Possible Metoprolol Side Effects Have Me Scared!

[JeanO0701]

I'll try not to write a novel here and just get to the point.  I'm a healthy woman, 52 yrs.  I have no other health issues, have a healthy heart (CHAD score is 0), BP that is nice and low (100/60), don't smoke, drink (anymore - it's big trigger), etc etc.  After an ablation for PVCs, I developed a-fib.  I have a wonderful (and high profile) cardiologist in Boston (who performed the ablation).  He put me on flecainide (worked up to 75mg/day) and 50mg/day metoprolol.  It worked at first - not a blip.  But then I started having frightening episodes of SVT, which brought me to the ER, and eventually hospitalization.  He took me off the flecainide which seemed to be the cause of the SVT.  I also have atrial flutter now.  I had cardioversion, but still have a-fib and my heart rate is too high again (I'm on an event monitor which reported to my doctor that my heart rate was 150 last night while I slept through it).  He has put me on 100mg metoprolol - I'll be taking the 2nd dose (50mg) in a few minutes.  He wanted me on the brand name Toprol XL, but the pharmacies are having a hard time stocking it right now so I'm on the regular (not extended release) version, taking it in the a.m. and again in the p.m.  OK, done with the background, now here's my issue:  I've been online reading page after page after page about people who have taken this and the side effects at this dosage that they are reporting are scaring me to tears.  Everything from hair thinning to huge weight gains (I'm somewhat overweight, so this is the last thing I need), sleeplessness, extreme exhaustion, depression, sweating, zero libido, worsened a-fib - it just goes on and on.  Honestly, I'm so upset and frightened.  I just knew I shouldn't have gone online and read this stuff, but now that I have I'm shocked at how prevalent these adverse side effects are.  I feel like I'm going to become a chronically unhealthy person and this is the beginning of the end of my healthy years. Oh, one of the things I read was that it is impossible to lose weight while on metoprolol because it slows the heart and you are unable to burn fat - even with tons of working out.  This stinks, because as soon as the monitor comes off, I was planning to start working out again to lose some of this excess weight.  ...I went to the ER with a heart rate of 200+ and my BP was still perfect.  I was told that this is kind of phenomenal, that my heart muscle is obviously very strong.  I'd like to keep it this way.  ...Any thoughts?

[ElkeMeghan]

I had been on Metoprolol Tartrate .25 2x day for over ten years.  No really bad side effects other than drowsy in a.m. Did gain weight about 25 lbs through the years, but I don't really blame metoprolol, but blame over eating.  On Weight watchers now and have lost 14 lbs.  I was Prescribed metoprolol and aspirin after diagnosis of 50% blockage in main heart artery to reduce BP and prevent angina. Then After 11 years started getting rapid heart beat.  Dr switched my Metoprolol and my BP went dangerously high.  Put me back on metop with increase to 1&1/2. .25 2x day and BP now very good and rapid heart beat barely noticeable except when nearing time to take 2nd dose. Only problem I have is if I drink any wine or caffeine BP goes up.  So only drink wine occasionally now (age also factor -- I am 67) and limit caffeine.  Tried switching entirely to decaf, but got a headache and missed my Starbucks double shot expresso. Now I have a frayed rotator cuff with extreme pain and I am afraid to take ibuprofen that it will decrease effects of metop.  Tylenol only helps minimally with inflammation pain.   Woke up @ 4a.m.with bad shoulder/arm pain so finally took 2 ibuprofen-- will watch my. Bp and see what happens.  Hate having fear of bad drug interaction. Luckily xanax and metoprolol work okay together. I have reduced aspirin 325 mg to low dose every other day to reduce effect on my stomach. I hate having to rely on drugs!!!

[slw07g]

I have been on Metoprolol since June 2013. I began on 50mg/day and eventually went up to 300mg/day within a year.

I weighed about 200lbs when I began Metoprolol. Before I was on Metoprolol (and before I was diagnosed with a heart issue) I ran 5 miles/day. I had actually lost 100 pounds a few years prior to the diagnosis and kept weight off with exercise.

