Toprol-XL and weaning

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

What started out as a simple visit to dentist became a nightmare. My BP was high l73/90...so I went to a doc to get something for the BP. I knew it had been creeping up. I should have been more vigilent and done my own research first. He prescribed l00 milligrams of the generic brand--metropolol. I questioned the dose, but he said it was safe, and I needed something to bring my blood pressure down right away.

By the third day I felt like I had a hangover when I woke up. I started feeling not quite right. Tiredness, depression, and headache. My BP got higher. On the 5th day my heart started racing, with a pulse in the l30's. I spent 6 hours in the ER. My pulse was in the 60's, but BP 210/110. They injected me with 5 mg of the stuff, and also gave me clonopine. My EKG had been normal at the doc visit. In the ER it showed abnormal with sinus tachycardia and First Degree AV nodal block. It returned to normal, and by BP dropped to 150/80 with the clonopine. My glucose was also high at 300. I could feel an immediate relief with the clonopine. Heart enzymes normal. ER doc denied that the Topol caused the racing heart. He said that's not a side effect..perhaps there was an underlying cause. He did say the episode could have been triggered by low oxygen to the heart. I think they all stick together----he's not going to say the first doc was an idiot.

They wanted to transfer me to the "big" hospital for cardiac workup. I refused, since I had an appt.with a cardiologist in a couple days, and the doc that prescribed his awful med. I didn't think my insurance company should fork out $50,000 for an adverse effect from a drug.

I had been doing heavy exercise the morning of the racing heart...it was after I sat down I noticed the increase in pulse rate. NO ONE gave me any warnings..not the doc, or the pharmacist. Both said this was a safe drug.

I cut the dosage in l/2 for two days, until I saw the cardiologist. He said ok to stay on the clonopine for now, and a diuretic. I feel much better, and BP has dropped to the l40's over 80 something...pulse near 80. I am going to do a stress test. Based on a heart scan, 3 arteries have 0 plaque, and two mild.

I read that this drug is not recommended as first choice for BP. In the UK they're weaning people off of it because it causes diabetes, and there's other better drugs out there. I did not wait to "ask my doctor" to take me off of it. I told him I am not taking it....I don't know how much longer he will be my doc. I don't think he should have started at l00 milligrams to begin with...and should have started out slowly at the least.

Caveat emptor (buyer beware) when it comes to this med...and do your homework, and don't be afraid to fire your doctor!

Update - 7th day with zero Toprol. Feel just awful... Breathing has not improved, tight band feeling around chest keeps coming and going like before. B/P spikes, headaches, etc. The Diovan (80mg) was making me cough and making chest tightness worse - so she tried me on Dyazide - made me dizzy and sick to my stomach. This has been just one of the WORST experiences of my life. I was SURE all my problems were related to my (4) years on Toprol - but on day 7 with NO TOPROL and not feeling better I am depressed, discouraged, and just want to curl up and cry and cry and cry. I have ended up in the ER three times since the weaning began - once for breathing, once for pulse (over 215) and once for severe abdominal pain. My family thinks that I am 'mental' and that it is all in my head???? I cannot take much more of this.....

I had been on Toprol XL 50 mg. for three years. In April of this year, I began having gastrointestinal problems. By May, I was sick just about every day with gas, bloating, cramping, pain and nausea. I was seeing a gastroenterologist practice almost weekly. Over the next five months, I had just about every test, scan, and scope there was to do to no avail. By June, I began having anxiety attacks simultaneously with the gastric episodes. The doctors could find no reason for the symptoms and I was referred to another specialist and tests that were ordered at a medical facility 50 miles away. I had also lost 38 lbs. because I was unable to eat without becoming sick. In November, I notice that my hair was thinning and my family doctor said that it could be from the Toprol. At that point, I discovered this website and began reading the postings. I cut the Toprol dosage in half after informing my doctor about it. In three days, I started to feel better. I also read more of the postings and saw that other were fine on the brand name Toprol but had problems with the generic. Click went the light bulb. Towards the end of March of this year, I had been switched to the generic. I began weaning myself from the medication and took the last dose on Thanksgiving. There have been some minor withdrawal symptoms but I am feeling so much better and have had no gastric symptoms for two weeks. Yesterday, I was actually hungry for the first time in months. I saw both the family doctor and gastroenterologist and informed them that they need to consider a patient's medications which unexplained illnesses arise. I can't express the gratitude that I feel for having located this website and thank everyone for the information that has been provided.

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.......

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

I have many of the same reactions to this med that I have read on this site. My sister is on this med and we began comparing symptoms, which were many of those listed here..total energy drain, dizzy, unable to concentrate or even focus, depressed. I feel like I can't get a full breath in my lungs and I find myself sighing a lot, which does get more air into my lungs. It is hard to describe but it is a very bad feeling that I am slightly dizzy, slightly nauseous all the time. No ambition, staying in bed more and more because I just feel bad most of the time.

