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Metoprolol vs Cadizem & Sexual Side Effects

Ok so I've been on Metoprolol 50-100mg a day for about a year for benign tachycardia. It's overall worked good for me. But I've noticed a decline in sexual function, specifically, more difficulty keeping an erection during sex. I'm about to start Cialis, so hopefully that will help regardless, but my cardiologist mentioned that I might try Cardizem. He was suggesting it had fewer sexual side effects. Maybe the Cialis will be enough to override any sexual side effects from the Metoprolol so I won't have to switch, but still curious whether I should ditch it for the Cardizem to at least try it. I don't have high blood pressure, just tachycardia and the metoprolol really helps keep that in check. Should I just stay on metoprolol and try the cialis and see how it works or should I try the cardizem?
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Avatar universal
And although the metoprolol has helped with the tachycardia, I still get if after eating a meal, and I still get the skipped jumped beats, so guess it's not working in that regard.
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Avatar universal
Metoprolol has helped with the tachycardia overall, just figured since the cardiologist suggested Cardizem as having less side sexual side effects, I'd give it a try.

But when you say "getting into some serious sh.. stuff, what do you mean"? Is it way more potent than Metoprolol? Or did you mean it's just no better?
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1423357 tn?1511085442
Metoprolol did nothing to prevent my tachycardia episodes.  But it's well tolerated by most, and I guess that's why it's so widely prescribed.  With Cardizem, now you're getting into some serious sh..stuff.
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Avatar universal
Thanks, I only started the Metoprolol because I would get episodes of tachycardia that were very annoying but my heart was structurally normal, so guess it was just an electrical thing. I used to never have issues with erections but noticed after the Metoprolol that I lost some interest and also my erections were harder to maintain. Also, I still get the annoying palpitations so maybe the Metoprolol isn't the best for me. I called the cardiologist office, The cardiologist has taken me off Metoprolol and I will be starting 120mg a day of Cardizem a day now (if I take the whole dose). Hopefully it will help. So Cardizem is a calcium channel blocker, what is the main difference between it & Metoprolol? It won't affect libido?
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1423357 tn?1511085442
I would definitely try the Cardizem before starting the Cialis.  Just be careful transitioning from the Metoprolol to the Cardizem.  I'd question your physician on how to make the transition.  At 33 you shouldn't be having problem maintaining an erection!  Trust me on that.  I'm 65 and still going strong.  If you smoke, or if you drink alcohol to excess, these are factors which impact sexual performance.  If this is not you, it's possible that the Metoprolol is affecting you.  It is certainly a side effect of taking it.
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Avatar universal
It's not so much my libido that's dropped, it's that I've noticed that in the last year or so, I get aroused just fine, and can get an erection, but sometimes during sex I have trouble maintaining the erection. Not sure if that's just aging or metoprolol side effect. I'm 33 though, so not old. I asked the doctor about it and he said we could try Cardizem. What I'm wondering now is to stick with the Metoprolol now, and use the Cialis that he prescribed me, and see if that's enough to help, or to switch to Cardizem BEFORE trying Cialis, and see if that improves things any.
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1423357 tn?1511085442
I think there are too many alternatives available to you that you to stay on Metoprolol.  I think you should certainly give Diltiazem a try.  Beta blockers affect each of us very differently.  I'm on 75mg, per day, yet at 65 have no problems messing with libido. I don't know the frequency of your "benign tachycardia", but have you considered an electrophysiology to investigate it further and possibly eliminate it for good?  I'd give the Cardizem a try, but do so carefully while transitioning from the Metoprolol.
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