I'm on this medicine and I am just tired a lot. I wasn't sure if this is a common side effect for many people. Thank you.
Metoprolol - Does it cause you to be tired/fatigued?
Question posted by SVT Mommy on 25 Jan 2016
Last updated on 14 July 2022 by Totzie
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11 Answers
Totzie
14 July 2022
I was on this drug only very briefly just about 2 weeks due to long covid. I only took 50mg my first day in the hospital and after that went to 25mg because of scary nightmares, anxiety, night sweats and stomach burning/diarrhea. So, I went down to 12.5mg after I couldn't take the side effects and 12.5mg didn't really lower my heart rate it still took a long time to recover it would pretty much stay over 105bpm-130bpm from moving and fluctuate through that for most of the time while moving or standing. It was uncomfortable but a normal side effect of LONG COVID so cardiologist said he is okay with me being off the medication I have no heart disease/issues/family history and most patients my age recover in 3 months from my issue. I have PVCs in hospital but this medication did a good job of stopping that but now I don't need it and would not recommend this medication.
I would say to supplement with things that increase your blood circulation and lower your blood pressure naturally and of course at least take a walk each day. For me I immediately got all my blood work done to check my Vit D, Sodium, Potassium, Glucose, Iron Levels, Ferritin, C-Reactive Protein levels. Vitamin D definicieny can be linked to hypertension, heart failure etc if severely low. Mine was at 20 but I got it to normal levels with supplementation.
You can ask your doctor about pycnogenol and if you have high blood pressure beet juice/powder helps with that if taken daily. Look I sought out answers from my primary doctor, cardiologist, nutritionist, chiropractor, a functional doctor and did research online on how to improve heart health.
I've suffered from fatigue for nearly 8 years but only improving my diet- cutting out gluten, alcohol, sugar, coffee, red meat, processed food, fried food, dairy/lactose only then did I start seeing improvements in my energy. So, truly with fatigue look at the entire body and your lifestyle holistically and try to start there and who knows you could be able to start lowering the dosage but you could do like I do and track my symptoms, track vitamin/supplements, and blood work daily. Only then can you get a true picture of fatigue.
Mike_SVT
30 April 2022
Reading this forum I see a lot of people have similar symptoms. I had a CABG in 2002. Two ablations for AFIB, AF and SVT. Low testosterone due to pituitary adenoma so being tired is a chronic condition. I was taking 50mg then my SVT returned with sinus tachycardia so upped to 100mg ER daily. I’m am tireder. See my cardiologists again next month. My cardiologist said a lot of patients complain about metoprolol at 100mg will make you tired.
Suefin
6 Sep 2021
I take 100 mg once a day. After about an hour after taking it I get out at breath easy. Is this normal?
RichardW47
19 July 2020
After two months on Metoprolol, I began experiencing severe fatigue and depression. Very debilitating. I was only taking 12.5 mg’s once per day!!
Hypersensitive to it to say the least.
My Doctor directed me to stop it abruptly because it was such a small dosage.
However, I stopped taking it Thursday morning ( Thursday morning was the last time I took 12.5 mg’s)
Friday night I experienced frightening nightmares.
This morning very scary and uncomfortable adrenaline released as it suddenly hit me that this Beta-blocker also has been blocking my adrenaline/epinephrine. So, with out taking it for 48 hours, a torrent of adrenaline hit me. Yep, full blown panic attack stuff, only I didn’t panic but sat on the couch suffering. I’m talking... INTENSE. To assuage the fear, pain, and difficulty, I took my blood pressure every 15-20 minutes for two hours. It constantly stayed at around 137/74 with my heart rate steadily at 57-62 beats per minute.
Amazing.
After the adrenaline rush subsided an hour later, you know what followed... Yep, a huge fatigue and depression episode lasting another 4 hours. I ate to medicate the pain. Guess this is how people gain so much weight on this drug. I just kept turning all over to Jesus and hung on.
(I was on this drug due to a stent placement in my right artery on May 27th, 2020). Heart is very healthy, just a clogged artery at 72 years old.
drhisham343
30 Jan 2016
I am a cardiologist my sub-speciality is electrophysiology, what was the diagnosis of your condition? Tachycardia can be due to many causes and an alternative can be found.
