xanax could be my answer - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

kimberlyh34 · 11-12-2004, 10:34 AM

I have been on toprol xl for the last 5 months, I work for a dr. so I check my bp often and with the toprol its still 130 to 140 over 80 to 90, i was in the er with it 208/102 a couple weeks ago,after the er expierence I went to my dr. and he prescribed me xanax and said to take as needed, i have taken it for the last 3 days with my toprol and my bp has been around 116/72 for the last 3 days ,thats the very lowest it has ever been,my dr. said I have labile hypertension,does this mean I can possibly stop the toprol? or should I keep taking both? and does anyone know much about labile hypertension?on my last visit to my dr. a couple weeks ago he told me to take 2 toprol a day if my top number stayed over 130,but with the xanax its much lower,so I think Id rather take a xanax a day instead of another 50mgs.of toprol,any suggestions or opinions would help,

Random2 · 11-12-2004, 12:05 PM

Like I said before, I have the same thing as you. High B/P caused by anxiety. They could prescribe Toprol, Lotrel, Atenolol, Altace.... whatever, but once I go to the doc. my B/P goes up. Once I went on Xanax my B/P averaged 126/76 last year. One year later & I average 116/66.

Don't get hooked on it. You will need more MGS in time. I know through experience. I am already on 2-3 MGS a day. It causes me no side-effects & I feel great through the day. It still doesn't control my white-coat at the doc. though. 114/69 today, 115/65 yesterday (later on in the day).... I think that I am going to take a break from taking my B/P. After 20+ months of monitoring, it's time to wean off of these meds.... Atenolol is 1st, Lotrel is next. If my B/P goes up. I will go back on the Lotrel.

DMGW · 11-12-2004, 02:35 PM

Same here! I take 25 mg of Toprol and Xanax as needed. I have made the decision to use it that way but I admit it is tempting to want to feel that calm every day.

stackzone · 11-12-2004, 02:55 PM

Its amazing that veteran Cardios andGP's dont recognize white coat?????????

mgraylorn · 11-12-2004, 03:04 PM

Is there some reason you stick with Toprol? Have you tried other types of blood pressure medication? If you haven't tried any of the others, I'd suggest you get your doctor to let you try some of the other types and see if you get better bp control with something else.

Unless there is a reason you can't take another type of bp med - an ACE inhibitor, calcuim channel blocker, etc, I'd rather try something different than get hooked on an addictive anti anxiety drug.

Toprol started out good for me, but then it stopped controlling my bp very well, and give me pb spikes, mostly in the middle of the night. A cardiologist I went to said I was just anxious, but, surprise, surprise, I stopped spiking and got pretty decent control after I got off Toprol and went to a calcuim channel blocker and clonidine.

One final comment: DO NOT suddenly stop taking the Toprol. You must wean off it slowly or have severe rebound hypertension.