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Metoprolol medicine side effects: What's your experience?

Posted by erodla @erodla, May 8, 2022

Is there anyone here who has used metoprolol sandoz medicine for heart palpitations and fast heart rate, then I would like to hear their experience with the use of this medicine. I have used metoprolol 25 mg twice daily for about 2 months and have felt distant, dizzy, unconcentrated, tired, sleep problems, anxiety, many side effects. The doctor will not think that this is due to the medicine because I get such a low dose, but I think this medicine gives me these side effects. I will have a new 24 hour ECG this week, to get an answer on whether I really need this medicine. No heart failure has been found otherwise.

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pattimilton | @pattimilton | Nov 19 3:10pm
In reply to @383peeler "I was put on metoprolol 25mg 1/2 a day to correct heart skipping beats and after..." + (show)
Profile picture for 383peeler @383peeler

I was put on metoprolol 25mg 1/2 a day to correct heart skipping beats and after about 8 days my heart started skipping beats about every 3rd beat and my blood pressure was very low. My resting heart rate at night was 37. Am wondering if this medicine caused another irregular heart beat? Have discontinued and waiting to see doctor.

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@383peeler I’ve noticed more pvc’s on this med too. I think that is an expected side effect. The heart rate of 37 seems so low though. I would let your cardiologist know and also retake it to see if it goes up

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mitcanna | @mitcanna | Nov 19 8:10pm
In reply to @becky1024 "After all the problems I had with one 50mg of Metoprolol in the morning, I was..." + (show)
Profile picture for bobbyd1017 @becky1024

After all the problems I had with one 50mg of Metoprolol in the morning, I was glad I went directly to my pharmacist. I explained to my doctor that I was allergic to it and my bp skyrocketed to over 200/100 but he kept insisting I wasn’t. He even wanted me to take 200mgs daily. As with my other comment, I highly recommend anyone having bad side effects like I did, to go to your pharmacist instead of your doctor and ask them questions before heading to the personal doctor like I was doing and still do. It’s only my suggestion but it saved my life if I had taken the 200mgs instead of the first 50mgs. That much Metoprolol probably would have caused my heart to go into tachycardia then A-fib and then the fatal heart attack. My cardiologist told me to increase my dosage as needed, from 25, to 50, to 75, to 100 max. But that high had pushed my bp up, major fatigue and watery blisters and other issues. Where medications are concerned, your pharmacist is your best friend.

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@becky1024
Metoprolol slows the heart rate. Do you check your heart rate? I was n Metoprolol and couldn’t take it. Doctors don’t want to hear that but your body lets you know when something is wrong.

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chrismcquiston | @chrismcquiston | Nov 20 10:19am

I have taken Metoprolol 50 mg at bedtime for years. Metoprolol periodically drops my BP so much that I get dizzy and faint. I just never feel good. My PCP has backed me down to 25 mg PM, but I have more tachycardia and PVCs at this dose. I also have balance problems periodically. I have multiple autoimmune disease and chronic fatigue which I think is worsened with this stuff. I would love to find something else to manage the tachycardia and PVCs. Sometimes I wonder if the treatment is doing more harm than good.

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mamay | @mamay | Nov 21 11:46am

It really sounds like you’re stuck in that awful “too much vs. not enough” place. Metoprolol can definitely cause low blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, and worsening balance in some people — especially if they already deal with autoimmune or chronic fatigue issues. But lowering the dose can let the tachycardia and PVCs break through, which is just as uncomfortable.

There are other options besides metoprolol, and it might be worth asking your cardiologist about a few things:

1. Trying a different beta-blocker or class of medication

Some people tolerate nebivolol (Bystolic) or bisoprolol better — both can control rate with fewer fatigue/low-BP effects.

Sometimes a non–beta-blocker option like ivabradine, calcium channel blockers (diltiazem or verapamil), or low-dose propranolol may work better depending on the exact rhythm issue.

2. Checking for hidden contributors to tachycardia/PVCs

Thyroid function

Electrolytes (magnesium, potassium)

Anemia

Sleep apnea

Dehydration
These can all worsen palpitations and can be easy to miss.

3. Asking about a rhythm monitor or EP (electrophysiology) consult
If the PVCs or tachycardia are frequent enough, an EP doctor can sometimes pinpoint the source and offer targeted treatment instead of relying only on medication.

4. Discussing quality-of-life
Your comment that treatment may be doing more harm than good is important. It’s absolutely reasonable to tell your doctor:
“On metoprolol I am too dizzy and fatigued to function. On a lower dose, the tachycardia/PVCs return. What alternatives exist so I’m not choosing between two bad options?”

REPLY
1 reply
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rimord | @rimord | Nov 22 4:11pm

I've been on metoprolol for a while now. No side effects, but when I was on it 15 years ago, I had severe depression and lethargy. So, go figure. I think we need to do a better job of recording (permanently) our health and drug histories. That is just coming into being through patient portals, but now I have 3, and they don't interact. If I had known when I was younger, I would have kept track of this stuff. I guess it's the patient's responsibility. Rite Aid kept a record of my vaccinations, which I fortunately printed out before they went bankrupt! Anyway, I guess everyone is different. Good luck.

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slowtime | @slowtime | Nov 23 11:54am
In reply to @mamay "It really sounds like you’re stuck in that awful “too much vs. not enough” place. Metoprolol..." + (show)
Profile picture for mamay @mamay

It really sounds like you’re stuck in that awful “too much vs. not enough” place. Metoprolol can definitely cause low blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, and worsening balance in some people — especially if they already deal with autoimmune or chronic fatigue issues. But lowering the dose can let the tachycardia and PVCs break through, which is just as uncomfortable.

There are other options besides metoprolol, and it might be worth asking your cardiologist about a few things:

1. Trying a different beta-blocker or class of medication

Some people tolerate nebivolol (Bystolic) or bisoprolol better — both can control rate with fewer fatigue/low-BP effects.

Sometimes a non–beta-blocker option like ivabradine, calcium channel blockers (diltiazem or verapamil), or low-dose propranolol may work better depending on the exact rhythm issue.

2. Checking for hidden contributors to tachycardia/PVCs

Thyroid function

Electrolytes (magnesium, potassium)

Anemia

Sleep apnea

Dehydration
These can all worsen palpitations and can be easy to miss.

3. Asking about a rhythm monitor or EP (electrophysiology) consult
If the PVCs or tachycardia are frequent enough, an EP doctor can sometimes pinpoint the source and offer targeted treatment instead of relying only on medication.

4. Discussing quality-of-life
Your comment that treatment may be doing more harm than good is important. It’s absolutely reasonable to tell your doctor:
“On metoprolol I am too dizzy and fatigued to function. On a lower dose, the tachycardia/PVCs return. What alternatives exist so I’m not choosing between two bad options?”

Jump to this post

@mamay I was given Metoprolol for Afib and experienced lightheadedness and nausea. My doctor switched me to diltiazem and that works for me.

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