Metoprolol Succinate ER and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Mag...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 31, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I hate this drug. I had been taking 25mg for years along with another blood pressure pill, amlodipine. Worked okay although the metoprolol took me a long time to adjust to. It makes me feel really lousy. The side effects are terrible. Last year I had to have open heart surgery to have my aortic valve replaced. Afterwards, they put me on 100 mg of the metoprolol extended-release. Oh My!! I’ve been on it for 7 months. I might as well be dead. This dosage makes me dizzy, lightheaded, depressed, extremely fatigued, I sleep all day, weight gain, headaches! I took half a pill each day for a few days and actually felt better. I hate this drug. I’m going to tell my cardiologist to lower my dosage way back or I’m just going to stop taking it. I feel worse than I have ever felt in my life. But hey, my BP and pulse are great!"

• Chi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 13, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure (BP) since 2017 ablation and hybrid maze has been 130/90 heart rate 50 before 2 x Tikosyn, 1 x 50mg Metoprolol. I take the drugs 1 hour apart, as soon as I take the Metoprolol BP goes to 165-180/130-120, heart rate 60-70. I feel dead, fatigue, to the point of falling asleep, sedentary, short of breath...in other words all the symptoms described by all. My EP doctor said to increase the Metoprolol to 1 x 100mg, I told him my cardiologist suggested to take two 50mg when my rate increased as needed. He said to make an appointment to see the cardiologist who has known my condition for 2 months. The cardiologist said BP is not that high and recommended no changes. I am besides myself and have lost faith in my Cardiology Clinic."

• MJE...
• October 3, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Metoprolol 75mg daily. Dizzy & off-balance, nausea, weight gain, joint pain, extreme fatigue with breathlessness, hair loss. I accidentally cut down on taking it when I had the flu. Lost 10 lbs due to hardly eating for 1 1/2 weeks. Noticed that I was thinking more clearly, had no nausea, joint pain was pretty much gone, and I had more energy. Checked BP, and it was still in the normal range. Am weaning myself off and am down to 25mg daily as I continue working to diet. Easier to lose weight now, too. I can breathe much more normally now and have better balance."

• Ano...
• April 26, 2012

For Atrial Fibrillation "I've been on Flecainide for 12 years for A-fib but have recently been having more and more episodes. So my cardiologist also prescribed metoprolol (the smallest dose possible - 1/4 of a 25mg tablet twice daily - due to my being very sensitive to other beta blockers). My blood pressure dropped (wasn't high in the first place) and my heart rate dropped to the mid/low 40s. I was also very light-headed, had low energy, some shortness of breath, and sometimes nausea. Discontinued (by doctor) after one week."

• Sem...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 31, 2018

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "Oh man, where do I begin. I am female, 52 years old, and I take 75 mg of Metoprolol a day. I have been on them for 5 years. It does a very good job of keeping my heartbeat in the 50s and 60s when resting, but it goes up too high when I get up in the morning to take a shower. I was 165 pounds when I started taking the pills, and now I am 216 pounds. It has terrible side effects like feeling very fatigued, being unable to think clearly, shortness of breath, my libido has disappeared completely, chest tightness, constipation, and blurry vision. I saw my cardiologist three weeks ago, and he is talking about doing a maze procedure. I am at a point where I would do anything to get off of the Metoprolol."

• Fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2018

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I was diagnosed with moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea and supraventricular 'events' 4 months ago. I was put on a ResMed PAP machine and Metoprolol Succinate ER 25 mg. I have gained 10 pounds. I feel: no energy, chest heavy, heart pumping weak, breathing decreased/light, affect flat, tired, constipated, I can't think. My events are rare now, but I don't know if my events were due to the sleep apnea and if the PAP helped decrease them because I started both med and PAP at the same time. I miss being extroverted, energetic, and outgoing. I don't know if there is any other treatment available. Ablation? I don't like this med."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2018

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I've tried to use this drug two separate times, and in less than two weeks, extreme, almost suicidal depression set in, along with fatigue, shortness of breath, and a constant heavy feeling in the chest. It made my diastolic heart failure feel much worse. At night, my heart rate was 45, even when I was wide awake. All this on just a 25 mg starting dose. I had the same reaction to propranolol several years ago. I'll live with the SVT far more comfortably. Quality of life counts!"

• szu...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 19, 2016

For Left Ventricular Dysfunction "Just wanted to share my experience getting off Metoprolol ER 25 mg and switching to Diltiazem ER 120 mg. After a pulmonary embolism (no symptoms except PVCs), I suffered PVC with anxiety and panic attacks, even while treating blood clots with Coumadin. I was put on 25 mg Metoprolol ER to help the anxiety and PVCs - it helped immediately. I stayed on several years. I continued the dosage and tried to stay/get in shape. I steadily gained weight, assumed it was age. Exercising felt impossible. After a year or so, I was also having afternoon hypotension upon standing quickly. I developed symptoms of asthma and chest tightness plus fatigue. I was switched to Diltiazem. After 8 days of body adjustment (with a small amount of Ativan for 2 days), I again feel human."

• Sem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2014

"On Metoprolol Succinate 75 mg, and it has been a miracle drug for my palpitations, but having intermittent chest pain and discomfort, very fatigued, short of breath, affects my thinking, and just exhausted."

• JZa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 15, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Was on it 25 mg for 4 years for BP and after getting a stent @ 62 yrs. It wasn’t a good match with my system. Restricted breathing, insomnia, exercise intolerance, extreme fatigue, borderline depression. Slowed me down so much I lost interest & energy for doing anything. Felt like I had an Ace bandage wrapped around my chest. My BP was only 140/80 before. After was about 128/65. I’ve been exercising for 14 years. Side effects outweighed the benefit. I switched to Bystolic today ($120/90 day supply). Wish me luck. If this 2nd beta blocker doesn’t work with my system, my next move is to switch to amlodipine; I’ll be going to a calcium channel blocker."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 12, 2012

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "The side effects outweighed any benefits. Extreme fatigue, weight gain, muscle and joint soreness."