{"id":630611,"date":"2024-12-13T09:30:34","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T14:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630611"},"modified":"2025-04-30T10:08:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T14:08:43","slug":"metoprolol-for-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/metoprolol-for-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Using metoprolol to treat anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly a <\/span>third of all Americans<\/span><\/a> will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. When symptoms are severe, medication can help. <\/span>Beta blockers<\/span><\/a> are a class of drugs that works on your body\u2019s fight-or-flight response\u2014blocking the effects of adrenaline. If you\u2019ve ever experienced anxiety symptoms like sweating palms, racing heartbeat, or difficulty breathing, it may sound like a welcome respite. Because they slow your heart rate and relax your blood vessels, these medications are typically prescribed for hypertension (high blood pressure) or heart conditions. However, those same effects make these medications an effective <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> treatment for anxiety. <\/span>Metoprolol<\/span><\/a>, also sold under the brand names <\/span>Lopressor<\/span><\/a> and Toprol XL, is one of the available options. Here\u2019s what you need to know about metoprolol for anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Does metoprolol help with anxiety?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The first-line medications for anxiety are antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). However, some people don’t like the idea of taking any psychiatric or psychotropic medication, notes<\/span> Aida Mihaljovic, MD<\/span><\/a>, a psychiatrist in Chicago, Illinois.<\/span> In those cases, metoprolol can help treat the physical symptoms of anxiety. Although it won\u2019t alleviate the psychological cause of the condition, this medication can help manage a racing heart, sweaty palms, or shakiness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Metoprolol is a <\/span>beta blocker<\/span><\/a>, most commonly prescribed to <\/span>treat heart conditions<\/span><\/a> such as chest pain (angina), heart attack, or heart failure. Beta blockers work by relaxing your blood vessels and slowing your heart rate, which can help improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure. These medications are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for anxiety, but they have long been proven <\/span>effective in helping some people with anxiety<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeta blockers such as metoprolol can be used for certain kinds of anxiety, particularly if having a racing heart or tremors is an issue,\u201d says <\/span>Katherine Rizzo, DO<\/span><\/a>, a psychiatrist with Advantage TMS in Clearwater, Florida. For example, if you suffer from stage fright or performance anxiety (think: public speaking), metoprolol might help you. It can block the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which is sometimes called the fight-or-flight hormone. As a result, it slows down your heart rate and helps you feel calmer.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s another benefit of using metoprolol instead of some other medications that are sometimes used to treat anxiety. It\u2019s not a <\/span>controlled substance<\/span><\/a>. \u201cAlthough it is used off-label, it can be beneficial in managing symptoms of anxiety and help avoid the use of stronger, more addictive drugs, like <\/span>benzodiazepines<\/span><\/a>,\u201d explains <\/span>Zishan Khan, MD<\/span><\/a>, a psychiatrist with MindPath Health in Frisco, Texas. \u201cThese medications, which include <\/span>Xanax<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>alprazolam<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Ativan<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>lorazepam<\/span><\/a>), and <\/span>Klonopin<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>clonazepam<\/span><\/a>), are controlled substances for a reason. They are habit-forming and can lead to tolerance, meaning a person will need more of the medication to achieve the highest dose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, that doesn\u2019t mean your healthcare provider will automatically recommend metoprolol. \u201cThey are by no means the first line of defense that I would introduce to a patient, but they can be useful in specific situations, such as performance anxiety, where the major focus falls on managing the patient’s physical response to stress,\u201d says Dr. Rizzo.<\/span><\/p>\n

How long does it take for metoprolol to work for anxiety?<\/span><\/h2>\n

One advantage of metoprolol is that it starts working fairly quickly\u2014unlike SSRIs and SNRIs, which can take several weeks to reach a therapeutic level. It takes about <\/span>an hour or two<\/span><\/a> to go into effect and about 16 hours for the medication to leave your system. You should take it situationally, such as before giving a big presentation or flying, about 60 to 90 minutes before the stressful event.<\/span><\/p>\n

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