Bystolic for High Blood Pressure User Reviews (Page 2)
Bystolic has an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from a total of 206 reviews for the treatment of High Blood Pressure. 51% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 32% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Bystolic
- Mom...
- June 15, 2015
"I'm a 54-year-old non-smoker, 5'8''/145 lbs & healthy all my life. Developed labile hypertension 5 years ago. Dr. first prescribed 25mg metoprolol in 2010, dose increased to 50mg in 1/2014. BP was controlled on Metoprolol but still not always ideal. Dr. felt metoprolol was the best med, since it has been around for decades with a proven track record. New dr. this past April gave me some samples of 5mg Bystolic. I have been taking it for about 6 weeks and I feel SO MUCH BETTER! No fatigue, no depressed feeling & better exercise tolerance-HIGHLY recommend. BP great! Give yourself 2-3 weeks to adjust to new med. Drawback it is more expensive than Metoprolol, but it's worth it."
- Ms ...
- April 17, 2012
"I am a 53-year-old African American female. My doctor said that my heart rate at rest was too fast, blood pressure was borderline, and I had mild left ventricle thickening. He prescribed 2.5 mg of Bystolic. I always feel like I have a chlorine taste in my mouth, my breathing does not seem as deep, and I have a strange sensation in my chest all the time. I feel more sluggish during exercise, but I have lost 16 pounds since on the medication since October. I am on a low-fat diet and I walk 2 miles daily. I think it is a good medication; I just wish I didn't have to take anything. I'm just not the same."
- Bob...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 24, 2018
"I took Bystolic 5mg for the first time in the morning and by late afternoon I all of a sudden felt flushed, really cold, and started shaking badly. My wife took me to the ER and about 45 minutes later, it subsided. ER Dr. could not say the Bystolic caused it but recommended not taking it again. That was last August, and I have not been the same since. I reported my experience to the FDA online for what it’s worth. It could have been an anxiety or panic attack, which I never had before. I got my BP down with diet, exercise, lowering stress, and working with a new Dr. now. But if I do need to take medicine in the future, I have no idea which one is the safest. But trying one and going to the ER is not going to happen to me again. As a society, we need to treat the cause of high BP and other health issues, not the symptoms."
- Anonymous
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- December 20, 2012
"48 y/o male with blood pressure averaging 156/102 with spikes to 200/110. This medicine helped stabilize my blood pressure to about 115/65 now. No major side effects but need to watch my glucose level since it's a beta blocker."
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.- Ton...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- May 19, 2020
"I have been taking Bystolic for 3 years for high BP and mitral prolapse. I'm 62. It was very effective at first for BP. The dosage raised over time from 5 mg to 20 mg. Now, less effective for BP - prolapse has evidently not worsened. I frequently feel tired now. I exercise regularly but require more effort when on this drug. My other complaint is chest pain and low heart rate, face rash, and I often have a pounding heart sensation. My goal is to lose 25 lbs (I'm 5'11", 218 pounds) in the hope that I can stop taking this med. The side effects are numerous for me, and I worry about the longer-term impact since it slows your heart rate so much. I will be seeking advice for an alternative med. The chest pain is the most worrying symptom (my stress tests/calcium scans are good)."
- Bra...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- May 28, 2013
"I'm a 66-year-old Caucasian male who has suffered an increase in blood pressure since my late 50s. In reading the reviews, I've realized how many side effects I've been experiencing: swollen feet and ankles, chronic tiredness, multiple nighttime awakenings, leg cramps, and significantly decreased libido. This last effect is what grabbed my attention most severely, so I will stop taking Bystolic."
- Pau...
- July 2, 2018
"I’ve been on Bystolic 5 mg since March 2018 when I started to feel my heart flutter a couple of times a week. Besides the Bystolic, I’ve been on lisinopril 40 mg, pravastatin 20 mg, and 80 mg low-dose aspirin for about 5 years. I’ve noticed what feels like dizziness, lightheadedness, and disorientation, especially when I’m driving. And it always seems to be the right side of my head/face. Today I had really bad episode(s) going to work and driving home. I had to pull over to the side of the road this morning until it passed, but then it came back so quickly I couldn’t find a place to pull over, so I ended up driving the rest of the way to work verbalizing, 'you're okay, you're okay,' just to focus on something besides that feeling. The same thing happened on my way home. I’m terrified that I’m going to pass out or drive off the road and kill someone or myself. This med has also caused me to gain weight, lose focus and memory, diminished sex drive, and can’t fall asleep."
