Metoprolol?....

...or however it's spelled. Anyone here take this stuff? Any noticeable side effects? Effects on riding performance?

Thx,
~Sherry.

What is it? Is it an antidepressant?

I took propranolol once (antidepressant) and it made me *very* weird. It was the only thing available for post-partum depression at the time.

I only took it for a week, it was so weird I got off it asap.

No, it's an anti-hypertension drug. Sounds like nasty stuff from what I read, although I'm [supposed to be] on a very small dose. Haven't actually downed any of it yet. Might not, either.
Quack says it it can reduce heart output and thus, performance on the bike. Needless to say, this does not thrill me, exactly. Just wondering if anyone has used it, and what effects they have noticed.

sounds scary.

Has your doc already tried a diuretic to reduce blood volume rather than heart output?

My husband took it for a few months after he had his stents put in. He already was on another drug for hypertension, plus the anti-cholesterol drugs AND his HR is low already from all the cycling he does. Long story short, after a couple of months he went back to the doc and said, "Take me off of this drug!" Of course, if it had been life threatening, he wouldn't have, but his bp was already down from the other stuff and his resting hr was in the low 40s. It was really affecting the way he felt when cycling.

Your fellow islander Alan Cassels from UVic has written on the topic of hypertension drugs. His book with Ray Moynihan refers to UBC's "Therapeutic Initiative". You'll find a paper on hypertension here: http://ti.ubc.ca/en/TherapeuticsLetters (I think it's the second link...).

There might be details about that specific drug there, but I have not checked out the details.

Metoprolol is a beta blocker, and as a previous poster said it's used for hypertension (sometimes other reasons too, but hypertension is the major one). These drugs work by blocking receptors for epinephrine (adrenaline), mainly in the heart, and this reduces the rate and force with which the heart contracts so yes, it does reduce cardiac output. One of the side effects can be reduced exercise capacity because the drug keeps the heart rate from going as high during exertion, and some people say beta blockers make them feel a bit tired in general (especially the ones like propranolol that are less specific for the heart and block epinephrine receptors everywhere else too). A couple of the other common side effects can be increased sensitivity to cold and feeling a bit depressed. They are also not usually recommended for people with asthma because blockade of the receptors in the airways can cause them to constrict more. All that said, the beta blockers are generally considered a pretty safe class of drugs. Hope this info helps!

Yes, all the replies were helpful. Thanks much! :)

~Sherry.