Bystolic for High Blood Pressure User Reviews (Page 4)

• sou...
• May 22, 2010

"I am a healthy 39-year-old AA mom of 3. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure after a stressful divorce and other life-changing events. My doctor gave me samples of 10 mg Bystolic. I went from 195/150 to 120/80-textbook. I take Bystolic in the morning on an empty stomach and it has a calming effect, so I was also able to eliminate Valium and Xanax from my life! I feel amazing. The only side effect I've noticed is my left arm feeling like it's 'thinking' about falling asleep. I'm okay with that as long as it's not tingling, numbness, or pain associated with the stroke I might be having were I not managing my blood pressure. I also find that I can no longer make it off my normal 4-5 hours of sleep. I need 7-8 or I fall asleep in the middle of a sentence (LOL)."

• Anonymous
• September 6, 2010

"Took Bystolic 5mg for a month. At first, it seemed to be okay. I liked it because it did not make me dizzy, but by the third week, I started getting side effects. First off, I was so tired and had no energy, thought it was me, but no, it was Bystolic. Then my shoulder joints started aching and kind of running down to my wrist in both arms. Not too bad, but still there, and the last straw for me was when my left arm started to tingle on the outside of my forearm. Well, I started cutting them in half, so now I was taking 2.5 mg for the last week, and it made no difference. Every time I took the pill, hours later my arm would start tingling along with the other side effects. Also, another thing, it made me gain ten pounds in a month's time, also bloating."

• Tra...
• May 18, 2016

"Bystolic reduced the blood pressure, but it comes with a price. Chaotic sleep, low energy level, loss of interest in the previously enjoyed activities, and substantial weight gain. Weaning down from the whole pill to a half, and looking for natural ways to reduce my BP."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 7, 2015

"With all the blood pressure medications I've taken over the last 15 years, specifically beta blockers, Bystolic has been the best match for me. I was originally placed on beta blockers to control the rate of my heart since I have PSVTs, which also increased my BP during those episodes. While I do work nights, I have gained weight since taking beta blockers. With Bystolic, I do feel less tired and able to keep moving, climb stairs easier, and my weight gain has stopped. My BP is usually 120s/70-80. The cons of this drug, and to be fair, all beta blockers, I have horrendous nightmares. I have to take a sleeping pill, Lunesta, for that!"

• Anonymous
• July 22, 2008

"I am a 29-year-old Arab-American with stage 1 hypertension. My mom has high blood pressure, and my grandma had it also. I have been on Bystolic for 1 week, and my blood pressure has gone from 130/100 to 120/80. I hope it continues. So far, so good."

• nor...
• November 8, 2008

"I am 89 years old today. My doctor and I have been working diligently for at least two years to find the right combination to lower my high blood pressure. I experienced the worst side effects of each. Several months ago, he combined Bystolic, Benicar, Spironolactone, and Norvasc. My blood pressure is holding a very comfortable 130/135 over 60/66. Side effects seem to be that I require 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night, which I am not used to. I am clearing up a rash, which I believe is from Toprol. Other than that, I believe I am being plagued with that A.G.E. disease; I can't avoid that one."

• Tj ...
• January 31, 2018

"Started 5 mg Bystolic in July 2017. Lowered my BP to unsafe levels, 90/50, as well as my heart rate, 47 bpm. Could not sleep well, 3-4 hours nightly, and had a jittery feeling throughout the day. Reduced dosage to 2.5 mg. Even at that dose, I experienced unsatisfactory results. Started breaking the 2.5 mg in half, and I'm sleeping better, and my BP runs around 112/60. Still have the jitters, however. I run daily and have difficulty getting my heart rate above 110. It seems there's a price to pay for many medications, often more than I'm willing to accept. Quality of life issues."

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 20, 2018

"I have been taking Bystolic since May of 2017. It seemed to be working, on occasions, it would spike to 130-140, but for the most part, stayed in the 115-125 range. Two weeks ago, it started running in the 140s-170s for some unknown reason! The lower range is still in the 60s-70s range. What is going on? My heart rate stays between 42-49. The lower the heart rate, the higher the pressure!"

• taz...
• April 18, 2012

"I have gained 12 lbs in a month! My feet/hands swell so badly that I take a water pill. I am so fatigued... no energy, get out of breath, and have had several migraines lately... which is not normal for me. My pulse is low all the time and blood pressure is 135/85. I was on Hyzaar for years, and it worked great."

