Metoprolol and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Vin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2021

Metoprolol for High Blood Pressure "Was on Toprol XL for only 6 weeks and had to get off of it quickly. HORRIBLE anxiety/panic attacks, constant arrhythmia, tachycardia, passing out, hypoglycemia, hallucinations, nightmares, Raynaud's syndrome, etc. This drug almost finished me off. I had 13 severe panic attacks since starting it, and if I wasn't as healthy a person as I am, I am certain it would have given me a heart attack. I am now exactly 8 weeks off of it. Most of the horrible symptoms have stopped, except the arrhythmia that comes and goes. In my opinion, Toprol is a serious endocrine disrupter and should be pulled from the market. It is a very dangerous drug. Can't believe how sick I became after starting it. Screw all pills. I can control my BP with diet. I truly regret ever putting one of these poisonous pills in my mouth."

• J44...
• November 13, 2015

Metoprolol for Supraventricular Tachycardia "I'm a 22-year-old female. (115/5'1). Long story short, I found out I have tachycardia and experienced palpitations as well. I had extreme anxiety because of it, which made it worse. I got prescribed Metoprolol Tartrate twice a day at first, and it was a nightmare. It actually had a reverse reaction on me and gave me constant flutters for a whole day. The doctor told me to take Magnesium twice a day with it, and it helped. I eventually switched to the extended release, once a day, along with Magnesium, and I couldn't be happier. I feel a lot more relaxed and normal. Had a few palps still with Tartrate but not with Succinate (yet). I wanted to wait to write a review because I know I relied on reviews. Hope this helps!"

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 5, 2021

Metoprolol for High Blood Pressure "I was on Toprol-XL and experienced many of the 41 side effects listed on the website but not included with the warning label. I experienced nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, dry mouth, drowsiness, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, lightheadedness, cold feet & hands, shortness of breath, wheezing, fluttering heartbeat, shortness of breath with mild exertion, dizziness, loss of appetite. I went to the doctor and ER several times fearing a heart attack but was found to be in good health. No one knew what was wrong until I researched and found all my symptoms under this medication. I stopped 2 days ago and blood pressure is now normal and most symptoms have gone away and improving. It takes about 7 days to feel normal per the website. I will NEVER take this medication again. Be careful, the side effects mimic other potential health issues. See your doctor and seriously look up side effects of Toprol-XL. A very nasty medication!"

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Stay away from this drug. Real bad side effects. Tired all day. Anxiety, panic attacks. Can't breathe. Short of breath. Feels like your organs are shutting down slowly. They should lock the doctors up for prescribing this poison medicine. Wow. I thought I was dying. And I think I came close. It messes with your eyesight and all. If you die and take this medicine, it's the reason. They will say you died from natural causes to stop a lawsuit. But this medicine is dangerous. I was only taking half of 25mg, dang near killed me."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Was on a quarter of a 25mg metoprolol pill for a week. I felt like I was slowly dying. I had difficulty breathing just walking to the bathroom, nausea, headaches, I felt starving, was shaky and uneasy on my feet, was mentally out of it, my heart rate would jump from 80 to 120 throughout the day for unknown reasons and I felt like I was going to pass out at any moment. My psychiatrist put me on it to slow my heart rate to try and help my anxiety. I had been on it as a teen and was fine, I guess something changed since then. I’ve been off it for a few weeks now and I’m still feeling unwell, my eyes are easily strained and I’m getting migraines, I just want this nightmare to end, I hope I feel like myself again soon."

• STa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2021

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "This medication is absolutely TERRIFYING. I was prescribed on 07/07/2021 at a dose of 25mg 2 times a day. Today is 07/12/2021 and I had to call my cardiologist and demand that I’m taken off of this. It gives me tremors, anxiety, chest pains, shortness of breath, my legs and arms turn weird colours, I am crying randomly for no reason, it makes me extremely intolerant to heat to the point where I had heat exhaustion so badly yesterday that I was almost rushed to the ER. It’s the scariest experience with a medication I’ve ever had and even though I’ve only been taking it for a few days I’m 150% more scared than ever to stop taking it because I’m afraid of what will happen if I do. I was on propranolol for almost a year before being prescribed metoprolol and I never had any issues with it. Metoprolol literally makes me feel like my life is finishing."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2020

