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switched from atenolol to metoprolol: fast heart rate

New cardio.  was on atenolol 25 mg 2x daily for aortic valve disorder, but had issues of impotence and very very low heart rate, as well as numerous palpitations. Cardio swithced me to metoprolol xl 25mg 1x daily.  my heart rate has gone from the high 50's to the high 80's from yesterday to today.  Is this normal?  I believed that the xl on the metoprolol was extended release, and that the dosage should do the same thing as far as hr and bp.  by has gone from 116/68 to 138/89.
Best Answer
1423357 tn?1511085442
Yes, Metoprolol Succinate is the timed release.  It is also way more expensive than Metoprolol Tartrate.  I switched long ago to the latter and saved a lot of money. A dose costs literally pennies.  You have to remember to take it twice a day though.  I take it at "5 and 5"; at rising, and at dinner, and it's easy to remember.  

Metoprolol has the same bradycardia effect as Atenolol, so that has to be watched.  Metoprolol has a serum half life of around 5 hours, the Succinate version helps to even the rate of absorption out.  Admittedly, my dosage is somewhat of a roller coaster curve, but it seems to work well for me.  Since my ablation procedure, I continue to take it for mild hypertension.  It is very effective for that for me, so I was just kept on it.
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1423357 tn?1511085442
25mg of metoprolol, regardless of whether is tartrate or succinate (which you are taking) is a very low dose.  I'm on 75mg, and was on as high as 200mg, with zombie like effects.  100mg did me good though.  Metoprolol is known for depressing heart rates.  I don't know about Antenolol, but perhaps this is a lower dose and is having less of a side effect.  By the way 100mg. did not affect my libido.
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Avatar universal
it is a very low dose.  atenolol made me gain about 40 lbs too.  I probably need to be on a higher dose anyway due to how much I weigh.  Doc says that I produce too much testosterone and adrenaline.  Said that I needed to get it under control, and that was about 18 months ago.  Hopefully the metoprolol will work at a higher dose.  It is succinate, btw.  is the succinate supposed to be extended release?  It doesnt seem to be releasing at all.
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Avatar universal
started taking 50 mg 1x/day. seems to be better. by taking them at 5 and 5, youre taking the non-extended release form, correct?  i feel better on the meto, but my hr isnt as slow. may try 75mg and see how i fair.  thank you again for your help
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1423357 tn?1511085442
That is correct, the non-members release Metoprolol Tartrate.
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1423357 tn?1511085442
I hate spell check!!!

The "non-time release"
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Avatar universal
I just started taking Metroprolol 25mg twice a day recently for fast heart rate, otherwise in good shape, just always had issues with too fast a pulse. So far it's really helping me a lot! I feel calmer, freer to do activities without worrying my pulse will go crazy, & sleeping better. As an added bonus my once numerous skips and pvcs have drastically reduced. I'm still a young guy so hoping my libido won't suffer much if any, but if it keeps working as well as it has been, I'll stay on it infefintely. It's amazing what a difference it's made for me before I lived in dread of sudden movements or activities making my pulse too fast and now since I started metroprolol tartrate my whole body feels calmer and more relaxed. I'm a big fan of it.
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Avatar universal
I hope it continues to work for you.  As for me, I'm back on the atenolol 25mg 2x daily.  hr was really high even on 50mg of metoprolol succ, and so was my bp.  I was on it for 4 days and felt extremely nervous the whole time.  in a month or two, I may try something else.
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Avatar universal
well, back on atenolol 25mg 2x a day and my bp is way up there.  went from 120/69 consistenly with 60-70 bpm to 150/87 with 75-80 bpm.  dont know why.  under no more stress and have next week off for thanksgiving.  any suggestions?
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