Will Magnesium lower pulse?

[FrogLady317]

I had been taking Ramipril for years.  Went to a new Dr. who changed me to Quinapril twice a day because he said it was better for kidneys and added Metoprolol ER 50mg / day because my pulse was always around 90.  My BP was usually 120 / 80 with the Ramipril.   It's now down to 105 / 65 and my pulse is down to 70.  
BUT I can't stand how gassy the Metoprolol makes me.   I am walking around passing gas all day without being able to control it.  I also have had terrible dreams and think I am feeling depressed.  
I am working on tapering off the Metoprolol.   Changed from 75 to 50 all last week.  This week I am alternating 50 one day 25 the next.  
But my pulse is already back up!  BP is fine.
I read somewhere that magnesium might be a good alternative to beta blockers.
I bought some today - 250mg Magnesium Oxide.  
Is it a good idea to add that to my regimen?
Thanks for your help!

[linda555555]

This is old so don't know if u will see it. I also have cut down to 25mg metoprolol been on that for 2-3 yrs w/no problems. Well haven't checked pressure for like 5 or more months, & ran out of 250mg magnesium & meto for like 5 dys & had headaches so took p & up to 165/100+ form avg 120/80-85 so kindof freaked out, will take 50mg meto again got it 3dys ago but was taking 25 & bp keeps changing from ok to really high! Anyway maybe it is withdrawls from mag? Well just to let u know mag does make a difference I think on bp, anyway when I ate a lot of orang veg's espec squash's,yams, carrots  everyday or evey other day that's how I got down to 25mg. I just read that beta lockers are bad as in body gets really addicted hard to lower etc. (don't remember the site, but they also blamed the pharmaceutical etc) So please check out more much Dr's don't know or seem to care sadly/ & shouldn't do a newer drug at least under 10yrs I had a GOOD dr tell me that yrs ago. So many recalls from drugs that should never been on market metoprolol generic I remember reading bad about to when looking up recalls geez, but can only get what our ins pays for...veg's, fruits exercise if can is best. Take care.

[FrogLady317]

Thank  you so much for replying!   I did not know that the different beta blockers may have different side effects.
I neglected to say that I DO have cold hands and feet and I DID feel like I was getting depressed.   I lost my husband to cancer 2 1/2 years ago and had been dealing with it fairly well.   Since being on the Metoprolol I also have been having trouble getting out of bed.  
I am in the process of weaning off, am down to 25 mg / day.  Maybe I should call my doctor and see what he thinks I should do.   When I originally told him about the gassiness he did say that 25% of people have GI issues with beta blockers, so I just assumed they would all be the same.  

[is_something_wrong]

I would consider asking your doctor for another beta blocker, if you have those side effects from Metoprolol. A lot of beta blockers are available, and since you don't have the "typical" side effects that beta blockers in general may cause (low blood pressure, cold hands/feet, low heart rate, in some cases depression) - some of them are desired effects though, it may be that you have a reaction towards Metoprolol in general. Beta blockers differ in how much they affect different organs - for example, depression caused by Metoprolol may happen because the drug enters the brain. Atenolol, for example, does not.

Magnesium does not reduce heart rate very much. It has so-called calcium channel blocker abilities, which may lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate in the setting of atrial fibrillation (through the effect on the AV node) and it may also have a calming effect (reducing anxiety). But it can not by any means replace beta blockers regarding effect on heart rate.