question about toprol and side effects.

[DiMaSm13]

I am a 47 year old female with recently tachycardia.  On a loop monitor for 30 days and on toprol XL.  I am very tired.  At work I am ok, but when I get home I struggle some days to get up and go.  Doc talking about slow SVT or inappropriate sinus tachycardia.  Good stress test.  My question is that I was told by several family members to move taking the beta blocker to at night and this will help with the side affects.  It has to a degree.  When I did this though I was having many palpitations but not while I was over the extension of time without medication.  Each day I just did without the med for an hour to three hours and I didn't have a problem then.  I had it while I was on the med.  Why can't you take the toprol just as needed?

[LivingInHope]

Do you have worse tachycardia with standing versus laying or sitting?  If so, did they suggest you do a tilt table test to see if you might have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (P.O.T.S.)?

I was diagnoses with innappropriate sinus tachycardia first, and after a tilt table test, with P.O.T.S..   I.S.T. can be part of autonomic dysfunction.  If you haven't taken a look yet, you might be interested to look at medhelp's dysautonomia forum.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Dysautonomia-Autonomic-Dysfunction/show/266?camp=msc&personal_page_id=862335

[claytex]

Dear Di: I have taken toprol xl for about 12 years and have not had a problem with it.. The XL stands for extended life.. it is not all released at once in  your system..So I would say the reason you cant take it just when you have a problem is that your body does not get the full effect immediately.. You have to take it and build it up as I understand it.. dunno not a dr...but thats the way Ive always understood it.. basically its a very safe medication to take... hope this helps.. .claytex

[curmudgen]

Toprol XL is a slow release medication designed to deliver dose over 24 hour time period and it takes a week or so for the blood level to stabilize to achieve effect.  It shouldn't make any difference when you take it as long as it is the same time each day.  Have you discussed this problem with your doctor..perhaps a lower dosage or try another beta blocker.  I take 100 mg/day and don't notice any side effects, but drug response is variable.