I stayed on this med for four months trying to see if I would eventually get over these feelings. Didn't happen. This week my Dr. try changing me to Cozaar for my HBP so I am in the process of weaning myself off Metroprolol. I was only taking 25 mg 2Xday so I cut them in half and take twice a day. I can already tell a difference in my energy and general feeling of well being. Dr said after one week of half dose, to stop completely and take only the Cozaar. I hope this works. I appreciate all the input on this topic here.

please do not take this drug!!!!!!!! 52yo male hard worker very active.3 years ago lost kidney from cancer did ok.on follow up visit the doctor said my blood pressure high 150/90 put me on toprol 50 mg.this was feb 2007 lost 25 lbs leg pains so bad could hardly walk.nite sweats. flushing,in a fog,depressed,so fatiqued had to leave work in aug.they uped my scrip to 100 2weeks ago it got so bad couldnt get out of bed looked up toprol on the web thank god i found this web site made copies took it to my doctor started weaning me off 2 more pills and i think i can go back to work im feeling better already.thank god i work for a good company and have a great wife or i would have lost everything.how can these people sleep at nite

well i'm not one to NOT TRUST my doctor... but he prescribed me toprol yesterday for hypertension HBP..30 yr old male/chef.. cant believe the comments on this site... couldn't be able to deal with one of these side effects never mind all of them...!!! i appreciate everyone honesty and hope weaning off wasn't an issue for you all. anxiety has never been a problem in my life.. nor weight gain.. deep breathes it is!!!!!!! peace out

I'm weaning myself off of toprol, I've been having enhanced allergy problems since on it and palipitations almost constantly and swelling with weight gain and hair thinning. This drug is worse than the fast heartbeat I had.

I have been on Toprol-XL 25mg for 3 months. Shortly after I started this medication I developed hip/upper thigh pain which feels better when I walk. It seems the muscles are very sore in my legs. Never had this prior to taking this medication. It just gives you a sick feeling. I am going to start weaning myself off of this med by cutting it down to 1/2 a tab. I will say one thing it has regulated the PAC's but perhaps the flutter in my chest that will not hurt me, is better than the side effects of this drug. Of course the doctors deny that this drug has these side effects.

Hi, I was switced from Atenolol to Toprol-XL 50 mg about 1 year ago for palpatations and it seemed to work very little papations now. However, I am currently experiencing right upper quadrant pain and my triglycerides are over 500. I am told I it is drug induced fatty liver disease? I am slowly weaning myself off this medication because you can not just quit per/pharmacist. I also have gained weight which I can not lose, hair thinning, hard to concentrate, elevated triglycerides, calf pain after walking or excercising, fluid retention, feet swelling etc..... for those of you who are on it I would suggest having your triglycerides and liver enzymes checked.

I was diagnosed with sustained ventricular tachycardia (rapid beat at rest) on June 19th and immediately put on Toprol 50mg. It has only been a month and I have gained 5 pounds and my weight rarely changes. I just had cardiac catheter ablation on July 18th and slowly weaning off of the toprol with my doctor. I was on 25mg after the ablation but I was able to cut that in half yesterday. I am hoping to lose this weight, I HATE IT! Does anyone know if you can lose this weight after stopping Toprol?

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?

just an update to my June 15 comments regarding my husband and his side effects with Toprol XL..as of his last doc visit his blood pressure was perfect as its been since weaning off of 100 mg. all depression has lifted and he now sleeps like a baby at night and is wide awake during the day, and no more weird dreams..the tremors have stopped completely and his confusion is gone and his memory loss is only slight..The doc wouldn't lower it from the 25mg that it is now..he is concerned that it will have an adverse effect to take it to 12 1/2..so for now we will stay with it..being aware that the risidual effect is most likely the 25mg. in the meantime he is going for an appt with a neurologist just to make sure other things aren't going on..but I believe its all the Toprol. the change in him from the 100mg a day to now is amazing.

I have been on Toprol 25 mg for almost a year for heart palpitations. I has worked for the palpitations, but the side effects have been a challenge. I have gained about 20 pounds, have the vivid nightmares, lack of energy, etc. One thing that I have noticed recently is the increased severity of allergies and difficulty breathing. Anyone else experiencing this?

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

I was on 50 mg Toprol for about five months when pressure went up...doctor put me on 100 mg. During the 50 mg time, I did gain some belly weight, extreme swelling of the ankles, and a feeling that my heart was beating too fast even though it wasn't. When I went to the 100 mg pill, within a week I have a rash all over...bumps that itch like crazy. I have noticed more chills...then a feeling like a hot flash. I am weaning myself off...four days of 50 mg, couple days of 25 mg, and now I'm even splitting that. My doctor told me to go right to another drug...Zestril. I'm going to try to wait a few days. Even though I am tapering off of Toprol, the rash is still here. Maybe it takes awhile for the Toprol to be completely out of system.

