Prior to a cardiac cath in November, my cardiologist put me on Lopressor 25 mg. X 2 daily.
I think this is the worst stuff I have ever taken.
My cath was fine- my arteries are clear. My shortness of breath was probably allergic asthma or the lousy weather here in Michigan. Had the cath due to family history of cardiac probs.
I have slight high blood pressure, and take Diovan 160 mg. No problem with that. So here are my complaints about metropolol:
I am sooooooooooooooo tired all the time.:yawn:
I have gained weight.:mad:
My face is puffy.
My legs feel like they weigh 100 lbs. each when I climb the stairway.
I wake up every three hours at night.
Coffee doesn't even wake me up.
I almost fell asleep at a red light when driving home from work.
I am crabby most of the time.
I always feel like I am hungry.
I have NO sex drive.
I get real hot, then have chills.
My joints are so sore and achy I feel like I have arthritis. I went to my GP for hand pains, and x-rays reveal NO arthritis, just vague" inflammation" ?
I have no ambition to do anything.
I just sit when I get home , no energy to do my hobbies.
I feel like I am totally spaced out at times- like staring into space like a zombie- Yuk!:dizzy:
I don't feel energized anymore after my 15 minutes each on treadmill and bike.
My GP said to take one pill for a week, then quit.
I have read SO much scary stuff on the internet about how to taper off this junk- which way should I really do it? I don't want to end up in the ER with a stroke or something- any help will be appreciated....thanks all you boardmembers for a great website--- Annkay

So,

If I read you right Annkay, you are now taking BOTH Lopressor AND Diovan for a case of slight hypertension.
Since you've ruled out angina, I think you can very likely toss the Lopressor (metoprolol) and see if the Diovan will do the full job for you. Side effects form Toprol, or any beta-blocker, can indeed be anathema to quality of life.

BUT you must wean off it. Two good choices: try taking just the morning dose for a week or two. IF this leaves you jittery and tachycardic after 23 hours, then split the pills and take half every 12 hours. If not, then you can wean faster.
In either case you will be getting 25 mg./day for awhile.
When you feel sort of normal with the 25 mg. total then you can drop down even more, to maybe 1/2 pill every morning.
Then nothing.

If you have a BP monitor, check often to see that your BP isn't going too high.
After a month off the drug, you can ascertain whether you should up the Diovan or add a diuretic to get good enough BP numbers. I like the second choice.

So,

If I read you right Annkay, you are now taking BOTH Lopressor AND Diovan for a case of slight hypertension.
Since you've ruled out angina, I think you can very likely toss the Lopressor (metoprolol) and see if the Diovan will do the full job for you. Side effects form Toprol, or any beta-blocker, can indeed be anathema to quality of life.

BUT you must wean off it. Two good choices: try taking just the morning dose for a week or two. IF this leaves you jittery and tachycardic after 23 hours, then split the pills and take half every 12 hours. If not, then you can wean faster.
In either case you will be getting 25 mg./day for awhile.
When you feel sort of normal with the 25 mg. total then you can drop down even more, to maybe 1/2 pill every morning.
Then nothing.

If you have a BP monitor, check often to see that your BP isn't going too high.
After a month off the drug, you can ascertain whether you should up the Diovan or add a diuretic to get good enough BP numbers. I like the second choice.

Update on withdrawal:

I am now almost two weeks without the Lopressor---and I feel great! I had three days of jumping heart-rate ( five or six seconds long) about three or four times.......then it went away!
I have my energy back- I no longer feel like napping constantly, I do not feel as sad- in fact, I am starting to feel pretty happy for most of the day!My BP is running anywhere from 128/75 to 148/85 and I am continuing my 160 mg. Diovan each evening.
I can climb stairs now without the LEAD leg feeling, but- a new problem may be starting- I am getting little headaches during the day- is this my beta receptors healing? any answers will be appreciated- thanks! AK

I can climb stairs now without the LEAD leg feeling, but- a new problem may be starting- I am getting little headaches during the day- is this my beta receptors healing? any answers will be appreciated- thanks! AK

Beta Blockers like metoprolol keep the arterioles of the heart and brain dilated. Thus they are often used to prevent migraine/vascular headaches in those who have headache tendencies. It's possible that your arteries are more capable of consticting without the Lopressor and thus the frequent slight headaches. Just a guess.
Since you haven't been on the drug very long, the headaches will probably soon pass.