Vision Disturbances with Metoprolol? - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Vision Disturbances with Metoprolol?

afafaf profile image
16 Replies

Hi All, quick question: Since I've been on Metoprolol at end of January I've had three episodes where my vision has been affected. It usually is a kind of jagged/corrugated disturbance to one side of my visual field that moves as my eyes move, so I can't look at it. I have it right now, and it's a quite dynamic version this time, with the corrugated thing undulating, resonating.

Does anyone else take Metoprolol and have these episodes?

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afafaf
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16 Replies
Spoiler profile image
Spoiler

I have taken it for 2 years, no problems. At first it was 25 mg twice a day, it was increased to 50 mg twice a day about a year ago. Maybe some other drug causing it? Amiordarone can affect eyesight for some?

afafaf profile image
afafaf in reply to Spoiler

It only started when I was put on Metoprolol alone back in January. This one was a bit more dynamic, with more movement...

mav7 profile image
mav7 in reply to afafaf

afafaf Google side effects of Metoprolol (Mayo Clinic) and blurred vision is listed. Also, discuss with your doctor. Sry, we can't post links.

F-M-C-MM profile image
F-M-C-MM

Hi Arafaf , have you had an ablation recently, if so it could be related to the procedure itself. I too have had visual disturbances, but it wasn't the Metoprolol which was the cause

afafaf profile image
afafaf in reply to F-M-C-MM

Yes, had an ablation last Monday, and I think I did read something about it on the 'Recovering from an Ablation' factsheet!

momist profile image
momist

That sounds just like the 'aura' that often preceded a migraine attack, when I used to get those at intervals. I rarely suffer migraine now, but sometimes get the aura without the following headache. I would suspect that they might be due to other causes than the drug you are taking.

BevCynfelyn profile image
BevCynfelyn

I've just posted a reply and watched it vanish before my very eyes, so apologies if this one appears twice! I occasionally get visual migraines - just the aura but no headache. One lasted a whole day and was followed by my first known AF attack. My AF when it comes is persistent until reverted by DC cardioversion. I had another last Saturday when for about an hour the entire world looked as if it was trying to resemble a zebra - black and white wobbly zigzags everywhere! But fortunately not followed by another AF attack - had a checkup this week and the GP has said that while I'm still in sinus rhythm I do have another arrhythmia but not AF and he wants to check me again next week. I'm on flecainide (which has some dramatic side effects including visual disturbances but not the aura) and the visual migraine aura preceded any medication that I'm currently on anyway.

afafaf profile image
afafaf in reply to BevCynfelyn

Yes, I can relate to the "zebra" effect Bev. In my case it's more of a thin patch of my visual field being affected with "steps" or zig-zag like elements. I've never had visual migraines (or any kind of a migraine) until I started taking Metoprolol.

BevCynfelyn profile image
BevCynfelyn in reply to afafaf

I associate it more with the AF than with the medication because the first one was 3 days before anyone knew I had AF and before my dramatic blue-light dash to A&E with a heart rate of around 280 and thus before any medication at all beyond the occasional paracetamol! I'm on bisoprolol rather than metropolol.

afafaf profile image
afafaf in reply to BevCynfelyn

Could be a coincidence it first happened right after I started the Metorpolol, I suppose. I think it first happened the day or 2 days after I started it. ANything's possible.

BevCynfelyn profile image
BevCynfelyn in reply to afafaf

Too true - with AF anything is possible!

Richard1945 profile image
Richard1945

You are describing a visual migraine. They are bothersome, but it is not likely that the beta blocker is causing it. They are unimportant other than visually disturbing.

afafaf profile image
afafaf in reply to Richard1945

This was the same as the previous two I've had but was resonating, moving more than those had been. Could be the after effects of the ablation last week, but I did have two prior to the ablation as well, though the visual feature was more fixed than this one.

Jancam1 profile image
Jancam1

I get the zebra migraines, and have for a couple of years, noheadache. Dr says medication is not the cause. Just happens.

pizza72 profile image
pizza72

I also have this problem, my doctors all say it's not caused from this med

afafaf profile image
afafaf

Since I came off metoprolol I've never had it happen again. That was years ago.

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