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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Breathing Difficulty While On Metoprolol?

I have been on metoprolol since February for irregular heart beat. I have been breathless, tired, not hungry, I start to eat take 2 bites and cannot and taste food like I used to. Told my internist, I stopped taking it for a week, eratic blood pressure and high pulse rate, 144 one evening for about 3 hours. Doctor did do chest xray, blood work, and electrocardiogram. Said all was okay and go back on the medicine. I am concerned about that because of the breathing and wheezing. My dose is 50. I asked about a lower dose and the answer was no. what can I DO.
Tue, 18 Sep 2018
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,

I'm sorry to hear you've been having some worsened health while on Metoprolol. Metoprolol does have some of the side effects that you have mentioned, such as trouble breathing and fatigue. I am guessing you take it for atrial fibrillation.

I would recommend you don't stop taking the Metoprolol again, but discuss with your doctor about switching it to another medication for controlling your heart rate, like Diltiazem, or, if that isn't an option, Digoxin. However, your doctor may have already considered these options and decided against them based on your particular medical history.

It is also possible that your shortness of breath and fatigue is from your underlying heart condition, though if your symptoms improved when you stopped the Metoprolol, I would suspect the Metoprolol is the cause too. In summary, I recommend you discuss switching to Diltiazem or Digoxin and see what he or she says.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Aaron Branch, General & Family Physician
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What Causes Breathing Difficulty While On Metoprolol?

Hi, I m sorry to hear you ve been having some worsened health while on Metoprolol. Metoprolol does have some of the side effects that you have mentioned, such as trouble breathing and fatigue. I am guessing you take it for atrial fibrillation. I would recommend you don t stop taking the Metoprolol again, but discuss with your doctor about switching it to another medication for controlling your heart rate, like Diltiazem, or, if that isn t an option, Digoxin. However, your doctor may have already considered these options and decided against them based on your particular medical history. It is also possible that your shortness of breath and fatigue is from your underlying heart condition, though if your symptoms improved when you stopped the Metoprolol, I would suspect the Metoprolol is the cause too. In summary, I recommend you discuss switching to Diltiazem or Digoxin and see what he or she says. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Aaron Branch, General & Family Physician