Have any of you ever suffered from the many side effects of the <span title="medication....................?">medication..................</span>

Question

"Toprol". I was prescribed this medication for high blood pressure about six months ago and I have reached the point where I can hardly breath sometimes. I am always tired and have gone from being a fairly strong person to being so weak I can hardly push a grocery cart , I have gained weight and I sleep a lot. A few weeks ago, I cut back on the prescribed amount without telling the doctor and started feeling some better. When I told him about this, his eyes glazed over but he did agree for me to take a smaller dose. I also told him to consider another medication other than Toprol for my blood pressure. He then told me that Toprol would also protect my heart and not to stop taking it completely as that would cause severe chest pains or even a heart attack! I then ask him why he would prescribe a blood pressure medicine that could potentially cause a heart attack? I was angered because of the side effects and now I am quite mad about it. There must be other blood pressure medications that are less damaging to one's system than Toprol. Help please.

Answer 1

Toprol is a beta blocker..there are many alternative medications for high blood pressure such as atenolol, metoprolol, clonidine, Lasix, hydrochlorothiazide, You may want to do a search for these medications and research what the possible side effects are. As well, once you have gathered your research information, take it in with you to your next doctors appointment.Good doctors work with thier patients.

Answer 2

Because if your blood pressure gets over a certain threshold you&#039;re dead in about three years more or less.

If you stop taking it, your blood pressure will suddenly shoot back up putting a massive strain on your heart and vascular system very quickly. This is not the medication causing the heart attack.

Beta-blockers have no long term damage potential, are very safe meds, and there are dozens of them you can try. Just keep in mind that high blood pressure is deadly, deadly serious. As someone else mentioned you will trash your heart, kidneys, and just about every organ in your body in rather short order, assuming you don&#039;t get into the magic 180+ systolic range where things stop working completely. Switch meds, there are dozens of beta blockers, you can find one you can tolerate - Propranolol is rather popular for one.

Answer 3

Toprol isn&#039;t damaging, but if you don&#039;t feel well taking it, your doctor needs to switch you to a different medication that you will take. Is the Toprol working for your hypertension? There are other beta blockers, alpha-beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, etc. you can take to lower blood pressure.

What the doctor should have clarified is that you shouldn&#039;t *suddenly* stop taking Toprol - to get off it, you need to taper down the dose. Find a doctor who will listen to you and work with you. High blood pressure is serious - untreated, it will trash your kidneys, heart and brain.