Metoprolol: Do The Side Effects Improve Eventually? (Page 4)

I started Metoprolol this Monday after the cardiologist prescribed it because of being in the ER with extremely fast heartbeats. After a heart ultrasound, chest xray, blood tests, and wearing a holter moniter, they found there was nothing wrong with my actual heart other than the fact that I have a mild heart arrhythmia which they believe was brought out by a virus I also had. Now that I have started the medicine, I have had dizziness, nausea, sever mood swings, insomnia, and anxiety. The cardiologists' nurse said these were all normal, but it seems a little excessive to me. I am on the lowest possible dose (25MG) minus the possibility of cutting the pill in half and I take it once a day. I do not have high blood pressure and am young and not overweight (5ft and 105lbs). Has anyone else had all these side effects, do they go away?

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I take Metoprolol 75 mg for high blood pressure (because Atenolol, which I had taken without side effects for 20 years, is currently in market shortage, another story). I have been on Metoprolol now since June 1 (7 months) and while the side effects are somewhat eased, they are still incapacitating: extreme fatigue, mental fogginess, unwanted weight gain, and loss of sense of taste. I canceled Christmas travel because I could not imagine undertaking it, and I cancel a lot of other activities---not like me. I hope to return to Atenolol when it becomes available again as I hate Metoprolol. I can see putting up with side effects for three or four weeks, but seven months sounds more like "life change". BTW google the article ("Making a Drug Shortage" by Dr David Belker, first on Huffpost then reprinted on other sites, detailing how a drug shorting is orchestrated by all the companies that make a generic drug in order to force the price up---a very convincing article. One of the companies that makes Atenolol is the same company that did the famous EpiPen price-rise, and as of summer 2017 the state attorneys of 20 US states have filed price-fixing charges against all six companies that make Atenolol.

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I have taken metropolol since 2010 I've had different side effects as time went on but not realising that the metropolol was doing it to me . I had a heart attack on Aug.10 2010 I had a ruptured arterie and with my natural clotting agent clotted I went down to a 20 percent blood flow in which the doctor repaired with three stents on March ,2011 I feel on the ice while at work and messed up my neck and shoulders , so I was in so much discomfort that I didn't realize some of what was going on with me was side effects from metoprolol. Now I'm trying to wean off from it didnt go good at first . I took 1/2of a 25 mg. For two weeks and now I'm taking a 1/2 pill every 3rd day i havr a little chest discomfort but not as bad as the side effects have been ,im hopping i can get off for good !

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I was put on metroprol for blood pressure
This drug should never be the first choice of doctors. I developed chest pain the first day taking it. Had never had chest pain prior. Went to doctor 2 weeks later and he took me off of it. It’s been 6 days and been quite a ride. Bad drug for me. Will never take it again

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Re: Paul (# 62)

Well I'm back on Metoprolol again ,I started to have chest pain again .Went back to doctor's office and they said I should go back on the meds including Rosouvastatin for my cholesterol , which is high about 245 . I'm taking 12.5 grams of metropolol half the dose as my own idea but not sure if its going to be enough . I'm tired still have some chest discomfort ! Not sure where to go from here

# Not happy

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I have never had worse side effects with any medication than I did with Metroprolol, to which I gave a 7-months trial: extreme fatigue, mental fogginess, unwanted weight gain, loss of sense of taste. I felt like roadkill---was actually incapacitated in my daily life. Atenolol has now returned to the market (CVS has it where I live) and I am switched back to it as of ten days ago. Doc said it was OK to switch all at once so I did. Not too bad, a little slight angina, but fatigue is much relieved and sense of taste blessedly began to return immediately. Am still stuck with ten pounds I don't want but that will take longer. I will never agree to go back on Metoprolol unless they convince me it's life or death. And even then I might have to think about it. Other posters have used the word "zombie". I don't disagree. Normally I feel sharp, focused, energetic. On Metoprolol I felt as if my skull was full of molasses. Things that I normally do without thinking (cross the street , take a bath) I would find myself carefully planning the steps I needed to take, so something in me knew I wasn't my usual self and that I needed to be extra-careful. Wish I could put this more politely, but in my experience, Metoprolol sucks. (84 year-old female, moderate hypertension but otherwise in pretty good shape)

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Re: Paul (# 64)

I had chest discomfort after 2 weeks on that drug.
Never had it before. They switched me to amlodipine and now I’m having tremors, heart palpitations and flushing. I am decreasing my dose on this new medication and trying to get healthy and spending time in prayer. Would like to say forget it to these meds. Wishing you well with your Health
Hope this helps

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My heart rate is around 50 and my B/P is around 110/50. I've been on metoprolol 12.5mg for 5 years and was given this when going to the hospital when I had open heart surgery. The dr stated that my heart was in great condition and just had clogged arteries. I did great after the surgery and stayed on medication. I never had a problem with high B/P nor fast HR prior to or after surgery. Lately I can’t sleep, yet feel tired. My heart rate like I said was 50 or below and B/p around 110/50. I feel this is too low so I need to know if this is dangerously low? My Dr says to stay on the medication. My face feels flushed and I have headaches. Just don't know how low is too low. I also stay sleepy when I sit down and have no energy like I want to have. Tired of this feeling like this and still have palps.

