Is Depression a Metoprolol Side Effect?
There are several possible side effects for people taking
metoprolol (available as
Lopressor®,
Toprol XL®, and
generic metoprolol).
Depression does appear to be one of the more common side effects reported in metoprolol clinical studies. However, like with other beta blockers, it is difficult to say where depression is actually caused by metoprolol, other specific factors, or a combination of factors.
Understanding Clinical Studies
Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies in which thousands of people are given a particular medicine and compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine. Side effects are then usually separated into those that occur in more than 1 percent of people and those that occur in less than 1 percent of people.
For people taking metoprolol, depression was a reported side effect occurring in up to 5 percent of people.
What Does Other Research Say About Depression and Metoprolol?
The title of one research study published by Ried and colleagues probably most ably states what the literature says about depression and metoprolol: "Beta-blockers and Depression: the More the Murkier?"
Despite a lot of research in this area, healthcare providers cannot say with certainty that beta blockers, including metoprolol, cause depression.
They also cannot say with certainty that beta blockers do not cause depression.
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