• JZa...
• July 17, 2021

"I took Bystolic 3 days ago (5 mg) after being on metoprolol 25 mg for 4 yrs. Like night and day. No side effects for me. Huge difference on day 1. I'm in my early 60s, no medical conditions, neither diabetic nor overweight, exercising 14 yrs in very good health. Metoprolol about ruined me. Felt like someone was sitting on my chest, blurred vision, insomnia, extreme fatigue, light sensitivity, no motivation, borderline depression. I had a very bad reaction to it. Both Rx's took BP from 140/80 to 120/70. I now sleep 7-8 hrs a night (4-6 on metoprolol). My thinking is clear on Bystolic too; no brain fog. Bystolic is like taking a daily vitamin; I take it and forget it; afterwards, I feel okay all day and night. Metoprolol was like sitting in an oxygen deprivation tank, fatigued, tired, half knocked out, unable to sleep more than 2 hrs at a time; it was debilitating for me. Bystolic is worth every penny to me."

• TY1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2019

"I've been on Atenolol/Chlorthalidone 100/25 for 15 years, and my controlled BP is an average of 95-105/65-70. My controlled heart rate/pulse has been in the mid-high 60s, and I feel great! I asked my doctor to let me try Bystolic 5 mg for the mere reason of possible cause of med-induced ED. It hardly does anything for me. BP is now in the 150s+/110s+, and HR is 130+-not good. Taking a second 5 mg only lowers the BP by 3-8/2-20 but does nothing for the HR. I feel absolutely horrible on Bystolic-sick stomach, raging headache beyond belief, along with joint/muscular pain. Give me the old tried-and-true Atenolol/Chlorthalidone 100/25, and I'll deal with the 'possible ED effects' otherwise!"

• Jer...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 22, 2022

"I am a former user of this drug Bystolic, I was on it for years. I had not noticed right away, but this drug deprived me of my sex drive. I was in my forties when it was first prescribed to me by my personal doctor. I just thought it was an age thing and that my sex drive was decreased because of that. Well, fast forward to 2022. I had been on a diet to lose some weight, I lost around 30 lbs and had started exercising more. I am now in my upper 50s. I had gone to see my doctor for an annual medical check and complained to her about the cost of the drug and if I could switch to another medication. With that being said, with my weight loss and exercise, she totally took me off of the medication. A few days later, I started noticing I would wake in the morning with a semi-hard penis, and my urine stream was more potent. As the days went by, each day my penis was erect each morning, and my sex drive was alive and well. I have had more sex since I have been off of this medication."

• Car...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 14, 2018

"After trying a number of antihypertensives, all of which made me sick, including lisinopril, Norvasc, valsartan, irbesartan, and others (hyponatremia, anemia, insomnia, fatigue, depression), the last one they gave me was Bystolic 10 mg. Felt bad, cold hands and feet, tingling feet, fatigue, insomnia, etc., so cut pills in half. On 5 mg, tingling went away, but a blood test found low sodium and anemia again, so I stopped completely. Now BP is higher than ever, and after 3 months, my feet still feel cold, even on a hot day. Referred to a specialist. Fingers crossed."

• And...
• January 13, 2016

"I have had high blood pressure since I was a child. I have tried many different meds for this problem. I had bad reactions to many of the popular blood pressure meds, and I am highly allergic to red rice, so cholesterol meds were not an option. I fired my doctor and went with a new doctor that prescribed Bystolic, it changed my whole life. I am forever in his debt. I went from having multiple side effects to almost none in 2 weeks. I felt like a new person."

• Anonymous
• March 20, 2009

"I have had high blood pressure for 13 years now. I am a 45-year-old African American female. I have been on every combination I can think of. About 60 days ago, I was taken off of 100 mg of atenolol and put on Bystolic 10 mg. I feel much better. I have energy, my heart does not palpitate like it used to, and my blood pressure went from 149-140 S / 90-88 D to 117/124 - 75/80. I'm very happy. It's much more expensive than my other medicines, but I'm willing to pay the price to spend more time with my family and friends."

• Pic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 25, 2019

"I'm a 30-year-old male, former college athlete, large frame and build. Fourteen months ago, I started Lisinopril and another beta blocker on a recommendation from my cardiologist PA after determining I have essential hypertension and was having issues with panic attacks and tachycardia. After about a month, I complained of the side effects of the beta blocker and it switched me to Bystolic 5 mg. I noticed that I slowly began to gain weight, but I thought it was possibly just a lifestyle problem. My instances of tachycardia and also my blood pressure both went down with the medication. The side effects I learned to live with were sleeplessness, dizziness, foggy memory, severe dehydration, especially after alcohol or a big meal, some ED, and just overall lethargy and cloudiness. And the weight gain. But I hung on to Bystolic out of fear for my cardiovascular system."

• Nic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 18, 2017

"I was taking metoprolol prior to this, which made me dizzy and didn't even keep my blood pressure down. Bystolic gave me zero side effects and helped lower my blood pressure continuously throughout the day, not just for a few hours, it's done wonders."