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Re: Debby (# 67)

Are you taking COQ10? If not you may want to research, also you may want to see another doctor for second opinion, it helped me to go to a really good cardiologist that had more experience .

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Yes, I was on this drug & the side effects I had early on was tiredness, no ambition. Then after taking it a couple years, I developed anxiety to the point that it made my heart race & ended up in ER because of it. I decided to go off this drug & now feel 100% better. I wouldn’t recommend going off on your own though. I didn’t realize that your not suppose to just stop this drug, I’ve been off it for over 6 weeks now. It seemed to be making my afib worse. So far I haven’t had the issues I had when I was on this drug. I would discuss your issues with your Dr. though.

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I got put on it about a year ago and at first I was extremely tired and had dizzy spells but now that I've been on it for a year I do not have a lot of the side effects I once did..so in time your systems mite fade away as well

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Re: Jane (# 65)

I have heard several times that Metoprolol makes it very difficult for the body to burn fat. When I used it for two years I added more weight, which I now must try to lose.

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Re: Susan (# 55)

Be sure to have on your blood pressure device at home so you can keep an eye on what it's doing by checking your own pressure---you can buy one at any CVS or other major drug store. If you suddenly feel lightheaded and faint and as if you aren't quite real, your blood pressure may have dropped all at once. Notice if this always happens at a certain time of day or in a certain situation (like, did you just take a particular medication?). Keep written notes of this so when you do see the doctor you can report accurately what's been happening. We are with the doctor only minutes out of the year---the rest of the time we need to be our own Case Manager. And to do a good job of that, we need to keep abreast of what's happening and (because all of us can forget details) write things down. A plain spiral notebook will do just fine.

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I was on metoprolol for about 2 months after an ER visit for an allergic reaction/anxiety, they never really ruled anything out. After being on this horrible medicine I felt like I had severe asthma and a constant cough. I have just switched to Losartan and took the last dose about 12.5mg of metoprolol yesterday. I hope to see a huge improvement in my breathing and anxiety. I can barely walk far at all without getting shortness of breath let alone trying to climb stairs. The anxiety it caused me had put me on Zoloft and buspar. This is worst medication EVER! 3 months ago I took no medicines at all and now I carry a pharmacy in my purse. Praying for relief soon!

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Re: RT4Life (# 73)

Will pray with you on this. I’m in same boat. Was on antibiotics 3 months then started getting anxiety and didn’t know what it was. Blood pressure went way up because of anxiety and they put me on this terrible beta blocker. I quit it in a short time and figured it was better to just pray. Then after awhile I realized blood pressure from anxiety. My body regulated once they put me on anti depressants. No more blood pressure
Pray this works out for you

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Re: 55 year old male (# 74)

Thank you! I am on day 2 of no beta blocker and just the Losartan. Wheezing is still ridiculous as well as shortness of breath but I am starting to feel much better. Continuing to pray about this. Anxiety is much much better and I find it easier to control when an attack starts.

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Re: RT4Life (# 75)

It took me 2 weeks till side effects of beta blocker got better. If your blood pressure gets higher please try hibiscus tea. 3 glasses a day will lower it by 10 points in a few weeks. With anxiety I try to only check blood pressure 1 or two times a day. Don’t let it all get to ya. I pray God really comforts you through this trial.

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I have been taking Metoprolol for multiple years and always have had itchy skin and flare-ups, but in the past few months it has really flared up with psoriasis and scaly patches. Anyone else have this issue?

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I started taking this medication due to hbp and a fast heartbeat. In.the last two wks that I've been taking it I have noticed mood swings and periodically Nausea. Just wondering. How long this will last.

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Re: Chris (# 3)

I started taking this medication due to hbp and a fast heartbeat. In.the last two wks that I've been taking it I have noticed mood swings and periodically Nausea. Just wondering. How long this will last.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

Used 1/2 of 25 MG twice a day for heart rate for 2 and a half months feel ok but started grinding teeth and feel as though I'm wearing a snug cap on my head

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