Generic Name: Toprol-XL for High Blood Pressure (metoprolol)
Toprol-XL for High Blood Pressure Reviews
"Was on Toprol XL for only 6 weeks and had to get off of it quickly. HORRIBLE anxiety/panic attacks, constant arrhythmia, tachycardia, passing out, hypoglycemia, hallucinations, nightmares, Raynaud's syndrome, etc. This drug almost finished me off. I had 13 severe panic attacks since starting it, and if I wasn't as healthy a person as I am, I am certain it would have given me a heart attack. I am now exactly 8 weeks off of it. Most of the horrible symptoms have stopped, except the arrhythmia that comes and goes. In my opinion, Toprol is a serious endocrine disrupter and should be pulled from the market. It is a very dangerous drug. Can't believe how sick I became after starting it. Screw all pills. I can control my BP with diet. I truly regret ever putting one of these poisonous pills in my mouth."
"I was on Toprol-XL and experienced many of the 41 side effects listed on the website but not included with the warning label. I experienced nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, lightheadedness, cold feet & hands, shortness of breath, wheezing, fluttering heartbeat, shortness of breath with mild exertion, dizziness, loss of appetite. I went to the doctor and ER several times fearing a heart attack but was found to be in good health. No one knew what was wrong until I researched and found all my symptoms under this medication. I stopped 2 days ago and blood pressure is now normal and most symptoms have gone away and improving. It takes about 7 days to feel normal per the website. I will NEVER take this medication again. Be careful, the side effects mimic other potential health issues. See your doctor and seriously look up side effects of Toprol-XL. A very nasty medication!"
"Wow! I have not been feeling well for a long time. Until Toprol XL 25mg. My head is clear. I can think straight. I don't have any anxiety. My work performance is at its greatest level. Even my sexual drive is back. I get up rested in the morning and feel no fatigue. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm glad to take this medication."
"I was prescribed Toprol-XL 25mg, 1x/day, as part of a long-term treatment for elevated (but not high) blood pressure. I found a distinct and bothersome reduction in my energy levels and focus. I have been taking 25mg daily of DHEA and find that blood pressure levels and pulse rate levels remain lowered, but energy, focus, and some vague emotional benefits are noticeable."
"I have been taking Toprol-XL for about 8 years now. I started at 10mg, then 50mg, and now at 100mg. It has brought my blood pressure under control - was 150/80, now at 130/70. Also brought down my heart rate, which was 88 resting to 60 resting. I am a light smoker who has asthma/mild COPD. Metoprolol has shown no effect on these conditions as my PF and FEV1 have not changed. PROS: Reduced blood pressure to normal, reduced anxiety levels. CONS: Tired (mild), weight gain (mild), erectile dysfunction (mild), heart skipping a beat (occasional only and mild)."
"Took this for migraines and seemed to work great for months. I had about a three-month stretch when I noticed I had a constant low-grade fever, achy, and flu-like symptoms. After much research, determined it was due to the beta blocker. Went off them and felt my old self again."
"This is an update to a post I made in October 2021. I discontinued Toprol due to nasty side effects after only 2 months of use (severe anxiety, panic attacks, severe depression, insomnia, swelling of extremities, bloat/gassy, blurred vision, icy hands/feet, arrhythmia, shortness of breath, chest vibrations). It's been 1 year and 3 months since discontinuation. I am STILL experiencing off and on arrhythmia. I've had a thorough exam and testing with 30-day monitoring from 2 different cardiologists. My heart is very healthy, no blockages, no disease. Neither cardiologist can find any reason for the persistent arrhythmia, nor will they believe me when I tell them I think the Toprol caused this long-term persistent arrhythmia. I've also had extensive endocrinology testing and nothing is coming up as a reason for this arrhythmia. NOTE: I've never in my entire life had any heart arrhythmia or palpitations UNTIL I took Toprol, and now it's a regular occurrence. This cannot be a coincidence."
"I had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) in March 17. I'm a 53-year-old male. Always had a higher heart rate and a family history of high blood pressure. I could actually feel the TIA coming on over a few weeks, but I'm a tough guy. Several drugs tried and failed. Lisinopril damn near killed me with a blood pressure of 175/133. Read a lot and switched to Toprol-XL, no generic!! I take 50mg at night, slow release. Feel great and few side effects. Pressures are good and heart rate is down. Sex still works and anxiety is cut in half. Good stuff. Takes a 1-2 week adjustment period. Relax and let it work."
"I have been taking TOPROL XL 100mg for at least 9 years. During that time, I tried METOPROLOL, and it did not control my blood pressure. The Toprol XL has worked great without side effects. However, I have reduced my salt intake, even to the extent of using red pepper on my eggs in the morning. I took it upon myself to reduce my dosage of TOPROL XL by cutting it in half because my pressure was much lower. I did this for about two weeks prior to a doctor's appointment, keeping a record of checks three to four times a day and giving it to my doctor. He ran an EKG, then reduced my dosage in half, and I'm checking out fine at around 120/70/67. I suggest checking your salt intake."
"I started taking Toprol XL 100mg one week ago. My blood pressure and pulse are much better. 125/75 and 75 pulse compared to 160/100 and 100 pulse. The only problem I am noticing is my sleep. I am not sleeping soundly. I toss and turn all night, something I guess I will get used to. Other than that, it is keeping me calmer, my heart is not racing nor is my head pounding. I have had high blood pressure for 12 years and tried many kinds of medications. I am hoping the new cardiologist is on the right track!"
