Weaning off Toprol XL

7/21/08 11:03pm

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

Tina

7/27/08 1:49pm

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.

sks

7/28/09 6:05pm

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

Jennb

8/16/09 7:23pm

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.

Ruby

10/28/09 3:16pm

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..

gina

8/ 5/08 9:16pm

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?

Mark

8/14/08 6:37pm

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.

gina

8/15/08 12:08pm

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?

Tina

7/30/09 7:47pm

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.

Mark

7/31/09 6:35am

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

Mark

Ruby

10/28/09 3:19pm

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..

CAH

12/29/11 3:22pm

I have had heart palps and tachycardia almost my whole life. Doc finally prescribed me a 7-day heart monitor which diagnoses me. They put me on 50mg daily of Toprol XL and I haven't had 1 single problem. It got rid of my palps and I feel sooooo much better. I am sorry that you all are experiencing such horrible symptoms. Maybe they have you on too high of a dose??? I do need to talk to my doc asap about being on this drug if I become pregnant (I am not currently pregnant, but would like to start trying.)

kimv

2/ 4/12 11:04am

Yes, I would agree that for me, Toprol was great!! I suffered with a lot of palpitations and would get anxiety with it. Was put on 25 to start out, but I've been on a very small dose, 12.5 for years and it has been a life saver. Would recommend this med to anyone who is trying to control their palps.

kimv

2/ 4/12 11:04am

Yes, I would agree that for me, Toprol was great!! I suffered with a lot of palpitations and would get anxiety with it. Was put on 25 to start out, but I've been on a very small dose, 12.5 for years and it has been a life saver. Would recommend this med to anyone who is trying to control their palps.

Mark

3/ 3/12 8:14am

Has anyone gotten acid reflux/heartburn after taking beta blockers, i.e. metoprolol/toprol?

Originally 4 years ago I was on them for about 1 year and never had a problem Almost 4 years later I am back on them and within a day or so I got GERD type symtoms. Now I have to take acid reducing medication.

Thanks

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