I can relate to many of the posts here.

I'm 44 years old and was diagnosed with CHF (most likely due to a viral/bacterial infection) 5 years ago. I had an EF of about 35% when diagnosed and after a year (while taking Coreg (50mg), Lisinopril (10mg) and Spironolactone (25mg)) my EF went up to 60%.

Five years after my diagnosis I'm taking 80mg Coreg CR (with 10mg Lisinopril & 25 mg Spironolactone) and now have an EF of 70%. Like others on this board I've experienced a lot of weight gain and fatigue but the worst side effect of these medicines for me is by far depression which puts me in a very angry and negative mood much of the time. I used to be a very easy going person but not anymore. Everything and everyone makes me angry.

Despite these very frustrating side effects I won't go off my meds because when I accidentally went off them last year my heart rate shot up, I felt extreme breathlessness and also had chest discomfort on a continuous basis. It felt that I was going into heart failure again.

I think that my heart meds and specifically the Coreg CR are what is keeping my heart so healthy so I plan to stay on them until something better becomes available.