Like all medicines, metoprolol can cause side effects, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.
Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine.
Common side effects
These common side effects of metoprolol happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Headaches
Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. It's best not to drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller.
Headaches usually go away after the first week of taking metoprolol. Talk to your doctor if the headaches are severe or last longer than a week.
Feeling tired, dizzy or weak
If metoprolol makes you feel dizzy or weak, stop what you're doing, and sit or lie down until you feel better. Do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery if you're feeling tired. Try not to drink alcohol, as it may make your symptoms worse.
Cold hands or feet
Put your hands or feet under warm running water, massage them, and wiggle your fingers and toes. Try not to smoke or have drinks with caffeine in – these can make your blood vessels narrower and restrict your blood flow. Smoking also makes your skin colder. Try wearing mittens (they're warmer than gloves) and warm socks. Do not wear tight watches or bracelets.
Feeling sick (nausea)
Stick to simple meals and avoid rich or spicy food. It might help to take your metoprolol after you have eaten.
Stomach pain
Try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help.
If you're in a lot of pain, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or lasts more than a few days.
Serious side effects
It's rare, but some people have serious side effects when taking metoprolol.
Call a doctor or call 111 straight away if:
- you get shortness of breath, wheezing and tightening of the chest – these can be signs of lung problems
- you get shortness of breath with a cough that gets worse when you exercise (like walking up stairs), swollen ankles or legs, or an irregular heartbeat – these are signs of heart problems
- you have a fast heart rate, high temperature, trembling and confusion – these are signs of too much thyroid hormone in the blood
- the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin – these can be signs of liver problems
- you get unexplained bruising, or you bruise more easily than usual – these can be signs of low numbers of platelets in your blood (thrombocytopenia)
Immediate action required: Go to A&E or call 999 now if:
- you have any heavy bleeding or bleeding that you cannot stop, such as cuts or nosebleeds that do not stop within 10 minutes
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- you get chest pain that does not stop after a few minutes or is new or worse if you already have angina
Chest pain is a possible sign of a heart attack and needs to be checked out as soon as possible.
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to metoprolol.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of metoprolol. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.