I was on toprol-xl for almost 8 years without many problems. i al...

I am surprised that with COPD they let you be on Toprol - it can cause breathing problems and bronchospasms in the lungs. It is contraindicated in people with breathing problems.

What sort of side effects are you having? Is it giving you effective B/P control?

I was on it for 5 years - got switch to the generic and had to stop taking it - it gave me so many side effects - even switching back to regular did not help. Now I am off the Toprol. It was difficult process getting off.

I hope you find some relief and answers soon.

I have been on Toprol XL 50 mg 1 time a day for years. In December 2007 when I picked up my meds from Walgreens, they looked different. I commented that they look just like my Vytorin, but I take them both at the same time so it should be no big deal. Well....I just got out of the hospital, I was in there for PVC's, Bigeminy, Trigeminy, Afib, Aflutter, etc. I almost fainted several times for about a week. This had been happening almost weekly since december, I thought it was just stress. They didn't dare to give me the toprol in the hospital because my B/p was very low (because of the constant arrhythmia's I'm sure). I think it was because they suddenly stopped the toprol (I had nothing for 4 days!!) I have taken some form of beta blocker for 20+years, you can't just stop something like that. But my point is, I started feeling crappy and having PVC's back in Dec 2007 when they switched me to the generic Metoprolol Succinate ER!! I just got off the phone with my pharmacist and he said my insurance stopped covering the brand so he'll have to charge me $110.00 for 90 day supply. So be it. He still claims they are equivolent. I can't believe they changed me and I really didn't know this was going to happen. I have been miserable since Dec 07 I've been wracking my head trying to figure out why, after all these years of being SVT and PVC free, why now?? This is CRIMINAL. These things ruin my life. I can't believe more can't be done about them FDA checking the ingredients!!!

For those that have had these side effects, please fill out an online MEDWATCH form and send to FDA. You can find it by googling FDA Medwatch. It only took me a few minutes. You don't have to prove anything. The more reports they get, the more likely they'll investigate. They ask if you have some of the pills. They can easily do an analysis to see if it is the same as the brand name, or something is different. I quit after a week. I reported my side effects (tachycardia) to the pharmacist and the doctor, who both pooh poohed them. I feel so much better---I'd rather have high BP than take that stuff. The vigilent pharmacist or doc would have sent their own report to medwatch. Doctors don't do it---it's a pitiful few that do. So many people that posted here can't be neurotic.

I too have been on Toprol XL since my mitral valve replacement three years ago. I have a mechanical valve and all was going well. Then they come out with the generic brand and the insurance company wants me to switch.

After reading all the negatives about the generic, I have decided to pay out of pocket because I do not want to tamper with my health. I think the world we live in is full of greed and no one cares.

I can't believe that insurance companies dictate to the laymen what medication we should be taking. After all, it has been prescribed to us from our doctors who I think know better then these big businesses.

As gail suggested above I filed complaint with The FDA. 4 years ago money was none exsitant for me so my drugs including toprol xl was stopped abruptly with only one possible affect. After reading all these posts I stopped my medicines just for one day and greatly improved. I am wiening myself off this drug. I never had extremely high blood presure to begin with.Now if you have a good doctor he/she will write on your prescription medically necessary Do Not Subsitute. Good Luck

Is metoprolol succinate the generic equivalent to topol xl?