- Mim...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- April 18, 2019
"I’ve been taking Bystolic since 8-18. My pulse rate dropped to 45 and blood pressure to 100/20. All my symptoms completely went away. No feeling my heart flutters, no chest heaviness. Now all that is great, but immediately I stopped caring for anyone or anything. All I want to do is sleep, although I take this drug at bedtime. As long as everyone leaves me alone, I feel great, but I lose my temper very quickly. I can’t exercise, I have no energy. If I try to do anything active, I can’t breathe. The loss of energy and motivation is ruining my life. Calling my doctor tomorrow."
- nck...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- April 19, 2015
"34 y/o female on HBP meds since severe bacterial infection wiped out 3/4 of kidney function 5 years ago. Had been on 100mg/day of Metoprolol, and it caused mind-numbing fatigue and fogginess. Frankly, I realize now I was over-medicated. Doctor switched me to 5mg/day Bystolic, and I felt like a new woman overnight! No fatigue, and the only noticeable side effect (like someone else mentioned) was that it knocked back my libido some, which wasn't a terrible thing and isn't affecting me that much. I can get through a workday without taking a nap at lunch and actually have a life after hours now. I'm glad I took a chance on this med!"
- arw...
- December 11, 2014
"I have been on this medicine less than 2 years... 5mg, recently changed to 2.5mg per day. I have had no side effects, feel great. I do have more energy, most likely because my blood pressure is where it is supposed to be. I am a female in my early 50s, and this is my first experience with blood pressure meds."
- REN...
- August 16, 2017
"I have been sick ever since I have taken this medication, 20 mg. Memory loss, jitters, anxiety, panic attacks, cold chills... this has been a complete nightmare. After reading the reviews above, maybe I can get some help - every doctor I have been to kept saying maybe it's depression... what are you depressed about? I am not depressed for crying out loud. This is another failed medication that's causing folks to become sick. I have been carted off the road twice from this medication because of anxiety from these pills. My life has been a living hell."
- Rup...
- February 28, 2012
"I'm definitely sensitive to BP medicine. I am 40 years old, 6'3'' and physically fit. I workout almost every day (run, cycle, lift weights). Unfortunately, I have Isolated Systolic Hypertension (the systolic runs high but the diastolic is normal). My BP varies from 140/75 to 165/80. I have tried just about every medication for BP on the market, with either no success or with side effects I could not tolerate. With Bystolic, it has failed, even at doses of 20mg, to get my systolic BP controlled. The real problem for me is that it has 100% eliminated ANY sexual desire. I'm not talking about erectile dysfunction, I mean it makes me not even care about it. It also has the sticky throat feeling where you need to clear it constantly. Back to square one."
- CoD...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- August 17, 2019
"Started on 20 mg Bystolic after a bout of tachycardia. Had been taking diltiazem 360 mg. Felt dizzy, and BP fell too low on 20 mg, so lowered to 10 mg a day. Worked pretty well for 6 months, but I have recently begun exercising routinely and have lost about 20 pounds (235 down to 214 this morning). Now my HR has slowed to under 50 bpm, and I feel light-headed most of the time. Going to titrate down to 5 mg over the next few days and see if that helps. Doctor's appointment in another week. Thanks for all the comments. Very helpful."
- yab...
- September 15, 2016
"I was switched yesterday to Bystolic 2.5 mg, and my doctor said I could take it at any time of day, either with or without food. Within 30 minutes of taking the smallest dose, I felt the extreme intoxication feeling another reviewer felt: dizzy and foggy-headed. I woke up in the middle of the night with my arms tingling and numb several times. On Day 2, I'm sitting in my office shaking my arms so they have some sensation to type, my feet are numb, and my tongue feels tingly. I have had no appetite at all but forced myself to eat some almonds for protein. I'm not overweight or underweight or nauseated. I just don't want to eat. I cannot gather a thought long enough to speak it from my tingling mouth. THERE WILL NOT BE A DAY 3!!!"
- Kpa...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- May 26, 2019
"This medicine was a nightmare. I was prescribed 10 mg but only took 5 mg. Side effects: horrible insomnia, neck stiffness on my right side, complete loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss. I finally asked my doctor to change meds... this medication was driving me insane. I am now on Valsartan... still feel tired but at least I can sleep. Bystolic was HORRIBLE!!!"
- Kmr...