After about 15 months on Metoprolol, I had gained 75+ pounds.

After 27 months on Metoprolol, I had gained 130+ pounds. (I weighed 330 lbs!).

The metoprolol (along with the diagnosis), made me very tired and very depressed. I would just go to work, go home, eat, sleep, repeat. As my doctor increased the metoprolol dosage, I would get very early on into my workouts - so I could never get a full 30-minute workout in.

I decided to ween myself down (I currently take 100mg daily). I lost 65 pounds with diet and exercise. But I think that's all I can lose, since any additional weight I lose, I gain it back shortly thereafter. I feel like my weight and the depression is having a huge (negative) impact on my social life, which makes me even more depressed. Ugh.

I have been doing a lot of HIIT, and I'm running again, but weight loss is pretty stubborn. I have also gotten to the point where I was restricting my fluid intake and eating fewer meals. That appears to be the only thing (in conjunction with exercise) where I will see minor weight loss results.

[Jenni0728]

I was just on WebMD reading about Metoprolol reviews and read one about a U.S. Veteran who was able to go off of the Metoprolol because he started D-Ribose, which is a supplement for the heart.  So, I immediately looked it up on WebMD to read the 108 reviews. Great comments! After shopping the price, I ordered D-Ribose from Walmart's website for my SVT (with high hopes after reading about it from several other sources).  It seems the powder form may be best.  Maybe this would help you also ; )

[tom_h]

25mg daily of Metoprolol is considered to be a low dose.  By comparison, I'm on 75mg per day.  I personally can't explain your rapid weight gain, but I'll offer this: It's most likely not caused by an increase in body mass, but by fluid retention, and why you're retaining fluid is what I would explore.  Metoprolol does tend to reduce metabolism rate.... A LITTLE, and yes I gained some weight while I have been on it (10 years).  For me, it's body mass, not fluid retention.  As the saying goes, "one man's meat is another man's poison", and this could be true in your case.  But rapid and extreme weight gain is typically not one of the side effects of this beta blocker.

[Dorythefish]

In Oct of last year I was placed on Metaprolol 25mgm. God knows why, I don't remember anymore! When I saw my Nurse Practioner 3 wks later I had gained 30+ lbs & was taken off this med from hell. (I normally weighed 135 lbs & had gone to 172 lbs)  During a recent hospital stay in June for Pneumonia & CHF I BEGGED the er doc to not put me on it again & told her why. She simply said, ''That doesn't happen.''  Being a nurse that made me VERY suspect so I watched my med cups like a hawk & THOUGHT I saw nothing.  When I came home 3 days later & my hubby picked up the rx's that had been called into the pharmacy THERE IT WAS!!! I jumped IMMEDIATELY on the scale & had gained ANOTHER 16 LBS IN 3 days!  Now I am being monitored by VNA & can't seem to lose weight no matter what I do.  Low salt, calorie restricted diet, diuretics & exetcise. I even restrict fluid intake. I LITERALLY look as if I am 9 months pregnant. (Hips are boney, arms & legs still thin) This would b no small feat at 65! I FINALLY convinced my NP to order a CAT Scan & the results are in:  NOTHING WRONG!!  Can ANYBODY here help me? Have any of you successfully lost all the excess weight this ''demon drug'' can cause??  I will b forever grateful & am not adverse to natural means as well. Any supplement you could recommend I would be willing to try. Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me, & most of all, thanks for listening.

[Sklawz]

Try large doses of Omega-3 and Turmeric-With Piperdine. Make Sure the Turmeric (Which is a spice) has Piperdine in it which is Black Pepper Extract. It helps your body Absorb the Turmeric. It is excellent and natural for High blood pressure and Joint inflammation, pain as well as preventing amyloyd plaques building up in the brain. Kryll Oil is Good also. But Go with Turmeric With Piperdine Extract. Cheaper to buy order on Internet from Puritans Price they have great deals (Buy 1 get 2 free) Buy 2 get 3 free. Good Health, and New year!

