Metoprolol Succinate ER and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

• 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."

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "My primary put me on 25 mg per day due to palpitations that started after going off of HRT patch after 25 years. Cardiologist put me on Chlorothalidone since BP was running in mid 130’s/90. The first few days were fine, then my eyes were always red and itchy, upset stomach, out of breath so much that I couldn’t even walk across the room, and terrible insomnia with horrible nightmares! Asked if I could reduce it to half. Three weeks later and nothing changed, so weaning off by taking every other day for three weeks. This is horrible, now I know why my cardiologist wanted me on thiazide for a month to see if palpitations stopped after lowering BP. By the way, my BP is still the same. I don’t have insurance."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2015

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I was having heart palpitations every day to the point where it was really scary for me. Sometimes flutters, other times skipped beats, and still others I can't explain. I had a Holter monitor and stress test, all came back fine. The cardiologist told me nothing to worry about. They gave me this med 25 mg a day, 1/2 tab in the morning and 1/2 in the evening. In the first week, I felt tightness in my chest, found it hard to breathe, and it made me extremely sleepy and spacey. I almost stopped taking the med, but I continued into my second week after my doctor told me to continue, side effects would subside. I am so glad I took their advice. It's been 2 months, and my palpitations have subsided. I get a few here and there, but not as intense. This was a miracle drug for me."

• Roc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Went to have foot injury x-rayed at urgent care and spiked a blood pressure of 195/110, maybe due to pain. Was given this by IV in the ER, then pills for 3-4 nights at home. It lowered my blood pressure by like 20 points per day, and I was fine for 2 days, but then had episodes of exhaustion to the point where I had to lie on the couch for hours to recover from simple housework like washing pots. Was also short of breath like I had run 5 miles. Swallowing felt weird. Got disoriented while driving. It's a 9 on effectiveness but can't tolerate the side effects. Am 63/F."

• Mom...
• February 10, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I am 29, female. I developed Graves’ disease/hyperthyroidism after having a baby. When my endocrinologist put me on propranolol for the fast heart rate hyperthyroidism gives, I was relieved! But once my thyroid was in normal range, I asked to be taken off due to it making my already lower blood pressure very low. So, I got off, and I noticed I still had a fast heart rate and ignored it since this is something I was used to since I was a teen. I finally got tired and pushed for answers since my endocrinologist was concerned it would eventually cause heart damage working too hard. So, of course, I freaked out. I was diagnosed with inappropriate sinus tachycardia and put on metoprolol, and 5 months in on half of 25 mg, I’m very short of breath since Christmas (NOT COVID), dizzy, beyond a normal tired, extremely cold, and lack of drive."

• Ros...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 25, 2017

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "My experience is that while Metoprolol Succinate ER controls my sinus tachycardia, I have difficulty with glucose control, high triglycerides, swelling in my ankles, severe muscle cramps at times, and shortness of breath. Before taking Metoprolol, my memory was great, now not so much."

• Cat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 13, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I recently switched from 50 mg to two 25 mg tablets of generic Metoprolol Succinate ER. Within days, I was having constant panic attacks, and it felt more difficult to breathe despite decent pulse oximeter readings. The company has had issues with poor quality since 2007. Beware and ask for non-generic is my recommendation."

• 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."

• Mim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 5, 2022

For Left Ventricular Dysfunction "Left ventral cardiomyopathy with normal arteries, result of a virus in my heart many years ago. I was doing well enough, EF 45-50, after more than a dozen years in 2017 that I was taken off of digoxin and HCTZ and remained only on losartan 100 mg. January 2022, I had a stroke. Echo while hospitalized (EF 32) was put on metoprolol succinate ER 12.5. It was increased to 25 mg after a follow-up echo 4 months later (EF 33). A couple weeks later, my feet were swelling. A month later, an irritating cough and wheezing. Increased to 50. Within 2 weeks, my chest, head, and feet felt intense pressure. Basically, I was a pressure cooker. Heart rate would soar with any physical activity. Reduced to 25 mg on my own. Saw a cardio 10 days later, just as I was feeling better, and was told I was in heart failure, go back to 50 mg. So I did and went through the same horror. After 2 weeks, I literally felt like I was going to die. Dropped to 25 mg for 5 days then 12.5 mg. Doc was okay but wants me on it. I HAVE TO GO OFF OF IT!"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• June 19, 2016

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "My cardiologist prescribed one half Watson Metoprolol succinate 25 to normalize heart rate in Dec., and this is a new form for me and is a much better product than Mylan Metoprolol tartrate I was on before, it caused breathing and chest discomfort, and I quit taking it. I don't like taking a beta blocker, but the Watson product I feel is much better, and it can help me control my heart rate."