Toprol-XL and chest pains

I'm 56 y/o with hx of MVP,SVT and was on Inderal for 23 yrs. until after taking RED BULL energy drink threw me to AFIB that sent me to ER and got admitted overnight ,that problem got resolved until about few months ago i started having on and off palpitations again and my doctor put me on 50mg METOPROLOL and take extra dose for frequent palpitations but i noticed that the more i take METOPROLOL the worst my symptoms gets with some dizziness, sleepless nights ,occasional chest pains,joint pains so i went to my doctor again ,had stress test, 24 hr. monitor, and everything was normal, i was then referred to a Cardiologist-Electrophysiologist who told me i was taking to much Metoprolol that i should cut it to 25mg , He planned to put me on 30 day holter monitor to see the activity of my heart but on the other hand being a nurse i tried to monitor myself, i still have the same symptoms but less since i cut down my dose but i decided to stop the Metoptolol completly and put myself back on Inderal for about a week now i'm telling you it was alike a night and day symptoms of increasing palpitations are less and i feel much better , hopefully i treated myself and goodbye Metoprolol.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I was on it for 6 months and the Dr. decided to change my medications. Toprol wasn't keeping my blood pressure down. I had bad chest pains and severe sweating so after 2 weeks he put me back on the Toprol. Bad mistake every time I took the Toprol My heart felt like it was skipping a beat and I would black out. Now I can't take it either. I'm on lisinopril now. Which is fine, it's keeping my blood pressure down. But still felt like my heart is skipping beats, ended up in the E.R.
they did pick up the skipped beats on an ecg and decided it was prob because the toprol is still in my system. My heart feels like it is racing all the time, and I'm having anxiety and shaking. I wish this stuff would get out of my system. good luck to everyone.
sabrina

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

I was put on Toprol XL 6.5 yrs ago. My heart rate had soared to 130+ and b.p. was elevated. So my family doctor put me on Toprol XL 100 mgs. From day one I felt exhausted. He told me that would soon clear up and not to worry, we needed to be more concerned with my heart rate and b.p. I listened and was a good patient. After a year of total exhaustion and having to quit my job I asked to be taken off Toprol. He said it was the only medication that would control my heart rate and b.p. together. He agreed to reduce it to 75 mgs. After a few months I went back and said it was still too much! My b.p. was better as was my heart rate so he lowered it to 50 mgs. Things got a little better at least I could get out of bed by 10:00! Fed up I lowered it to 25 mgs. and tracked my b.p. Finally I told my doctor and he said as long as my b.p.was better 25 mgs.was ok. By this time though I was having other symptoms, body aches, joint pain, mind fog. He attributed it to arthritis and put me on Vioxx. 2 pills later I stopped due to chest pains. The symptoms I had experienced over the past 2 yrs continued so I sought a new physician. Once again he said Toprol XL was the only medication I could take for tachycardia and high b.p. My b.p. was again elevated so my meds were increased to 50 mgs. he wanted to go 100mgs., I said NO!
In 2004 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, the pain had become so bad now it was debilitating. I had all the full blown symptoms of Fibro, extreme exhaustion, body aches, joint pain, mind fog, depression etc etc. So I sought treatment for Fibromyalgia for 3 yrs. Not so successfully I might add.
I should note that I had none of these symptoms before Toprol XL.

During a recent Gynecology visit my b.p. was extremely high. I told her my story about Toprol. She said point blank, They are NOT listening to you. I think all the side effects you have been having are due to the Toprol XL.She sent me to a Cardiologist. God bless her!!
After many tests he immediately took me off Toprol. He put me on another medication instead. I am having withdrawal side effects from Toprol, shakiness, shortness of breath, heart rate acceleration and mind fogginess. But, anything is better than another day on Toprol. He told me what I was experiencing was normal withdrawing from Toprol. He also assured me there were many other alternatives to Toprol and if the new medication doesn't work there are other options.
I think Toprol XL is the next drug that should be banned!! I pray everyday my life will return to what it was before Toprol XL and that I will not have any lasting side effects from this horrible drug.

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

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

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

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

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.