[Jenni0728]

Look up D-Ribose.  

[Bromley]

Small dose here. As far as I can tell, its a great drug for my application. I suppose I should be dismayed that you went for a PVC ablation and ended up with afib. I know I had an incident not too long ago, and the ep suggested that I might have had a short burst of vt or afib with aberancy.  It seems that my short burst had sort of a time varying, irregular feel to it, giving them the impression that it might really be afib with abberancy. Anyway, I think this drug is supposed to be a lot more simple to use than some of the others. I consider myself lucky to be able to use it.

[tom_h]

I was once on 200mg. of metoprolol daily.  I felt like a zombie.  Any activity cause a heavy feeling in my chest as my heart refused to pick up the pace.  Additionally, the level in my blood continued to rise as the entire amount of the daily dose was not completely metabolized by the time I took the next dose.  Within a month, it felt like my shoes were filled with lead.  A terrible feeling!  But dialed back to 100mg per day, it was very effective in conrolling my borderline hypertension,  and while ineffective in preventing SVT episodes, it did help in converting them.  Now 9 years after starting it, I'm on 75mg per day.  At this dose level,  it is still effective in keeping my blood pressure admirably low.  I no longer need it for SVT since my successful ablation for it. At this level,  it has minimal effect on my physical performance, and I experience no other adverse side effects.

[kitty5439]

I have been on metoprolol for 15 yrs yrs .  I take 100 mg 2 times a day . For heart palpatations and pvcs pac"s . For me it is not helping my B/P or heart rate that much . I am at 100 HR now . Something changed
With that . It never really did help my BP . The docs always say I have anxiety. I was born with a heart defect ( They just found after all these yrs) but as for side effects . Yes I have lost hair ,weight gain
Feeling glued to the bed couch etc . And now it seems to only work for 4 - 6 hrs . I do smoke some
Never did or do alcohol or drugs of any kind . And was very much In shape . That's part of my story

[justme5750]

I was given metoprolol for a heart test and told to continue it. I have tried to find out why I need to continue it as my heart rate is 72. I cannot get a definitive answer other than the doctor said he encourages me to continue taking it. I am on a low dose of 25 mg 2 times per day but it kicks my butt and makes me tired and sleepy. I am concerned that nobody has told me that taking buproprion with metoprolol can cause an interaction of increasing the affects of metoprolol. The doctor didn't and neither did the pharmacist until I read about it and called to ask. It also suggests that metoprolol isn't always a good mix for those that have sleep disorders.

[Yahni]

my hair loss is extreme from taking Metoporol (100mg); i want to SUE someone; My Doctor is weaning me know however i'm so anxious & scary; my heart beat is high, can't sleep at nite; its AWFUL; i'm just
praying that the Doctor can successfully take me off & i deal w/my issue
holisticly & w/proper diet, supplements etc
JC Chicago

[JeanO0701]

Thank you for all the valuable comments - I really appreciate every one of them.  I know I shouldn't look for trouble before it happens, so I guess I'll stick with the increased dosage of metoprolol and just see what happens.  Right now, it's the only med I'm on. If I'm lucky it will do the job and I won't have any insurmountable side effects.  If not, I'm pretty sure that a-fib ablation is going to be the recommended next option.  I have a LOT of questions about that for my doctor as I'm not too crazy about the statistics on the success rate and instance of stroke for this procedure (much more complex and risky than the ablation I had for PVCs).  However, I guess my overall good health (aside from the a-fib) is certainly in my favor.  I have an appointment this week with my cardiologist and will definitely be addressing the weight issue with him.  I mean, what could be more conducive to cardiac health than being at (or at least close to) an optimal weight?  ...Good luck to all - I had no idea that arrhythmia was such a prevalent condition until it happened to me - I'm not unique, that's for sure.  I can very much relate to the frustration and fear that go along with it and am glad there are opportunities like this to talk with others going through the same thing.  Thanks again.

