metoprolol side effects

[Elli126]

Has anyone had experience with side effects from metoprolol after using awhile? I've been on a minimal dose (25 mgs bid) for over 6 months now. I didn't seem to have any side effects to speak of until recently. I do also have positional vertigo. Not only has this gotten worse as of late but I have become unsteady on my feet and dizzy quite often. I had to get a ct scan for tumor in my neck and it was just horrible! I had vertigo and dizziness for hours after just from laying flat for 10 minutes. The doc I used to work for tried that ear maneuver on me but it did no good. The only reason I think it may even be connected to the metoprolol it's because it seems to be at its worst about 3 to 4 hours after I take a dose. Any input would be appreciated.

[TimKelly]

I have been on Metoprolol, Flecanaide and Eliquis since September, 2013.  This is when my heart REALLY told me that I suffer from AFib.  I went on these Meds twice daily after having spent two days in the Hospital.  Even on these drugs I went back into AFib in December.  I had a Cardioversion and stayed in Sinus Rhythm until my Ablation on Jan 23.  Still on the meds twice a day, I felt great.  At the end of April I felt so good that my Cardiologist and EP cut dosage in half.  One week later, BANG, back into AFib.  Cardioverted once again.  Now I am back on full Meds regiment however about 3 hours after taking Metoprolol, I get Dizzy and almost in a "Fog" like condition.  Especially in an office enviroment, a conference room etc.  This doesnt really happen if I were sitting peacfully at home.  My thought is that it is the Beta Blocker which causes slight dizziness, then of course a bit of fear and anxiety Exasberbates the situation tremendously!.  Does anyone else get this at all?  My plan is to have a second Ablation and then ultimatly get off these drugs permanantly.

[Elli126]

Thanx Tom.

[tom_h]

Metoprolol has an average half life of around 5 hours.  So it's metabolized fairly quickly.  If one goes in for an electrophysiology study, they will be told to discontinue Metoprolol (just) 3 days before the procedure as it's quickly removed from the body.  So in your case, within 12 hours your original dose of 25mg has been greatly, but not completely metabolized when you take another 25mg.  Slowly, you build up a therapeutic level.  The problem I ran into was when taking large dosages, 200mg at one time, I went beyond that therapeutic level, and I felt like a zombie as the drug level slowly built up.  It happens even today at 75mg/day although at a much slower pace.  I can feel when it's getting high, so I stop for a day, then pick it up again.

As Bromley indicates, hypertension control is the primary reason I continue it today following my cardiac ablation for SVT.  Prior to that, I took it primarily to control (unsuccessfully) SVT.  Once that was fixed, my physician noted that since I tolerated it very well, I'd just stayed on it at a lower level.  While it's no longer considered a "frontline" drug for hypertension control, it's extremely cheap, it's been around for a long time so it's proven, and I tolerate it extremely well.  So it works for me.

[Elli126]

The metoprolol does seem to help, not as much for my PVCs or PAC, but more for the PSVT. It seems to happen less, is not sustained as long and slower, more like 150 to 160 BPM rather than my usual 220. So for that I appreciate it but the side effects are becoming problematic. As far as hair loss goes, I'm post thyroid CA and currently testing for recurrenceoso I'm already experiencing hair loss, so I really can't tell.

[Elli126]

Hi Tom, so are you saying because the drug is a quarter metabolized at 4 hours there is no correlation? And do you thing it may exacerbate my pre-existing positional vertigo, or does one have absolutely nothing to do with the other?

[Bromley]

This drug is used to control hypertension and some heart rhythm issues. If your blood pressure drops,  at some point it can get to the situation where you start to experience symptoms like dizziness. If you experience hair loss,  you should tell your doctor and look into whether it wouldr make sense to discontinue use of the drug.

I was given this doc to help control symptoms. But my arhythmia, while pretty darn annoying, has only rarely motivated me to take my light dose 25mg per day. In those instances I do get dizziness and fatigue.

[tom_h]

Interestingly, by 3 to 4 hours, you've metabolized over a quarter of the dose.

[Sagitarius88]

Hi I'm taking this medicine for more than a year or may b nearly 2 years yes I have a lot of side effects one of them is hair loss
My hairs were longer than my spinal cord and thick
I have dizzy spells funny feelings inside chest tiredness continuesly low BP
But what can we do? My skip beats scares me a lot so I ve to take this medication I'm on 2.5mg too