Metoprolol tartrate for anxiety?

Question posted by Sad135 on 22 Feb 2020

Last updated on 20 May 2020 by rdwestfall

Has anyone ever taken metoprolol tartrate for anxiety? I used to take it for my high blood pressure but I no longer needed it I haven't taken it for about 3 years and I noticed while I was taking it my anxiety went away and when I stopped it came back. My doctor prescribed it to me again but this time only to treat my anxiety. I don't have high blood pressure anymore so I'm kinda scared to take it. I will only be taking half of a 25mg in the morning and the other half before bed. I am worried if I haven't taken it for so long if I would have side effects because when I first took it, I didn't get any side effects?

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3 Answers

rdwestfall 20 May 2020

I've been on metoprolol for over 10 years. It does lower my blood pressure, but I check it every day and cut back if it gets too low (I'm on 125-150 mg/day). It really has helped a lot with anxiety.

Votes: +2

goved6 23 Feb 2020

I take metoprolol tartrate 50mg for my blood pressure, if you don't have high blood pressure, then you should not take it until you talk to your doctor, if you take it, it could possibly put your blood pressure to low, not good, I've never heard of anyone taking it for anxiety, I would think, and this is my opinion, if someone took it for anxiety, it could lead to the problems of low blood pressure like I mentioned before, you should definitely talk to your doctor before you take it, I hope this helps some, it's better to be safe than sorry on that type of medication.

Votes: +1

Sad135 23 Feb 2020

goved6... beta blockers, metoprolol is sometimes used off-label to control anxiety, including occasional performance anxiety and various anxiety disorders." You can Google it my doctor prescribed it cause I told her when I was taking it before for my high blood pressure my anxiety went away and as soon as I got taken off of it my anxiety came back

masso 23 Feb 2020

@ goved6, if you have read the question, Sad135 writes:

" My doctor prescribed it to me again but this time only to treat my anxiety."

So I do not understand why you write:

"should not take it until you talk to your doctor"

Again, Sad135, has already spoken to his Dr., and his Dr. has prescribed a low dose of Metoprolol tartrate to treat his anxiety.

Off-Label Uses for Metoprolol Tartrate
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend metoprolol tartrate for treating something other than the conditions listed in this article. This is called an "off-label" use. Some off-label metoprolol tartrate uses include:

Treatment of arrhythmias (abnormal electrical activity in the heart)
Treatment of hyperthyroidism
Migraine prevention
Relief of alcohol withdrawal symptoms
Treatment of anxiety, including social phobia and performance anxiety.

WildcatVet 23 Feb 2020

Thanks to masso and Sad for your very timely and accurate comments!

masso 22 Feb 2020

"Like many other beta blockers, metoprolol is sometimes used off-label to control anxiety, including occasional performance anxiety and various anxiety disorders."

Votes: +3

WildcatVet 22 Feb 2020

And if you didn't have side effects when you took it before you likely won't have any now.
Hope you're feeling better quickly!

Sad135 22 Feb 2020

Thanks I will only be taking half of the 25mg

Sad135 22 Feb 2020

I guess what kinda scares me is that it can lower my blood pressure

WildcatVet 23 Feb 2020

That's what it's primarily prescribed for but when used for hypertension the initial dose is usually 100mg/day and the maintenance dose can be as much as 100-400mg/day.
The amount that you'll be taking is so low it probably will have no effect on your blood pressure.

Sad135 23 Feb 2020

I know it used to lower your blood pressure, but mine is normal I dont have high blood pressure anymore

WildcatVet 23 Feb 2020

What I meant to say is that metoprolol is an beta-adrenergic blocking agent, a class of medications often prescribed to control the symptoms of anxiety - sweating, shortness of breath and hyperventilation, nervousness, feelings of dread and anticipation, trembling and/or tremors, etc.
It does not treat the underlying cause of the anxiety and it's not a cure.
If it takes at least 100mg/day to lower blood pressure then your 25mg/day dose is not enough to lower your blood pressure significantly.
I've taken a low dose of a similar medication, propranolol, for years to control my anxiety symptoms and it's had no effect on my blood pressure at all... and mine has always been low to start with.

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