[musikbox]

you're absolutely right, everyone experiences different side effects.

But to address the OP's concerns, if a drug was THAT risky, the FDA wouldn't have approved it to begin with.

[twinbee]

I take metoprolol and I have had hardly any side effects. It did make me alittle tired but I got use to it. Everybody is different when it comes to meds and side effects. For expample musikbox could not tolerate metoprolol and was switched to atenolol. For me it was the opposite. I could not function on atenolol and had to come off of it and I am having no problems with metoprolol.

[Jerry_NJ]

I am basically in AFib and use Metoprolol for rate control.  I have taken as much as 200 mg a day, 100 in am 100 in pm.  That did give me some problems with dizziness and tiredness .. I'm now on 100 ER (Extended Release) which I take in the morning.  I don't have much in the way of side effects from that dose, but I do feel a bit lethargic..not sure if it is due to the medication of AFib, or both.  My only complaint symptoms are the lazy feeling and some shortness of breath if I do anything beyond walking on the level.  I think it may also have lowering effect on male libido, I'm not convinced that is the case.  

So, for rate control, I was running as high as 130 bpm at rest without Metoprolol, and with 100 mg I run as low as mid 70s when really at rest and around 90 if just walking around the house. It also lowers my normal blood pressure, but not too much..guess I'm usually around 120/70.

Hope I didn't wander off topic, bottom line of this post, my experience with Metoprolol at 100 mg or less a day is the side effects are not troubling.

[musikbox]

I was on Metaprolol (generic of Lopressor), and the only thing Metaprolol did was make me tired, but it made me SO tired, I couldn't function, so I went off it.

Since then, I've switched to Atenelol (generic of Tenormin) and NO side effects.

You might want to ask for that if you can :)

[TimRaym]

I was put on 10mg lisinopril for my blood pressure which was 140/90. This seemed to work, as my bop went down to an average of 120/75. I was also taking Arjuna and hawthorn 2x aday. Then my cardio thought that I should also take metropolol 1xday to lower my pulse which was averaging 75bpm. I did have a heart attack previous to being medicated. The metropolol (25mg) kicked my butt. I could no function during the day and felt nauseous. So, I lowered it to 12mg 1xday. The first day of this I was fine. The next day I was dizzy, had blurred vision, and slept all day. This has only been 3 days on metropolol and I will never take it again! Also, when I did take the 25 mg my body was 90/59.

[banglamom]

metoprolol side effects.... well, I guess they are real, but you learn to live with it.  The side effects are easier to live with than a resting rate of 150 and then going up and up from there.  When they were trying to control rate with JUST beta blockers... I took 200 of propranolol and 300 of metoprolol and occasional 100 of labetalol here and there.  It helped but it worked a LOT better when other classes of drugs were added.  Since the point is to slow you down, it generally SLOWS you down.  When I was on THAT much, I felt like I was nailed to the couch.  Now, instead I take coreg as a beta blocker and diltiazem, and flecainide and lisinopril.  (Only the lisinopril is not for the rhythms.)  I have struggles with the meds, but it is helping my heart.  So, regardless of weight gain or tired or dizzy, I'm not in heart failure now... so I'll take it.  I hope it all works out for you.  Talk over your concerns with your md and what you are trying to acheive vs. trying to avoid with the meds.  Though it isn't optimal, sometimes "better living through chemistry" is our only reasonable option.  

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

As with any medication, any and all adverse side effects that have been reported must be documented. This does not mean that you will experience all of them. Most adverse effects that people experience have been mild and transient.

There have been rare reports of reversible alopecia (hair loss). If this were to occur, discontinuation of the drug is warranted. The good news is that the condition is reversible and not a permenant result.

There are many who do complain of weight gain during betablocker therapy. Have you spoken to your Dr about your concerns? You mention that this is for treatment of afib, are you taking any type of anti-arrhythmic along with the BB?