Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Toprol Side effects after one year
Answered by
Cleveland Clinic -
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
Post a Question Back to Forum
MedHelp Member's Question

Toprol Side effects after one year

by scamelo1, Oct 06, 2003 12:00AM
I have been on Toprol XL 50 for one year.  Recently I have had a problem swallowing and loss of appetite,  All tests so far have come back negative, including blood, thyroid, diabetes, endoscopy etc.   I have also had some lightheadeness, dizziness, weak feeling,shaking sometimes, feel like I am on a boat at times. I am doing best to eat more and have not lost anymore weight.  I am just wondering can side effects appear after a year of none.  I am starting to taper off slowly after visiting my Dr.  Most seem to think that side effects appear right away, not a year later.  I have lost 12 pounds recently in less than a month and even though I have stopped the weight loss, am wondering if that could have an effect on the toprol strength.  I have been told it could also be anxiety, but I am not prone to that and have never ever had this before. Any thoughts would be appreciated.



Thanks so much
Doctor's Answer

by Cleveland Clinic, Oct 06, 2003 12:00AM
scamelol,



While beta blockers have alot of side effects, I can't really think of a way to associate yours with your beta blocker.



The weight loss and swalloing dysfuction are very concerning however. Other test you might consider include swallowing stuy to evaluate whether you have a neurologic cause of your symptoms.



The weight loss shouldnt effect your beta blocker response to a large degree.



good luck



Good luck.
Member Comments (33)

by tessa0825, Oct 06, 2003 12:00AM
This is just a thought but you dont mention it in your post....Some of your symptoms sound like your BP might be dropping to low at times...If thats so, maybe your Drs. just need to adjust your meds...good luck, Tessa

by scamelo1, Oct 06, 2003 12:00AM
Thanks so much for your thoughts,  I never thought of that, but you never know.  Does low blood pressure cause dizziness, weakness and such?  still don't know what the appetite thing is, but working on it.

by tessa0825, Oct 06, 2003 12:00AM
Yes, I take toprol also, along with demedex and hyzaar for BP control...That combination works good for me..Years ago I was put on a lg daily dose of lasix for BP control and it lowered my BP to much and I had alot of weakness and dizzyness and it even made my vision blurry.....Good luck....Tessa

by scamelo1, Oct 07, 2003 12:00AM
Actually I was not thinking of the appetite as a side effect, but the dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness and shaking.   I might have to different issues.

by lmroswell, Oct 08, 2003 12:00AM
I started Toprol XL 100 MG in Feb. of this year.  Since I started this med, I have experienced excessive sweating while in the sun.  Not normal sweating, but dripping, even if I am not doing much.  Does anyone think this is a side effect from Toprol?  I have never been much of a sweater and live in humid FL.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.  When I mentioned this to my doctor, he attributed it to possible anxiety.  But, I am not an anxious person.

by scamelo1, Oct 08, 2003 12:00AM


I have never had the sweating as a side effect, but on the contrary have gotten cold.  I have read other posts on other boards that some people get cold for an hour or two after getting toprol.  The sweating could be so many other things.  I have been on half dose toprol for a few days and am slighty better from dizziness and weakness and even have a hair more of an appetite.  can't wait to wean off the whole thing to see for sure if this is what is causing me to feel so off.

by lmroswell, Oct 08, 2003 12:00AM
To: scamelo1
Have you considered your symptoms of lightheadedness, dizziness, weak feeling, and shaking to possibly be caused by low sugar in your system, due to you not eating as much.  Are your symptoms improved if you eat or drink something?  It is just a thought.  If you lack of appetite persists, I would definitely persue the issue with your doctor.  Even if you do not feel like eating (wish I had that problem) you should still try to get something down.  I think it would make you feel better.  Thanks for your input.  Hope you are feeling better...

by scamelo1, Oct 08, 2003 12:00AM




Hi, I was tested for diabetes,  came back a 90 which is very normal.  I had some chicken and rice today.  this was a milestone.  I also ate 3/4 of a banana without the water chaser after every bite.   I think Tapering off the Toprol is helping.  I have only been at 1/2 dose for a few days, but today I feel a hair better.  Still dizzy and such, but not as much.  Still thinking maybe the toprol gave me depression and I did not realize it.  Its a shot in the dark, but with so many other tests coming back normal I don't know where else to go.



I never had an appetite problem, always a few pounds overweight.  But this is not the way to lose them so fast.

by 3rdMajor, Oct 09, 2003 12:00AM
I believe depression can be a side effect of toprol.  Anxiety accompanies the depression.  The depression explains the weight loss, and the anxiety covers the other symptoms. I note that you state that you are not prone to anxiety.  I just mention this, because people who have never suffered depression or anxiety, often dont recognize them for who they are.

by scamelo1, Oct 10, 2003 12:00AM




Hi,  Thanks for your information.  I think you might be right. Always have problems like everyone else, but never that I know of depression.  Nervous about things and some things make me anxious ( like moms stroke) yes of course.



I have been on the 1/2 doseof Toprol (25mg) for just barely a week.  I actually ate good breakfast today and my appetite has improved. I don't even care at this point if I gain all that weight back if I could just be normal again.  I am still jittery, shaky and lightheaded, but not as much.  Still weak and tired, but no where as weak as I was.  



I still don't know for sure if the Toprol was the culprit, but I will be on 1/2 dose every other day starting tomorrow and hope this will help.  I just don't get how I could have been on it for almost a year with nothing ( unless depression starts slowly and takes a while?) and them wham, big time problems, unless the weight loss made my body responde differently.



A big thank you for all your help, it really does make a difference.

by sunny_one, Oct 10, 2003 12:00AM
I took Toprol XL briefly about one year ago and ended up in the hospital. It was to treat occasional palpitations - single palpitations about twice a month. Still don't know why my doctor prescribed it as my blood pressure has always been on the low side, but without symptoms. It was a horrible experience and I've since found a wonderful doctor who is very thorough and dedicated.



The interesting thing is that my benign PVCs and PACs have greatly increased over the past year and finally caught a bunch on a monitor - I have also had periods of low blood pressure, lots of PVCs, fatigue, and upset stomach. I was just diagnosed with dientamoeba fragilis - an intestinal parasite. Anyone heard of this? I wonder if this could have caused me to be so miserable...

by scamelo1, Oct 11, 2003 12:00AM




Wow,  How did you get diagnosed with the parasite?  Goes to show that you never know what you have.  My BP was high, until I lost the weight and was still on the toprol.  I feel so much better ( but not quite normal) on the 1/2 dose.  Today I start the every other day and hope when I taper off I hope it will do the trick. If my BP goes up I will have to go on something else, hopefully somehting that won't make me nuts, but  yet it took a year and some weight loss to do it, so yo never know.  



Do  you think it was the toprol or the parasite that made  you go to the hospital and so sick?

by scamelo1, Oct 11, 2003 12:00AM
By the way, yesterday I had 3 meals for the first time since August. Not sure if its coincidence with the toprol tapering off of not, but had an appetite and no swallowing problems.  Even swallowed a little with no drink like in the old days!!    Started a few days after tapering off, I hope it lasts.  Now to see about the BP!!