Is anyone taking this? After being in the hospital for heart issues my doctor switched my blood pressure medicine to this. It's supposed to slow down my heart rate too as my heart beats way to fast. The pharmacy warned me I'd have a bit less energy (oh great!) but I had no clue it would be this bad!
I can barely keep my eyes open at times. Especially for about the first 5 hours after I take it. My eye lids are so heavy. I am desperate for a nap each day! 8)
I'm wondering if anyone here has experienced this while taking this medicine? I hope this doesn't continue. I work out of town one day a week so I'm concerned about the drive. :-\
You're probably on a high dosage. I think all beta blockers drag you out. Is that the same med as Toprol?? Can't remember.
I don't know if it's the same. I've never heard of the one you mention. What does Beta Blocker mean? I see that word sometimes. Can you explain it in layman terms?
I'm on Metoprolol and have been for over 2 years. My doctor told me to take it before I go to bed because it makes you sleepy. It really helps me sleep quite soundly the first few hours after I go to bed. And I think it even help all thru the night. Since starting it I think I'm sleeping a lot better and sounder.
This might sound funny, but I find sometimes when my eyes are really heavy and I'm so tired I can't keep them open, I am not using drops often enough. Even if the trouble is your med, it might make your eyes feel a little better. Lucy
Good idea on trying it at night. I think I will start that tomorrow. Sometimes I wonder why I don't think of things as simple as that myself.
Yes, I'm using the drops more often since taking this med. When they are heavy it seems to help. Today I woke up with a very red and bloody looking eye. Stopped by the eye doctor but the front gal said it just looks like a broken blood vessel and to see if it gets better or worse. I'd never had one before so it freaked me out. 12 hours later it seems to be getting better.
I had the same thing. My doctor told me my body will adjust. She also had me split pills & slowly up my dose because it will make you very sleepy.
I'm not sure if you can take at night, that would be good!
I was only on it for a week because I couldn't tolerate even the smallest dose but it is a good drug for your symptoms.
Good luck. Carie
Yes, Metoprolol is the same as Toprol.
I just started Metoprolol over this past weekend. My heart has been racing for a long time. We did heart surgery in May to ablate the errant pathways they thought were causing the high heart rate. It did seem to help the times it would happen while just sitting, but I still have high heart rates and shortness of breath within 1-2 minutes of any (even minimal) exertion. My pacemaker (for my low rates) can record cardiac events. last week they checked the pacemaker and it recorded a whopping 76 events of heart rates over 160 beats per minute. This is why we started the Metoprolol.
What dose are you taking Jozee? My cardiologist at Hopkins had me split the pills (like Engy) and slowly work up to the full dose.
I'm taking 50 mg. Is that a lot or low?
I think that is a moderate/average dose. I'm starting at 25mg because I have neurally mediated hypotension so we must be careful with it dropping my BP. Once I get used to it, we'll increase to 50mg.
I have been on 25 mg for quite awhile. On the metoprolol my heart rate is usually around 50. When I was taking 50 mg. I couldn't do anything. Strange that even though my heart rate is a bit slow, my blood pressure is high.
That much would knock me over! I know I've taken Toprol. Don't know if it was 25 mg or half that. I was taking atenolol for a long time and could only take HALF the 25mg!! I needed it for tachycardia... not BP. Too much and my BP would tank.
That is the same problem I have now. I'm taking the lowest dosage of Verapamil for A-fib. It still makes my BP low.
Metoprolol is often taken at bedtime or late in the day, I've been on it for over a year and I've had excellent results with it, for myself I take it in the morning and I take my blood pressure medication at night or my blood pressure drops too low.
Epson - nice to see you again! You haven't been around for a while - how are you?
Bucky
Epson: Ditto to what Bucky said. You've been missed and it's hard to find a laugh around here. Hope you are ok. Lucy
Jozee,
Yes, as stated before, Metoprolol is known by the brand name Toprol or Lopressor. It's used to treat high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms. etc. from what I've read. Beta Blockers are a class of drug used to help the heart relax therefore letting blood flow more easily. 50 mgs. seems to be a fairly common dosage.