• Anonymous
• January 2, 2012

"49 yo male, generally healthy including normal blood pressure. I had a bare metal stent placed in a main artery and have been on 2.5 mg of Bystolic for 3 months now. For the most part, I feel good. The subtle changes to my body I have noticed include uncertainty, forgetfulness, fatigue, and working at a slower pace. Never having been on any medications prior to my procedure, I became concerned and phoned my cardiologist. Their reply: 'Oh, we hear that all the time from patients on the drug, it's normal. Your body is adjusting as it would to a pair of new eyeglasses.' It didn't make me feel any better."

• Flo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 1, 2019

"Was using Lisinopril/HCTZ 20/12.5 for 7 years with excellent results. BP usually 120/70. Occasional dips in hot weather, and adjusted dosage down. New MD was adamant about trying 10 mg Bystolic for a year. BP control was erratic and always high, usually 145/90, heart rate fell to 45 consistently. Low energy, leg swelling, face swelling, irritability, insomnia. Switched back and suddenly feel 10 years younger. Bystolic was not a good choice for me."

• Kil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2014

"Took metoprolol for 8 years with hydrochlorothiazide and suffered severe migraines until a med check doctor told me about the side effects from it, plus my blood pressure never dropped below 177/112 in all the time I was on it. Changed doctors and was put on Bystolic and hydrochlorothiazide, and I never had the urge to go to the bathroom. Had to force myself to go. My feet and legs cramp all the time. I don't get headaches, and my blood pressure dropped to 128/80, which was the lowest, but I stopped taking the water pill so I can go to the bathroom. It may be wrong, but at least I'm peeing."

• H S...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 11, 2023

"Not worth the side effects. Works great for lowering heart rate, BP, and anxiety. Causes horrible weight gain that is impossible to lose while taking the medicine. Also causes shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pains, to the point I now use an inhaler. Severe depression. I never had before. Numbness in hands, water retention, especially in ankles, raised cholesterol, extreme fatigue and lack of motivation, and night sweats. Hoping to come off it soon."

• Ale...
• January 25, 2017

"This is my first time on any high blood pressure medication. My new primary care physician noticed that recently it's been high during my visits, so he decided to put me on Bystolic. The day he put me on this medication (before I started it), I was driving to work in the morning and suffered what I can only assume a panic attack feels like (which is why I went to my doctor later that day). My heart was pounding through my chest, my face and arms went numb, chest pain, and dizziness. Anyway, I have been on it for less than a month and have seen no negative side effects yet, and my BP has been normal. The only reason I didn't give this a 10 is because I have only been on it a short amount of time. We'll see if I get the same results over time."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2010

"I am a 43-year-old male. I recently was diagnosed with high blood pressure 190/104. My doctor started me on 5 mg per day for the first month. Raised it to 10 mg per day in the 2nd month and 20 mg per day in the 3rd month. Recently, I started having random and uncontrollable bouts of diarrhea. I am also tired all the time with low energy levels. I am an electrical contractor. Before I started taking this medicine, I was a high-energy, multitasker. Now, although my blood pressure is under control, I am tired most of the time, and at times I can't seem to think clearly enough to perform the complex logical tasks that my job requires. The diarrhea is sometimes uncontrollable."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2021

"I trialed Metoprolol, Diltiazem, and Coreg prior to Bystolic (for treatment of PSVT, atrial tachycardia, PAC's/PVC's). Metoprolol made me ill, Diltiazem was ineffective and caused me to hear my heartbeat all day and night long, and Coreg was great at lowering my HR but inefficient at preventing my palpitations and SVT events. I've been on Bystolic (lowest possible dosage) for 2-3 months and my palpitations/events have drastically been reduced. My HR has gone from 115 resting to about 90, which I am so thankful for. I was hesitant to take this medication because of other patients' reports of headaches, but I take mine before bed and have had no issues. I can't say that I've had any side effects, to be honest. I'm really impressed with this drug. It's given me back a bit of normalcy in my life."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 17, 2018

"Took Bystolic 5 mg for a year. Episodes short of breath while exercising. Progressively tired with no energy. A general feeling of unwellness. To top it off, each month, it controlled my BP less and less. And I gained 30 lbs. Never had any of these issues before! Switched to Atenolol 25 mg. Still tired, but the feeling of unwellness is gone. No more breathing issues while exercising. BP is controlled well. However, my hair is starting to thin (never had hair issues before). My plan is to stay on Atenolol for now, force myself to start exercising again, tired or not, lose the weight, and start natural supplements to lower BP. Hopefully, once I lose weight and exercise more, I can get off the nightmare BP meds. I want my life back again. :("