Metoprolol – is it right for you?

While checking out of the hospital, after having a stent inserted, one of the medications that I was prescribed was Metoprolol.    I really did not know the reason that it was prescribed as my heart rate was very low at or near 49 beats per minute. Nevertheless, I followed the instructions.  My hands and feet were cold. I had nauseating feelings and felt near-fainting a few times. I had stomach aches and pains. Of course, I had no libido. I wondered just how important this drug was to my regaining heart fitness, so I did my research. 

The instructions warned that I should not quit taking this medicine abruptly as it could cause even more severe heart reactions.   I accidentally missed taking it one day, and I mentioned to my wife that I felt much better today. I went home and saw my pill organizer and noticed that I had not taken my pills for the day.   I quickly took the baby aspirin and the prasugrel, but I opted from that point on not to take the Metoprolol. All of the stomach aches, cold feet and hands, and nausea went away and did not return.   These are just the things that I noticed, but when I looked up the side effects, I realized that I had had many more of the side effects than I thought. I have listed the following side effects and put notations after the ones that I experienced.   The comforting thought here is that I did not experience all of these side effects. I Have listed all the official data on Metoprolol. Please take a look if you have been prescribed this drug. 

Metoprolol Common Side Effects

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Blurred vision  – Yes I had had this side effect, but I did not relate it to taking Metoprolol.

chest pain or discomfort – I had had this as well, but thought that it was because of my recent medical treatment.

Confusion – YES

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position -YES

slow or irregular heartbeat  – Possibly, but not certain of this. 

sweating

unusual tiredness or weakness  – YES

Less common

Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet

Cough  – YES

decreased urine output

difficult or labored breathing

difficulty with speaking

dilated neck veins

disturbed color perception

double vision

fast, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

halos around lights – YES

Headache – YES

inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles

inability to speak

irregular breathing

loss of vision

night blindness

noisy breathing

overly bright appearance of lights

pain, tension, and weakness upon walking that subsides during periods of rest

paleness or cold feeling in the fingertips and toes – yes

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

short-term memory loss

slow speech

swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs

tightness in the chest – YES

tingling of the hands or feet – YES

tingling or pain in the fingers or toes when exposed to cold temperatures – YES

troubled breathing

tunnel vision

unusual weight gain or loss

Rare

Bluish color of the skin of the fingers or toes

chills

clay-colored stools

continuing loss of appetite

continuing or severe abdominal or stomach pain -YES

dark urine

difficulty with moving

Fever – Possibly

general tiredness and weakness

hoarseness

increased frequency of urination

itching skin

light-colored stools

lower back or side pain

muscle pain or stiffness – YES

numbness of the fingers or toes

pain, swelling, or redness in the joints

rash

sore throat – YES

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

unpleasant breath odor

unusual bleeding or bruising

upper right abdominal or stomach pain

vomiting of blood

weakness

yellow eyes and skin

Black, tarry stools

bleeding gums

blood in the urine or stools

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings

cool, sweaty skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Bluish color of the fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds

change in consciousness

loss of consciousness

no blood pressure or pulse

stopping of the heart

very drowsy or sleepy

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Belching

bloated feeling

decreased interest in sexual intercourse – YES

difficulty having a bowel movement

discouragement

dry mouth

excess air or gas in stomach or bowels – YES

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

feeling of fullness

feeling of indigestion

feeling sad or empty

inability to have or keep an erection – YES

irritability

loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

loss of interest or pleasure

Nightmares – YES

pain in the chest below the breastbone

passing gas 

redness or other discoloration of the skin

runny nose – YES

sensation of spinning

sneezing

stuffy nose

tiredness

trouble concentrating

trouble sleeping

Bone pain

continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears

dry eyes

hair loss or thinning of the hair

hearing loss

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

pain in the penis on erection

severe sunburn

Incidence not known

Change in taste or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

fear or nervousness

hives or welts

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is Metoprolol?

Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that affects the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins).  It is used as a treatment for Angina and Hypertension(High blood pressure). It is especially used to lower the risk of a heart attack due to a heart attack.

Important Information

You should not use metoprolol if you have a serious heart problem (heart block, sick sinus syndrome, slow heart rate), severe circulation problems, severe heart failure, or a history of slow heart-beats that caused fainting.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to metoprolol, or other beta-blockers such as Atenolol, Carvedilol, Labeteal, Nadolol, Nebivolol, Propranolol, Sotalol), or if you have:

• a serious heart problem such as heart block, sick sinus syndrome, or slow heart rate;
• severe circulation problems;
• severe heart failure (that required you to be in the hospital); or
• a history of slow heartbeats that have caused you to faint.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, or other breathing disorder;
• diabetes (taking metoprolol may make it harder for you to tell when you have low blood sugar);
• problems with circulation (such as Raynaud’s syndrome);
• a thyroid disorder; or
• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether metoprolol will harm an unborn baby. However, having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause complications such as diabetes or eclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure that can lead to medical problems in both mother and baby). The benefit of treating hypertension may outweigh any risks to the baby.

Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breast-feeding. Metoprolol can pass into breast milk and may cause dry skin, dry mouth, diarrhea, constipation, or slow heartbeats in your baby.

How should I take metoprolol?

Take metoprolol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.

Metoprolol should be taken with a meal or just after a meal.

Take the medicine at the same time each day.

Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.

A Toprol XL tablet can be divided in half if your doctor has told you to do so. Swallow the half-tablet whole, without chewing or crushing.

Measure liquid medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

You will need frequent medical tests, and your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine.

You should not stop using this medicine suddenly. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using metoprolol even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use this medicine for the rest of your life.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Metoprolol injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection in a medical setting where your heart and blood pressure can be monitored. Metoprolol injections are given for only a short time before switching you to the oral form of this medicine.