I have been on Toprol xl 200mg for over 3.5 years now. due to high blood pressure problems. and Hmo Doctors who refuse to change meds. typical of hmo systems. I dont like this medication and have been fighting with Doctors to get off it.( no luck) as yet! I have tryed myself a few times doing it slow at small dose, however I have withdraw symptoms! and im forced to go back to the medication again. I think most Doctors fear this problem so they try and pass the buck to a hmo cardiologist, who only tells you, I dont do that - go back to your primary Doctor? its like running in circles !
bad part I have every know side effect from this medication, Doc gave me 4omg of Diovan to counter act the toprol effects.. ahhh! that didnt help.. make them worse..and caused more effects ! blurred vision -chest pains
short term memory loss, Hair loss, and thinning real bad.. I have counted over 56 side effects for just toprol xl alone.. and another 31 for Diovan
plus the fact Diovan was recalled one time before.. and then changed and re-released again.. I feel like the walking dead - Im so tired all the time..
and boy! if your out in the heat.. 85deg F. or more.. watchout people.. you can pass out cold ! from this crap - its got some real bad effects when it gets hot outside. stay in doors and out of the heat ! unless you have to work like me.. I guess one day I will find a good Doctor who will help me
for now, Hmo systems stink ! but im stuck with one till October.. then its bye bye for Hmo's for me.. there has to be a better way to go !
Toprol xl is not the ansure or cure ! by the way I get palpitations off and on from diovan or toprol xl .. its very strange... hate this medication

I'm 31 and a recovered cancer patient (in remission since 2001). I've been trough it all. Surgery, chemo, radiation, BMT's, you name it. I currently suffer from three separate sleep disorders, as well as hypothyroidism. As you can imagine, I've grown to become very in tune with my body. And, having gone through everything I have over the years, and having taken all kinds of medications, I have never experienced such dissatisfaction and such a high level of negative side-effects as I have with Toprol XL.

My primary care doctor, who is also a cardiologist, put me on Toprol XL to treat an elevated heart rate -- as a result of all my past health issues, my auto-regulatory system is, as he puts is, “just messed-up now.” He started me on 50 mg a day. Immediately, I experienced trouble breathing: I woke one night and felt as though I was drowning. Over the course of about 8 months, he's lowered my dose to 12.5 mg a day. And, for a while, that seemed to be OK. But, recently, the trouble breathing has returned.

I'm at a point now where I'm afraid to go to sleep -- the moment I lie down, I find myself gasping for air. All day long, I have a constant wheezing. I can't go up a flight of stairs without needing to sit down and catch my breath -- I feel as though I'm about to faint from loss of air. I spend most of my day with a sensation of being suffocated. I cough frequently, but it gives me no relief.

I have noticed other side effects. Notable is the weight gain. I've never in my life weighed more than 145 lbs. I’m 163 now. I was blaming the weight gain on the thyroid, but I'm on a fairly high dose of that medication, and I've yet to experience any loss of weight. I'm gaining, despite only eating one meal a day. I attribute this weight to the Toprol.

Also, I have been experiencing moments of extreme anxiety -- this is very unusual for me. I also want to say that never once during all my dealings with cancer did I ever experience depression, and that right there should give you an indication of what type of person I am. Yet, now, since being on the Toprol XL, I find I lack the energy and desire to do much of anything anymore.

My doctor seems very quick to dismiss my concerns, telling me, "you need to give this medication a chance." I think 8 months of my life is enough -- I have lost all patience with this medication, and I'm just about losing it with him, as well. I didn't survive cancer and all the other complications that came with it just to have my life brought to a total standstill by a single medication. This is so infuriating.

I'm making an appointment to speak with my doctor right away. If he continues to insist I stay on Toprol XL and ignore my concerns, I will tell him I no longer feel comfortable with having him as my primary care physician. I want my life back.

Thank you for mentioning the bad dreams. I had a very scary dream the other day and didn't know if parts of it were real or not. I've had more frequent chest pains since starting Toprol (50mg/day). And, I'm definitely more anxious than I've ever been. The chest pains don't help the anxiety level at all. And, last night was the first night in weeks that I couldn't get back to sleep. I've been on Toprol now for about 4 weeks.

I've got a lot of numbness and tingling in my left arm.

I'm seeing a cardiologist on Friday so I'll hopefully have some tests done shortly. I was too stressed out (BP too high) to have a stress test done. That was the reason behind going on Toprol. I typically run 140/90 but with just a bit of activity or stress it will jump to 160/110 or higher. I'm still at 140/90 but it's fairly consistent lately.
Thanks for your comments. I appreciate this site.

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 have been taking 25 mg. of Toprol for about a year. I am 48 years old. For the past several months, I have been fatigue, having chest pains, swelling in my feet and severe muscle weakness and joint pain. My head throbs on just one side very often and I feel light-headed. I have had complete blood work( including a sed rate) an EKG and stress test, all coming back NORMAL. From everything I have read lately, I believe that my problems may be from the Toprol.