For Atrial Fibrillation "Usually during exercise my heart rate will go anywhere from 130-199 within 15-30 min of exercise. Almost every time after my workout, my heart will send off PVCs for a few hours. I come from a strong family history of heart disease on both sides of the family. One day after my workout, I started getting PVCs and felt extremely dizzy. I went to the hospital where I was diagnosed with AF. This was not a huge shock as the majority of my family have it. I was given a low dose of metoprolol (12.5 mg, one in the AM and one in the PM). I've been on it for a couple of days now, and I'm ready to throw in the towel. I feel dizzy approximately 3 hours after taking it, light-headed, occasionally nauseous, with tightness and shortness of breath. My heart rate has dropped to around 50 bpm, which is low for me considering my usual heart rate was 70/80. My anxiety is through the roof. I don’t like the feeling I am getting. I am cutting my dosage to one in the morning only to see how I go until I can speak with my doctor about it, as you cannot stop these tablets abruptly."

• Tra...
• December 2, 2016

Metoprolol for High Blood Pressure "Wow! I have not been feeling well for a long time. Until Toprol XL 25mg. My head is clear. I can think straight. I don't have any anxiety. My work performance is at its greatest level. Even my sexual drive is back. I get up rested in the morning and feel no fatigue. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm glad to take this medication."

• Ste...
• October 1, 2015

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I am a 20-year-old female (yes, 20) and I am taking it for SVT. I take 75 mg twice daily, every 12 hours. Right after I take it, my heart rate increases, and I get major anxiety. At night, it's worse. During the day, I'm perfectly fine. I also have chest pains and SOB, sometimes back pain. I also have heavy legs. Headaches are a definite. I am not wearing the Event Monitor to track my heart rate. It can get high, which can be scary because you don't know what could happen next. Some sleepless nights and early morning wake with anxiety. It sucks because when I have these panic attacks, I can tell when it's about to start so I brace myself. But I tell myself that Jesus is going to heal my body every day."

• Str...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2021

For Premature Ventricular Depolarizations "No prior history of cardiac issues or anxiety, 30-year-old female, been working through COVID as a nurse, unsure if I ever had COVID. Was recently diagnosed with “stress-induced” PVC/PACs, symptomatic and pretty frequent but not enough to require any immediate treatment when I went to the ER. Thought it was anxiety, then it persisted every couple of minutes, a swift kick to my chest, losing my breath, so I gave in after almost a day of relaxation techniques. The ER doctor started me on metoprolol. Awful. They helped the symptoms, but I felt like rubbish. Dizzy, tired, my vitals were fine, but just that 10-15 point drop in my blood pressure was giving me headaches and dizziness affecting me! My resting heart rate was in the 50s, which was concerning at first, but I was asymptomatic, so no issue, it gave me anxiety though and made me restless at night. I started on 50 mg, was only taking 25 mg by the end of it after 2 weeks and was switched to propranolol. Much better after a couple of days on that medication, way fewer symptoms."

• Tre...
• August 12, 2019

For Premature Ventricular Depolarizations "Was on metoprolol for 4 weeks. I had nausea, headache, no energy, stayed in bed for 3 days straight. It also dropped my blood pressure to 90/55 & stayed in that range. After that, Dr. took me off, no taper - just cold turkey. On day 3 of no metoprolol, I ended up in the ER with rebound PVC's. I was in a constant panic attack for the first 4 days of withdrawal. It is day 7 & the panic is gone, but still have anxiety, still have a bad headache & rebound PVC's. Dr. said it could take up to 3 weeks until normal. Never would have taken if I had known."

• Lit...
• April 27, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I am a 25-year-old female diagnosed with idiopathic hypertension and tachycardia. I was recently switched to 50mg of metoprolol by my GP. I felt fine for the first four days, but by the fifth day, I started to experience vivid dreams, extreme anxiety after waking from sleep, and then began developing severe panic attacks and constant anxiousness. I was immediately taken off this medication and placed on Bystolic 5mg. It has been 5 days since being taken off the medication, and I am slowly losing the sensation of anxiety, but I still have some residual effects that I feel will take me a while to shake. It has been an incredibly traumatic experience. I do not recommend a beta blocker that crosses the blood-brain barrier if it is not necessary."