I hope you begin to start feeling better! ;)
Epson,
I'll second or third that I'm glad to see you posting! ;) Please update us on how you are, ok? We've missed you.
Melinda
Okay, I am going to blow your socks off, I take 100 mg twice daily, with an additional 5 mg of Amlodipine AND another 10 mg of Ramipril. my heart rate is nice and low at around 50, but BP. Is still out of control. Just took it at 152/94...that is with the three BP meds. What to do now?
Quote from: sass on October 14, 2011, 07:28:32 PM
Okay, I am going to blow your socks off, I take 100 mg twice daily, with an additional 5 mg of Amlodipine AND another 10 mg of Ramipril. my heart rate is nice and low at around 50, but BP. Is still out of control. Just took it at 152/94...that is with the three BP meds. What to do now?
GoodNESS!!! I can't even begin to imagine!! I was on lisinopryl/ hctz 10/12.5 and atenolol 50 mg. Went on a cruise in march and got an ear infection and the flu and LOST 27 lbs. By the time I started getting over it, I started noticing that my blood pressure was really low - around 90/58. My pulse would be between 55-60 which is really low for me. Near fainting, lethargic, I panicked. Called my dr and she said that even tho' I was still over weight, losing that much was enough to prompt lower dosage. Now I'm off the hctz part which is great and 5 mg of lisinopryl and 25 of atenolol. Seems to be my just right dosage for now. I've often wondered if our bp issues aren't coming from the foods we eat or at least partially attributable. I really hope the drs get yours under control. That is so scary!!
Thanks Nara...we r working on it.. my weight is a new issue as well. My doc has adjusted some other meds, as she believes it is what is causing my sudden weight gain. Seems she is the only doc that cares, it feels like the rest just sweep me under the rug. sass
Quote from: sass on October 14, 2011, 07:59:22 PM
Thanks Nara...we r working on it.. my weight is a new issue as well. My doc has adjusted some other meds, as she believes it is what is causing my sudden weight gain. Seems she is the only doc that cares, it feels like the rest just sweep me under the rug. sass
Bless your heart! Maybe your son and family moving closer will help. What about putting your dad in a nursing home? I know that's probably the last thing you want to do but you have to consider your health and your hubbies. And I understand about drs sweeping you under the rug but I got so aggravated at one one time that I stood up in her face and told her that I am a human being and I deserve the chance at a normal life and I'm coming to you for help. If you don't want to help me, just say so and I'll fire you and find someone else. Otherwise please sit down and listen to me. Sass, you need to fight for your needs. I know it's tiresome and sometimes doesn't feel worth the effort but you matter.
sass, Let us know how you come along with your blood pressure meds. I know that my hubby had such high lower numbers for many years even while he was on medication.
We finally changed doctors and that one said that lower dosages of several medications work better than high dose of one medication. He was very right.
Hubby is now on Lopressor, Lisinipril, Triamterene/HCTZ and he was started about 1 1/2 years ago on the diltiazem for his atrial fib and this helped lower his blood pressure more.
The main goal is to keep that blood pressure low enough that it doesn't enlarge the heart or ruin the kidneys. My hubby is 73 and took meds since 1978--thankfully he was compliant so that his kidney function is still in normal range much of the time. There are times when the creatinine gets higher but often related to dehydration or antibiotics.
If possible, you might want to ask your doc about any new BP meds that have come out lately that might help. Be aware that when you start to lower the Lopressor you will have the quivers and have an erratic pulse at times from less suppression of the epinephrine. My hubby went through this years back and I truly thought he would die.
They tried to switch from his lopressor to a new med cold turkey. I could not count his pulse it was so fast and erratic. He came in the house and laid down on the floor in the entry he felt so lousy. His BP was impossible to take also. We couldn't get ahold of his doc so I finally gave him 1/4 of a lopressor and in one hour or so he was back to normal. Unbelievable how that one med can affect a person.
I am interested in how you come out on this. Good luck. irish ;D
OK Irish, You are making my heartbeat irratic just reading this. The lopressor (metoprolol) is to control my high heart rate already! I promise I will keep in touch. I am sure I just need tweeking! lol. sass