9th December 2006
It's not unusual for people on beta blockers (like Toprol) to experience fatigue, dizziness, etc. I am on metoprolol (the generic, not time released version) of Toprol and have had no problems, but I know people who have had to switch to another beta blocker. I have no scientific evidence to back it up, but I tend to suspect timed release versions of any med are more prone to side effects, so you might do okay just switching to the metoprolol (which you'd have to take 2 x per day rather than once). It would also be cheaper (time release meds are a way for the drug manufacturers to continue to make $$ on the same old drug when their patent expires, though they may also have very useful benefits in some people).
Gastric side effects are relatively common with most of the meds you're on. I personally would never take Vytorin...it is a "combo" drug, i.e. it's two drugs in one. You likely need the Zocor that is part of it (a statin), but you need to be changing what you eat anyway, so why take the part of it that works on your intestines to remove the cholesterol you eat (and if I read the info about it right, also plant phytosterols which are usually good for you). And if it works to lower your cholesterol numbers, how does anyone know which of the 2 drugs is working?? It may have a place for some people, but my docs see no need for it, especially as the first drug that is tried. And given how Vytorin works on your intestinal tract, it only makes sense to me that it would have gastric side effects.
Muscle aches and weakness are a potential sign of the most serious side effect of the statins and should not be ignored (though it can be hard to figure out what's causing them as most of us tend to get them as we get older. This serious side effect is rare, however.
As you may have heard, the newest FDA recs this week are that people stay on both Plavix and aspirin for at least a year after stent placement so I don't think there's much you can or should do about that unless you begin to experience bleeding or excessive bruising. (You will likely get another opinion on that from a regular poster soon).
So, to summarize, I'd be asking my doctor: (1) why do I need Toprol XL; can we try metoprolol or another beta blocker and, (2) why do I need Vytorin; can we try just the Zocor, or Lipitor and I promise I'll eat less cholesterol and saturated fat and transfat.
Hope this helps and I'm sure others will come along soon with their take on some of this.
Gastric side effects are relatively common with most of the meds you're on. I personally would never take Vytorin...it is a "combo" drug, i.e. it's two drugs in one. You likely need the Zocor that is part of it (a statin), but you need to be changing what you eat anyway, so why take the part of it that works on your intestines to remove the cholesterol you eat (and if I read the info about it right, also plant phytosterols which are usually good for you). And if it works to lower your cholesterol numbers, how does anyone know which of the 2 drugs is working?? It may have a place for some people, but my docs see no need for it, especially as the first drug that is tried. And given how Vytorin works on your intestinal tract, it only makes sense to me that it would have gastric side effects.
Muscle aches and weakness are a potential sign of the most serious side effect of the statins and should not be ignored (though it can be hard to figure out what's causing them as most of us tend to get them as we get older. This serious side effect is rare, however.
As you may have heard, the newest FDA recs this week are that people stay on both Plavix and aspirin for at least a year after stent placement so I don't think there's much you can or should do about that unless you begin to experience bleeding or excessive bruising. (You will likely get another opinion on that from a regular poster soon).
So, to summarize, I'd be asking my doctor: (1) why do I need Toprol XL; can we try metoprolol or another beta blocker and, (2) why do I need Vytorin; can we try just the Zocor, or Lipitor and I promise I'll eat less cholesterol and saturated fat and transfat.
Hope this helps and I'm sure others will come along soon with their take on some of this.