• Dal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2019

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I was prescribed this drug in the ER for SVT and it was the worst experience ever. Before taking this drug, I would have episodes of heart racing, but I would be normal. After taking this for a week, I felt weak, dizzy, and developed chest pain. Then one day, I had such bad chest pain that I ended up in the ER. The same doctor who prescribed this at the first ER visit told me to double the dose even after I tried to explain the side effects. I doubled the dose for one day, but this was the worst experience of my life. I was throwing up, my urine was red, I was so dizzy and disoriented that I needed help to go to the bathroom, but worst of all were the tremors and the feeling like my blood was itching and tingling. My heart rate dropped to 52 and blood pressure to 90/55. I stopped taking this drug the next day but am still suffering from tremors, anxiety, and panic attacks. This may work for some, but it destroyed me."

• Jea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2025

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I ended up in the ER with a heart rate in the 160’s. Diagnosed with SVT. Was determined it was from thyroid medication being too high. Started 25 mg of Metoprolol ER and immediately started feeling better. After researching it, I figured out the drug was giving me such a strong feeling of well-being because it is found to block pro-inflammatory cytokines, mainly Interleukin 6 and TNF, both of which are produced in RA, which I have. In fact, the Metoprolol is better at blocking inflammation than actual potent anti-inflammatories. My cardiologist told me I only need to stay on it until my thyroid levels are balanced out, which could take a few months. I did have two odd episodes since beginning it - both in the middle of the night. Both involving elevated blood pressure and a strong feeling of anxiety, which is weird because Metoprolol is supposed to help with both blood pressure and anxiety, and I do not have issues with either. So time will tell. Overall, I am happy with this drug."

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2023

Metoprolol for Supraventricular Tachycardia "I was only able to tolerate 25 mg of metoprolol for a week. The first few days, the side effects were just indigestion and heartburn that subsided. On the 8th day, I had constant anxiety attacks with frequent heart palpitations and almost went to the emergency room. That night, I cut the dosage in half but woke up at 2:30 AM with a major anxiety attack. It took a while to get back to sleep, and when I woke up later in the morning, I had another anxiety attack, tingling in my feet and legs, and heart palpitations. As the day passed, it calmed down. My doctor's office was closed due to a holiday, so I talked to the pharmacist and was told to stay on the medication until I talked to the doctor. I felt somewhat better the next day, a little shaky, but later in the day, the side effects started again. I finally got in touch with the doctor who told me to stop taking it. Hoping in a few days I start to feel normal again. This was a very upsetting and scary experience."

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2017

Metoprolol for High Blood Pressure "I had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) in March 17. I'm a 53-year-old male. Always had a higher heart rate and a family history of high blood pressure. I could actually feel the TIA coming on over a few weeks, but I'm a tough guy. Several drugs tried and failed. Lisinopril damn near killed me with a blood pressure of 175/133. Read a lot and switched to Toprol-XL, no generic!! I take 50mg at night, slow release. Feel great and few side effects. Pressures are good and heart rate is down. Sex still works and anxiety is cut in half. Good stuff. Takes a 1-2 week adjustment period. Relax and let it work."

• Sca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2022

Metoprolol for High Blood Pressure "This is an update to a post I made in October 2021. I discontinued Toprol due to nasty side effects after only 2 months of use (severe anxiety, panic attacks, severe depression, insomnia, swelling of extremities, bloat/gassy, blurred vision, icy hands/feet, arrhythmia, shortness of breath, chest vibrations). It's been 1 year and 3 months since discontinuation. I am STILL experiencing off and on arrhythmia. I've had a thorough exam and testing with 30-day monitoring from 2 different cardiologists. My heart is very healthy, no blockages, no disease. Neither cardiologist can find any reason for the persistent arrhythmia, nor will they believe me when I tell them I think the Toprol caused this long-term persistent arrhythmia. I've also had extensive endocrinology testing and nothing is coming up as a reason for this arrhythmia. NOTE: I've never in my entire life had any heart arrhythmia or palpitations UNTIL I took Toprol, and now it's a regular occurrence. This cannot be a coincidence."