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?

I have been on toprol xl for 3 months and am weaning myself off of it against my doctors wishes. I can feel it damaging my heart. Now I havetrouble climbing one flight of stairs without my heart rate increases like it will jump from my chest. I am very frightened because I could exercise before I got on this medicine and now I can't. I will not go back on it for any reason.

27 yrs old and put on toprol for high blood pressure. have experienced large amts of hair loss, moderate weight gain, and heart palpitations with worsening anxiety. I am in the process of weaning myself off the toprol and am hoping the palipitations will get better.

I have been taking Toprol 50 mg daily for about six weeks. About 3 weeks ago, I started to be aware of a constant mild headache. This has progressed to a very troublesome aching in my head, face and neck, sometimes worsening with throbbing pain which keeps me awake at night. I am now weaning myself off Toprol, as it is causing me such misery as I have never before experienced such relentless pain and constant headaches.

I am 32 years old (female) and I was put on Toprol (25 mg) for a high blood pressure incident. I've been on the medication since Christmas (2005), so it's been almost a month. I have been tired, but not extremely tired. Some days are more difficult than others, but I spend all weekend sleeping just about...if I don't, then the week is very difficult.

I did start working out after taking this medication, so my energy level is improving now. But I still have this incessant headache. It's not a horrible headache like a migraine, but it's just always there...always, until I fall asleep, and then it's gone!

I must add however that the Toprol is contolling my high blood pressure well, and hopefully with excercise and diet, I will be weaning off of it in a few months.

Have been on Toprol 25 mg for almost a year, and prior to that was at 50mg for about two years, prescribed for fast heart rate/benign palpitations and also for boderline high BP. Worked fine for BP and palpitations, but six months ago, BP went high again, so now on Diovan low dose and still Toprol 25 mg. Anyway, Diovan has fixed the BP. The most major side effect with TOPROL I believe is the cause for my shortness of breath. I have now began weaning myself off of the Toprol (with ok from Cardiologist) and hope to see an improvement with the SOB....it's been terrible. I get short of breath just talking on the phone, and I do not smoke. I'm hopeful that the symptoms will improve one my body is clear of the Toprol. Anybody else experience SOB from Toprol?

I've been on toprol for two years and am now weaning myself off it. The swelling in my ankles and feet has disappeared the pains I had in my leg muscles is gone. I have my balance back and have much more energy. Since stopping prolol, I have developed a mild tachycardia, buy I feel twenty years younger. My only regret is that I did not get off this terrible medication much sooner. I am in the process of finding a medication for the tachycardia which does not have such terrible side effects. If your doctor won"t take you off prolol, change doctors. Don't be afraidtoo take charge of your life.

I have been on Toprol xl since Nov. of 04. My weight has increased in spite of exercising and watching my diet. I have pain in my joints as well. Yesterday I decided to look up the side effects because I had gained 4 lbs. in a few days. with extreme bloating. I was going crazy trying to figure out why my weight kept going up in spite of diet and exercise. Looking at the other messages so much like mine has given me the courage to somehow make my doctor listen. I didn't realize about the difficulty of getting off the drug and will start weaning myself off tonight. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks, Susie

I am a 30 year old woman who has been on Toprol 25mg for 6 mos. for rapid heartbeat. Since that time, I have experienced severe bloating, gastric cramping, frequent voiding (not diarrhea), and moderate weight gain. I am a smaller, fit person, so the sudden change in weight was strange. I have seen physicians for my digestive problems and am on meds for those issues, but have not had success.

I realized that this all began at the same time that I started taking Toprol and it has progressively gotten worse. I am amazed to see that others have experienced similar symptoms. It makes me feel good to finally put my finger on what is causing these problems. I will be weaning off Toprol in the very near future.

Thank you all for your feedback. You answered questions that have been looming over me for months!

From 105-126 in one year.....I am weaning down from 110mg. and am now at 50 over one month. Tomorrow I will go to 25 for a spell. hAD IT!!!

I have been taking Toprol for about a year for heart palputations. Over the last few months, I began to experience a tired feeling. In the last four months, it has gotten worse and now I can't do my husehold chores. I have a trembling feeling in my arms, legs, and upper body.
I also experenced muscle aches. That has ceased since I have been off the Lipitor. I have had numerous blood work done and all has come back in the normal range. I have seen a Neorologist and the tests he gave me were also normal. My guess is, it is both the Lipitor and Toprol causing my problem. I am 68 years of age, always been on the go and a fun loving person. I would like to be that person again.
Ruth