Well I been taking toprol for a month and a half, I have realized that its helping me so far! For the last 4 years I been having this flutter in my chest, heart racing, and chest pains. I go to an emergency room, they tell me, "Oh your having an anxiety attack", and I just knew that something was going on, because the way I felt. So, now 4 years later, I'm diagnosed with SVT, a type of Arrythmia. The only time my blood pressure goes up is when my heart races, other than that its not high at all. How they found out I had SVT, is while I was at the ER, they caught it on the monitor. I'm hoping that this medication will help me, so far so good. Sometimes, I do get anxious, but thats a part of the anxiety I think!? Only thing I have noticed is when i go to bed, I am asleep, and the next morning I feel like I been beat up while sleeping. I'm restless.

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

I am 26 years old and have been on toprol xl for 7 years. I started on 50 mg and now my doctor has increased the dosage to 200mg. I am exhausted 24-7, I have joint pain so bad I can hardly function. i can't even hardly keep up on my housework and I can't work. My hair is falling out and has for 2 years now. I have no sex drive which is ruining my marriage. I just had bloodwork done and my tryglyceride level is 915 which it is suppose to be below 150. I just saw an article that said beta blockers will raise tryglycerides(which is fat in your blood). Also I still have high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, chest pains, palpatations, and "episodes" where i become really hot, pale, nauseated, have severe chest pains, cant move, and weird heart beats and my doctor doesnt know whats wrong. My doctor puts me on a special diet and tells me to exercise. I eat better than most people and still weigh 200 lbs. and I am 5 feet tall. I try to exercise but I am so tired and hurt so much, it is just about impossible for me to do. I felt this way for many years and my doctor doesnt seem to care. she blows me off when i keep telling her how I feel. I didnt even really know toprol could cause such harsh side effects. and now that i know that is why i feel so bad I cant do anything about it because i tried one time to get off the toprol for one day and almost ended up in the hospital because of how bad i felt(my heart)

I have been on Toprol XL 50MG for 6 months for Right Ventrical Outflow Track Tach (RVOT) am 46yr male.

Side effects:

1. Weight gain (180 to 195) despite dieting
2. Tiredness
3. Very Low heart rate (Resting heart rate is now 40)
4. Just started having Vertigo (Extreme dizziness when sitting up)
5. Chest pains
6. Familiar Tremors have stopped (This is a benefit)

The RVOT symptoms have subsided but I'm not sure that it is worth it.

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

my side effects are a horrible tiredness that does not subside.weakness,diarrhea,chest pains.my doctor doesnt seem to think these are important.i do any one know how to help me?

I'm male and 34 yrs. old and 168 lbs. I've used Toprol XL 50 mg for almost 10 months now. There's got to be a better drug than this. On the first 4 weeks, I experienced sporadic nightmares and waking-up with cold sweats. I gained 12 lbs immediately, had difficulty getting up from bed in th morning, mild depression, leg pains, low sex drive. On some occassions, I'd feel incoherent and having difficulty making quick decisions. I guess that's also related to loss of mental focus. It came to a point in the following weeks when I left town for the weekend and forgetting my Norvasc and Toprol. I thought two days wont hurt. The 2nd day, my heart-beat sored to almost 130 bpm. My BP was 173/108. I had ice-pick chest pains, palpitations and shortness of breath. I wound up in the emergency room. The doc at the hospital suspected my heart went cold-turkey on Toprol XL. They then gave me the same dosage and an hour later along with Norvasc got me under control. I don't like this med. I was told by some doctors , once you're in it, its tough to get out of it. It is something I'll have to take for the rest of my life. Also, stopping the med may cause cardiac arrest. Dunno if that's true. I did try spliiting my Toprol in half and it has reduced the side-effects on me. I still want out of it though. Anyone having the same dillema?

I am a 41 yr old female who has been taking 25mg of Toprol for almost 2 months for high BP. I immediately started experiencing chest pains and muscle pain on my left leg. Doctor told me she doubted if it was caused by the Toprol. EKG, ECHO did not show any abnormally with heart. I reduce dosage to pill (12.5 mg) and side effects are almost gone. My BP has never been better 110/70. But I have noticed a reduction on my sex drive these past 2 weeks - could it be the Toprol??

I have taken BP meds for about 20 years and never experienced this effect ever. In the last year a new Doctor because of insurance purposes change my meds to Toprol from Diovan. He increased and decreased several times and then had me stop,cold turkey. Which I should have never done. My hair fell out and I experienced mood swings, chest pains, and numerous other side effects. I have since went to another Doctor and have been regulated. I went from 180mg of toprol to only taking 10mg of Altace now. Thank goodness I found out in time.

finger joints hurt, weight gain, anxiety when missed, chest pains