• Kia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I'm 33 years old, and the doctors diagnosed me with high blood pressure after COVID. I was taking metoprolol 100 mg at night. This medication gives me severe insomnia, depression, anxiety, chest pain, and difficulty breathing after taking it. I told my cardiologist about my symptoms, but they didn't really believe me, so I started weaning myself off it. The withdrawal symptoms are pretty uncomfortable too: chest pain, very bad anxiety, still have insomnia, and still dealing with depression. I wished I never put my hands on this drug. My tip is when they give you medication, please research all the side effects before starting to take it. I wish I got more help from doctors on how to wean safely and deal with withdrawal symptoms."

• Nik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 1, 2021

Metoprolol for High Blood Pressure "BP is spiking, especially when I’m asleep: 160/110. It’s been in this range off and on for a number of years. Just out of the blue, it spikes. I actually called for medical assistance to verify my BP readings were correct. Extremely high. Today, same. Called the Cardiologist, need to make some changes quick before I stroke out. Terrible experiences with this so-called med. The lack of efficacy is stressing me out."

• Anonymous
• March 27, 2008

Metoprolol for High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Toprol-XL for 10 years. I began with 50 mg per day, and I am now at 200 mg per day. Unlike another report posted here, I am sleeping better while taking the medication. The only two side effects I've experienced are shakiness and nervousness when I miss a dose by even a few hours, and vague aural hallucinations (hearing things) while on the verge of falling asleep. I've seen the hallucinations reported by other Toprol-XL users on other sites."

• dra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I was out on Metoprolol for elevated blood pressure after Covid. I only took it for 9 weeks. They tried to up my dose from 25 mg to 50 mg, and on the third day, my blood pressure bottomed out. I had to be taken off abruptly, and the rebound symptoms are horrible, it seems I didn’t need it anymore. My blood sugar dropped a few times, and my blood pressure has to be monitored because it drops too low. I also get severe panic attacks out of nowhere, anxiety, and nausea. This was a horrible choice for me, and I am 21 days off it, and the side effects are getting better each day, only with the help of my Jesus. I would not recommend this medicine to anyone, the withdrawals are crazy…read reviews before you take a medication that crosses the brain barrier."

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

Metoprolol 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."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "While the drug did the job of calming my heart when it would race or jump when I would exercise, it had brutal and extremely dangerous psychological side effects. This drug was so hard on me by magnifying extreme emotions that I was experiencing, and I had no idea until, in a fluke experiment, I stopped taking it for 48 hours to see what would happen. My extreme psychological anxiety and hopelessness and psychosis nearly disappeared, with the extreme symptoms almost evaporating at 75% dissipation. This is a very dangerous and scary drug."

• Anonymous
• January 2, 2010

Metoprolol for High Blood Pressure "I have not liked this medication at all. I was taking 25 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide, which worked great to reduce and maintain my blood pressure, but a side effect was frequent urination, and as a teacher, that was a slight nuisance. However, with generic Toprol, I have not gotten a decent night's sleep, and my blood pressure went higher (although I halved the 25 mg pill due to the side effects). I also feel anxious and unsettled."

• Pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Blinding migraines began in 2014, and a whole slew of other symptoms accompanied. (Major auras, pre- & post-) Since I did not have headaches, it was difficult to diagnose. I had major job-related, family, & health stressors. I was placed on Imitrex, and it appeared to be working to quickly relieve migraines but did not last. Over time, my blood pressure began to raise, and Imitrex can cause it. My cardiologist put me on metoprolol succinate ER 25 mg for my blood pressure, and what do you know! I can think clearer, and migraines are all gone! God is truly good! I have less anxiety, blood pressure down, & migraines gone! I forgot to mention that I really do not like to take medicines. I prefer the natural route. But this medicine was worth taking!"