"I have been taking Toprol-XL for 10 years. I began with 50 mg per day, and I am now at 200 mg per day. Unlike another report posted here, I am sleeping better while taking the medication. The only two side effects I've experienced are shakiness and nervousness when I miss a dose by even a few hours, and vague aural hallucinations (hearing things) while on the verge of falling asleep. I've seen the hallucinations reported by other Toprol-XL users on other sites."
"Lowered blood pressure to an acceptable level, but a major side effect developed with extreme fatigue and muscle pain. These were painful enough that the ability to work and perform normal life tasks was difficult."
"I have tried the generic version (extended-release) after using brand name Toprol XL. The generic did not work well for me. After a few days, it felt like I hadn't taken the medicine. Toprol XL works great, and when I swapped back to the original, I felt great again. There must be some difference in the release between the two. This med brings the BP into the 120's over low to mid 70's range where I was reg 140's/90's. It also helps bpm from mid 90's down to upper 70's."
"I have not liked this medication at all. I was taking 25 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide, which worked great to reduce and maintain my blood pressure, but a side effect was frequent urination, and as a teacher, that was a slight nuisance. However, with generic Toprol, I have not gotten a decent night's sleep, and my blood pressure went higher (although I halved the 25 mg pill due to the side effects). I also feel anxious and unsettled."
"I have been taking Metoprolol 25mg once a day for 13 days. It has lowered my heart rate by about 30 beats a minute but I am always tired, get chest pain, headache, and numbness. Little to no benefit in lowering my blood pressure (140/95's)."
"I started taking this medicine in 2006. It works to take the pressure off my heart, but it has caused me arthritis in my knees, hands, and feet. Now I am in pain most of the time. My hands have developed arthritis in both thumbs, my feet have it in my toes. I tried another AstraZeneca product called Atacand, and it works better, but it is so expensive I can't afford to buy it."
"Heart was missing a beat while working out. Saw my doctor, and after an EKG and a slightly elevated blood pressure, was put on 25 mg, which went to 100 mg over a period of 3 years. Kept blood pressure at home and was fine. Every time at the doctor's, it was like 150/90, never understood this. Last time, was placed on Lisinopril, this kicked my butt: dizziness, ear ringing, dry cough. Said heck with it and found a cardiologist. He took me off the ACE inhibitor and put me on Norvasc 10 mg, will see how it works."
"Taken for 4 yrs on low dose 25 mg. It helps but my heart rate stays low and after taking it I feel dizzy and short of breath. My bp was borderline high and my Dr prescribed it at 100 mg daily which was unbelievable. It doesn't take much if your young and relatively healthy"
"Toprol-XL eliminated periods of rapid heartbeat that began mostly in the evening, at age 36. It also reduced blood pressure along with other medicines (with Lotrel 10/40 in my case). I've had no noticeable side effects except for occasional sleeplessness and waking anxious at night."
"Before I started Toprol XL, I had migraines every day for a year. I had no idea that I had high blood pressure, and it wasn't really high, it was borderline. Anyway, I started taking the Toprol, and my migraines decreased, and the palpitations seemed to stop after about a month. I ended up only taking Toprol for 8 months, and I had no more migraines or palpitations, and of course, my blood pressure was under control. It stayed that way for about a year and a half until I became pregnant, and that seemed to trigger it all back. But I did the same thing and am fine now, and I never experienced any side effects."
"DON'T TAKE THIS POISON !!! I was on it only 2 months. Weaned off as directed after experiencing horrible side effects (fatigue, shortness of breath, bloating/gassy, weight gain, joint pain, limb swelling, facial swelling) and went through absolute nightmare getting off of this drug I had severe panic attacks, anxiety attacks, depression, insomnia, ARRHYTHMIA, vagus nerve disfunction, chest vibrations. It has been 8 months since I discontinued this awful drug and the arrhythmia continues on a regular basis. I never had any palps or arrhythmias ever in my life until I took Toprol and now its a daily problem. I fully regret ever taking Toprol. It was nothing but bad from the very first pill....."
"I am a 19-year-old healthy female, 5'2", 138 pounds, however, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. I was having readings as high as 165/106. My doctor prescribed me this, 25 mg once before I go to bed every night. I was on this for about two weeks before I started noticing a lot of hair falling out. Thank God she took me off before it got too noticeable, but other than this side effect, I feel it was a pretty decent medication, it definitely lowered my blood pressure."
"I was prescribed 25 mg a day about 2 1/2 years ago during a routine visit when I had a blood pressure of 150/90. Since that time, my BP has stayed around 115-125/60 something/low 70s. My resting heart rate varies from high 40s to low 60s/min. I also started swimming laps, which is off and on again. The medicine seems to work well for me without any noticeable side effects at all. Both my mom and dad had high blood pressure. I'm now in my mid-fifties, so I guess it's my turn now."
"Have been taking Toprol for about 7 years now, 50 mg once a day. During a recent health fair at work, my blood pressure was really high. Made an appointment with the doctor that day to re-evaluate and was found to be running a little high, 145/94. Doctor added an additional 50 mg a day."
"I have had many problems (one being that it took me a lot of time for my body to get used to it) with this product. The worst side effect has been the onset of diabetes, which this product is responsible for. The question I had of my cardiologist is why in the world would he prescribe it to a high-risk candidate like me -- I am Hispanic, in my 50s when it was prescribed. I informed my PA of this after my last crisis, and she is looking into prescribing a different product (one given at the hospital), but this after a few years on Toprol. I figure that without the change from this medicine, I don't stand a chance of reversing my diabetic condition."
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