping the Toprol I had slight chest pains (Like angina or gas bubble) but they went away on their own. I slept fine the next night.
I'm having an Electro-Cardiversion done on the 21st July to see if I can stop the A-fib and get in normal rhythm. I know the Dr. is going to be mad at me for stopping the Diovan and Toprol, but I'm sorry, I'm convinced there is a better way to beat all this (Namely exercise and eating right). Being in the service means you have to be Mr. Physical and Mental "perfect" all the time. I cannot afford to be diagnosed with depression in my line of work! Thanks to all on this website and I wish you the best.
PS. for those who think I'm being ignorant of my medication, I have a nice fat insurance policy and Power of attorney for my wife and kid in the event I keel over!!! I may be medication intolerant but at least I took care of my family.

I am a woman in her early 60's. I have slightly elevated BP abd it does tend to spike first thing in the morning, after waking and is much lower (normal) at night. I have tried several different BP meds and had side effects of all of them. The Doctor recently put me on Toprol XL 25mg. After about three weeks, I really did not feel well - extreme fatigue, severe leg and joint pain, depression. I just could not function. I know I am extremely sensitive to medication. I decided to come off the Toprol, after only three weeks and go back to Lisinopril 2.5MG. Now, after only two days of not taking Toprol, I truly feel very weird. Far less tired, but extreme dizziness and a kind of spaced out feeling. Is this just the withdrawal from Toprol...and after only three weeks of taking it? Plus, my BP seems to be very low - the lowest I have ever recorded it. 112/55 last night. Does coming off Toprol actually have a reverse effect and plummit your BP until it is out of your system. If so, why has my doctor told me to triple upon the Lisinopril now I am back on that. Dealing with even slightly elevated BP has become such a major issue for me.

I am 46 years old and have been on Toprol XL 25mg for almost 3 years. I have been tired, but have not been sleeping well at night, I have had anxiety attacks and episodes where my heart was racing. The worst part is that I gained 22 pounds in 2 1/2 years and I was the type of person who never had a weight problem. It wasn't until the other day that I decided to go on line to see if Toprol could cause weight gain. I was shocked to see that so many people have had the same complaints as I. I have a Dr.'s appointment this week and I plan on telling him that I don't want to be on toprol any longer. My question is, what is an alternative to taking toprol?