- February 3, 2015
"I was diagnosed with chronic hypertension and POTS at age 15. After trying a few different beta blockers, I was put on 10 mg and generally maintain a 110/70 BP. I've been on Bystolic for 7 years and would highly recommend it."
- BS7...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- September 24, 2013
"I have been on and off this medicine for two years now, finally reducing the dose to 1/2 of a 2.5 mg pill every two days. This is the only blood pressure medicine so far that I feel good and normal, no pressure in head or headaches, blood pressure good, UNTIL I start with severe pain mainly in my upper and lower back but also my neck, which eventually ends up in muscle weakness. This has happened numerous times over the past two years. Thus the stopping and starting again. I play tennis a few times a week, but when the weakness starts, I am in so much pain that I cannot play again for several days and eventually will start experiencing muscle strains or pulls or just can't adequately move my legs to run. Avapro, Benicar and Crestor caused the same problems."
- dad...
- February 28, 2015
"I have been taking Bystolic 5mg for 2 years. I originally started on metoprolol 100mg. I had tons of problems and side effects. My doctor switched me to Bystolic, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I researched it and found nothing but bad reviews online, I was worried. But after 2 years, I'm still happy, normal pressure, never any side effects or symptoms. Bystolic is a little more pricey. But I can live my life and not be worried about symptom triggers or drowsiness. Bystolic is my wonder drug!"
- JJR...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 20, 2015
"I started having bad headaches for 2 weeks and realized my blood pressure was high. I started taking Bystolic, and the headaches went away. I have no side effects. My BP is the best it's ever been. I take 5 mg daily and have been taking it for 4 months."
- Die...
- May 4, 2018
"Been on it since 2014. My heart was fluttering over an entire weekend and went to the hospital on Sunday night. They released me with the flutters still happening. On Tuesday, I went to my doctor, and he prescribed Bystolic 20 mg, and I've been taking them now for about 4 years. I went from 20 mg to 10 mg at one point, and all has been good. I never had any side effects. I can fall asleep in 3 seconds, literally. My blood pressure is around 120-130 over 80. Pulse is 64-66... so I have benefitted from this drug."
- ALB...
- November 4, 2016
"Bystolic did not help lower my blood pressure as my other blood pressure medicine just recently had to be doubled. I have taken the medicine for 10 months, and at my last doctor's appointment, I realized I have gained 22 pounds in the last 10 months without any changes to diet or activity level. Also, I have felt disconnected from my life and have had absolutely no sex drive. This medicine is not for me. I paid $50 a month for a drug that caused me to gain 22 pounds that I now have to lose."
- Kri...
- February 6, 2017
"I have been on this medicine for a year now. I have recently realized (from seeing a new doctor) that I should not have been put on this medication. I have to see a cardiologist to get off of Bystolic 10!? Really!? I wish I knew that before I was prescribed this. It's never really kept my blood pressure in check 100%....so I wanted to stop taking it. But when my doctor said I had to see a specialist, I was annoyed. I have come to learn that this medication is why I have put on so much weight, feel so tired, deal with numb hands."
- Jak...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- November 5, 2019
"I've been taking 20 mg Bystolic for about a year. A lot of things I like about this drug, but some that I do not. It actually seems to make me calmer, and I believe it helps my social anxiety slightly. What I do not like is it seems to make my hands and feet numb. One time my toe was so numb it turned white and scared me quite badly. Also, I have woken up in the morning, and my arm has been numb. My arms and feet will tingle at times. I thought maybe I was just too inactive as I did not exercise at all, so I started exercising (walking) a few times a week, and for the most part, that problem has greatly diminished."
- Tor...
- June 30, 2014
"Great stuff, best blood pressure medicine so far. Almost no side effects, alas libido. If you are a jealous type and it's killing you that your girlfriend is partying without you... this is the medicine to take. It reduces sexual desire to a degree where you don't care. It's strange because I have (had) a good sex drive. It's almost like the female world lost her power over me."
Learn more about High Blood Pressure
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"I am ashamed to admit I have taken this drug for over a year because I have to be pretty stupid to allow a drug to take so much living away from me. I used to ride my horse, do my own construction work, and just enjoy life! Now, I know what depression is. I struggle to sleep ten hours a week! I have very little functioning memory. I am so angry. If you happen to be at a doctor appointment when one of the drug reps is hauling in the free food and free drug samples, you'll wonder by her attire just what she is selling. Yes, I told my doctor over and over about the problems and her answer is more drugs! Anti-depressant, sleeping pill, and the list goes on. I tried to get myself off of it but can't because of rebound."