SVT Mommy
2 Feb 2016
I was diagnosed with supra ventricular tachycardia. (And sinus tachycardia). I'm seeing a cardiologist, however I am not 100% happy that some of my symptoms seem to be pushed aside as if they are not worrisome at all. Often it's hard for me to catch my breathe for example. I can go up just one flight of stairs and be out of breathe and gasping. Yet I'm in good shape within normal weight, so it's not that I'm inactive or obese. I get dizzy at times for no reason. Occasionally I get pain in my heart that will come and last for a little bit and then go away for no reason. My Cardiologist seems to brush this aside as if it's nothing. I have had an EKG and had to wear a heart monitor for 30 days. The ekg was normal at my doctor visit but the heart monitor is what showed my SVT. My beats go up to 240 per minute. It's terrible. The meds help now that the doctor increased them. Do you think I should be concerned with my other symptoms?
chuck1957
30 Jan 2016
SVT; Don't give up are you seeing a heart doctor, Or just a GP if that is the case you might want to see a heart doctor they know more about the medications and problems that may give you better results. Or at least something that does not make you so tired. Have a good weekend
honda1
29 Jan 2016
I have been Metoprolol for years, plus Warfarin. I have days when I don't feel like doing anything. Eat healthy, take a good vitamin and also add Super B's and B12. I'm retired so I can take it easy. Good Luck.
StarGlitter
26 Jan 2016
I take this medication, and it doesn't seem to have any side effects. I agree with Chuck, give it a few days, and if it does not subside, talk to your doctor. Good luck, and let us know. StarGlitter
chuck1957
25 Jan 2016
SVT; Did you just start this medication anyway you have 2 correct answers but for many people these side effect go away in a short time if they do not contact your doctor and find something else. Have a good day.
SVT Mommy
25 Jan 2016
Thank you so much for your reply. I've been on it for over a year and I suffered real bad dizziness and fatigue. Over time the dizziness has went away but that tired feeling has not gone away. Unfortunately I have tried other meds and this is really the only one that has helped stop my heart from racing and fluttering. They increased my meds because I had started getting some episodes of fluttering again. Hopefully the higher dosage will help me and I sure do hope that eventually I won't be so extremely tired, but I doubt it since it's been over a year. Thanks again so much for your reply. :)
Defector39
25 Jan 2016
Yes it's a very common side effect. Some people said they get used to it and that the tiredness decrease overtime, but in my case I find as tired as the first day I start taking it.
What is your dose? Low dose cause less tiredness usually.
When I start taking the metoprolol, I was only at a small 25 mg dose daily, I had more energy for sure. My dose was increase to 25 mg x 3 a day so a total of 75 mg day and yes I feel very tired all the time, it's very hard to push myself to do something physical in fact, and even mentally it's very hard. Exercise is almost impossible for me on that med but well I need to take it, if not, my heart is racing all the time.
I hope you will not feel tired for a long time and get used to this side effect.
SVT Mommy
25 Jan 2016
Thank you so much for replying. It helps me to feel better and know that I'm not the only one with this side effect. Sadly I have tried a few other medications and this seems to be the only one that helps stop my heart from racing. Yet this is the only one that causes me such extreme tiredness. I started at 50 mg and now I'm up to 100 mgs once a day. This medicine worked for almost a year and then I started getting real bad episodes of my heart racing and fluttering so they had to increase the meds. I'm trying to hold off on getting an ablation because I'm still young and I've had so many surgeries in the past several years that I'm just so tired of medical procedures and VERY scared and anxious when it comes to ANY procedure involving my heart. I'm glad I found this website. Everyone has been so kind and helpful. Thank you again. :)
Defector39
26 Jan 2016
You're welcome!
I think it's time to see your cardiologist and have a long talk with him about the metoprolol no? 100 mg of the slow release I presume since you take it only once a day? If it's the regular metoprolol, 2 or 3 doses a day is better to keep the drug at a stable blood level and avoid rebound tachycardia.
I totally understand you about being anxious about your heart and surgery. I had many major surgeries (not for my heart), but all those surgeries leave me in a very weak physical state and it seem to have make my heart problems worse than before. I have severe anxiety disorders and I'm housebound because of the anxiety. My heart is the main source of worries and anxiety and I always fear of having a heart attack or something like that cause all my symptoms are linked to my heart (chest pain, unstable blood pressure, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a lot of palpitations episodes everyday and so on...
Anyway, I saw my cardiologist today and had an EKG before seeing him and it was abnormal (first degree heart block and sinusal bradycardia), the cardio doc think it's not serious and told me it's probably the metoprolol who do that but I'm not sure and since I had the EKG this morning and saw it wasn't normal, my anxiety is on the roof and my heart is racing in my chest. I hate feeling that way. Anyway, will ask a question on the metoprolol group myself for the abnormal EKG...
I wish you good luck with the ablation. I'm sure it will work ok and you will feel better. I know a lot of people who had one done and they all feel very well now. Much better than on the medication they was before.
PattynNC
25 Jan 2016
SVT Mommy: yes, tiredness is a very common side effect of this medication. PNC
SVT Mommy
25 Jan 2016
Thank you so much for your reply. It helps reassure me that I'm not the only one with this yucky side effect. Thankfully the dizziness went away after a few months but the tiredness has not gone away and it's been over a year. I guess as long as it's helping my heart, I can try to deal with the tired/fatigue. Thanks again. :)
Related topics
metoprolol, side effect, medicine
Further information
- Metoprolol uses and safety info
- Metoprolol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Metoprolol (detailed)
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