Weaning off Toprol XL

Mark Living With It Send Message Subscribe: Mark

Friday, July 18, 2008
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Hi, I am currently on 25mg Toprol XL 1x day. It has controlled my hr/bp. I had all the tests and my heart is ok with no coronary artery disease. I had a series of panic attacks that resulted in me thinking I had a heart so I was admitted into the hospital. I believe the cardiologist put me ...

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Sue
Monday, July 21, 2008 at 11:03 PM

Hi Mark - Thanks so much for your post. I think I saw your post on of our expert Alvin Hopkinson's. If not, check out his posts. He focuses almost all of his energy into natural remedies for high blood pressure. Keep in mind, it really is important to speak with a trained medical doctor about taking yourself off any kind of medication. Maybe start with your general doctor to see what he or she thinks. At the least you should consult your pharmacist - but a doctor is best.

All the best, sue

Getting off Toprol
Tina
Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 01:49 PM

Hi, I was originally put on 50mg of Toprol 1X day. I was extremely cold, had panic attacks and thoughts of suicide. I finally convinced my cardiologist to reduce me gradually to 12.5mg. No one seems willing to cut it off completely due to the risk of heart attack. I had had all the heart tests including a cardiac catherization and no signs of heart disease. I feel so betrayed by the medical system and the use of this drug. I was scared about being told that I had high blood pressure and not given the chance to control it naturally. I feel so trapped and so scared. This drug should be pulled off the market in my opinion. I had found another site but failed to book mark it with hundreds of comments from others who so desperately wanting to get off of this, but I cannot locate it again. I will keep trying because I did read one comment from someone who was successful in getting off. When I find it, I will pass it along.

re: Getting off Toprol
sks
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 06:05 PM

Hi, I know just how you feel..so betrayed by those who are supposed to help, and I agree Toprol and Meoprolol should be banned forever....I went to ER with palps and ended up having and SVT while there. They kept me for 2 days running the gammut of tests on my heart...they found nothing wrong, except my BP was a little high. They put me on 100mg/day (50 in am, 50 in pm). It has been 7 months and I still feel sick and drained all the time. The heat here does not help any either, when I go out during the hot days, I feel dizzy and have to go inside...can't wait to see what happens if we lose power..:(

I have weaned myself down to 25mg am and 25 mg pm and it is so hard. I have palps again and I will probably just have to take it slower the next time I drop myself down. My DR says I should not get off the stuff at all, but I hate this feeling so bad all the time, have not been able to work....will let you know at the next drop how it goes :) Take care

re: re: Getting off Toprol
Jennb
Sunday, August 16, 2009 at 07:23 PM

Hi, I understand that Toprol is not working for you, but I think it is unfair to ban it. It is the only medication that has helped me keep my blood pressure down without side effects.

I have tried natural ways to reduce it, but nothing has worked except for Toprol XL. Unfortunately, I inherited my high blood pressure from both of my parents.

I think it is crappy that you are taking something that makes you feel awful, but I wanted to speak up for those who are helped by Toprol XL.

re: re: Getting off Toprol
Ruby
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 03:16 PM

HI I feel exactly like you do I was too put on it in the ER and was on it for 3 years and then funny enough I was put on YAZ, and my heart rate soared.. after I figured that part off I got off the Yaz but they had put me on 200 mg of TOPROL XL, I never even had High Blood Pressure.. it toke me 4 months to get off of it and nearly died twice from the Rebound cuz it was so bad.. now I suffer from a CONSTANT HIGH HEART RATE that never goes away. but the two doctors I have seen or Caridologists insist there is nothing wrong with me when just walking around I mean the house that is my heart rate is now 110 or higher, when I NEVER HAD THIS BEFORE TOPROL.. it is POISON For those of you who are on it and need it or reading this and haven't had to get off of it.. pleaes understand you have no CLUE how we feel you didn't go thru what we went thru.

I am still on a mission to get this fixed but I beleive it's time to go all natuaral which is harder then you might think.. I just want my old heart rate back again.. the ONLY POSITIVE part of all of this is the ENDLESS list of SIDE EFFECTS I had on the drug is gone gone gone.. from being cold all the time, to losing feeling in feet and hands, nightsweats, anxeity and depression, constipation. gas, horrible acne, Blood Sugar was all over the place (now normal), gained 40lbs almost lost all of it now, fogetting words ( do you know they give it to soldiers who have PTSD to help them forget their trauma), dizziness and ringing in my ears, horrible broncho spams or asthma.. I think that covers some of it.. Oh and I went blind twice on it as well, this drug is no joke.. all of the above is gone and has been ever since I got off of it.. sorry to vent but I am releived to see that I am not the only one who suffered..

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gina
Tuesday, August 05, 2008 at 09:16 PM

My doctor just prescribed me 12.5 mg of toprol. I suffer from panic attacks and a accelerated heart rate. Had an echocardiagram last year and it came out normal-still having palpitations. I cut out caffeine-I do smoke. But was wondering if it was ok to take this with xanax or clonazepam?

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Mark
Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 06:37 PM

I take .05mg klonopin 1x at night with 25mg of toprol. These 2 meds are controling anxiety/blood pressure/heart rate 24/7. At times I want to rebel and get off these meds but I tell myself they are working so why fight it.

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gina
Friday, August 15, 2008 at 12:08 PM

Well, I took the toprol for a total of 1 week and it was horrible. I thought I was going to die. I couldn't breathe, my chest felt constricted and it made me very nervous and jittery. I stopped taking it. Has anyone else had these effects from it?

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Tina
Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 07:47 PM

I last posted in August 2008. I have been off Toprol for almost one year. I have finally started feeling good again and happy to be alive. The anxiety attacks, the constant fatigue, difficulty breathing and severe depression are all gone!! What I discovered in December before undergoing rotator cuff surgery is that beta blockers are routinely used in anesthesia. One of the reasons I was in such bad shape last year was that I had had a D&C in May, and sinus surgery in July. Never did anyone tell me that beta blockers were going into the IV. The amount I received for the sinus surgery really destroyed me.

After the sinus surgery my blood pressure started coming down, plus because of the severe depression, I was loosing weight really quickly. I could not even think about eating, I would become sick to my stomach. So after having the dose reduced to 12.5mg for about 3 weeks, I was told to take it every other day for 8 days and then stop it completely. It was not easy because the anxiety attacks and depression seemed to get worse after I stopped using Toprol but I knew that if I could get through the first couple of weeks things would get better. And they did. Do not reduce your dose without your doctor giving his OK. Good luck.

thank you
Mark
Friday, July 31, 2009 at 06:35 AM

Thank you very much for your response Tina. How long were you taking Toprol before you started to wean off it?

Mark

re: Untitled Comment
Ruby
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 03:19 PM

I posted above back when you were still trying to get off of the TOPROL under RUBY, and I am so glad to hear you are doing well now.. good luck on your path to healing..