Metoprolol
About Metoprolol
Metoprolol is used in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), heart-related chest pain (angina), and irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Hypertension is a lifelong or chronic condition in which the force exerted by the blood against the artery walls becomes so high that it leads to heart disease.
Metoprolol contains 'Metoprolol', which helps in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
Not everyone who is taking Metoprolol will get these side effects. In some cases, Metoprolol may cause certain common side effects like dizziness, tiredness, diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea, and headache. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and resolve gradually over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
You can take Metoprolol with food or without food. It should be swallowed as a whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, bite, crush, or break it. Your doctor will advise you on how often you should take your tablets based on your medical condition. It is always important to complete your treatment course for better results.
Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Metoprolol. Also, let your doctor know if you have low blood pressure, asthma, overactive thyroid, metabolic acidosis, or severe blood circulation problems. Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Metoprolol is not recommended for use in children. Metoprolol may cause dizziness, so drive with caution.
Uses of Metoprolol
Medicinal Benefits
- Metoprolol helps in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
- This medicine lowers the blood pressure and helps in reducing the risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or other heart or kidney problems in the future.
- Metoprolol may also help in relieving symptoms of migraine-related headache and tremors (fits).
Directions for Use
- Metoprolol should be taken with or immediately after a meal for better absorption.
- It is usually taken 2-3 times daily at the same time each day or as prescribed by your doctor.
- Swallow Metoprolol as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, open, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Metoprolol
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Headache
Drug Warnings
- Do not take Metoprolol if you are allergic to Metoprolol or any other beta-blockers.
- Avoid taking Metoprolol if you have/had heart conduction, rhythm problems, uncontrolled/severe heart failure, blocked blood vessels, blood circulation problems, untreated pheochromocytoma, metabolic acidosis, low blood pressure, or prinzmetal angina.
- Inform your doctor if you have asthma, COPD, diabetes, blood vessel disorder, slow heart rate, pheochromocytoma, myasthenia gravis, dry eye problems, kidney or liver impairment; if you are taking anti-depressants, other blood pressure-lowering medicines, or anti-arrhythmic agents.
- Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Metoprolol is not recommended for children as safety and efficacy have not been established.
- Metoprolol may cause dizziness, so drive with caution.
- Don't stop taking Metoprolol without consulting your doctor. Suddenly stopping the use of Metoprolol may cause changes in your heart rhythm and blood pressure, cause chest pain, or a heart attack. Your doctor will gradually lower your dose to help prevent these symptoms.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Metoprolol may interact with antacid (cimetidine), blood pressure-lowering agents (hydralazine, clonidine), anti-arrhythmic (amiodarone), anaesthetics (cyclopropane), anxiolytics (temazepam, diazepam), NSAID's (indomethacin, celecoxib), antibiotic (rifampicin), anti-fungal (terbinafine), corticosteroids (hydrocortisone, prednisolone), a local anaesthetic (lidocaine), anti-depressants, barbiturates, phenothiazines, and other beta-blockers.
Drug-Food Interaction: Alcohol might increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of Metoprolol. It might also cause increased dizziness. Therefore, avoid alcohol consumption while taking Metoprolol.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Metoprolol may have interaction with disease conditions such as heart conduction problems, rhythm problems, uncontrolled/severe heart failure, blocked blood vessels, blood circulation problems, untreated pheochromocytoma (tumour in the adrenal gland), metabolic acidosis (excess acid in the body), low blood pressure, and prinzmetal angina.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAlcohol might increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of Metoprolol. It might also cause increased dizziness. Therefore, avoid alcohol consumption while taking Metoprolol.
Pregnancy
unsafeMetoprolol is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorMetoprolol may pass into breastmilk. Consult a doctor before taking Metoprolol if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionMetoprolol may cause dizziness and tiredness. Therefore, drive or operate machinery only if you are alert.
Liver
consult your doctorDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
consult your doctorDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
unsafeMetoprolol is not recommended in children as the safety and efficacy have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do regular physical activity or exercise.
- Opt for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.
- Limit intake of sodium chloride (table salt) in your daily diet.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress as it can raise your blood pressure.
- Try to enjoy and spend time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Try to include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid-containing food drinks in your daily diet. You can also use low-fat cooking oil like olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and coconut oil.
Special Advise
Monitor your blood pressure daily and if there is too much fluctuation then immediately contact your doctor.
If you are due to have any surgery, inform the doctor that you are taking Metoprolol.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: The blood exerts increased pressure on the walls of blood vessels leading to hypertension. Blood pressure is the measurement of the heart's force to pump blood to all parts of the body. Hypertension is a chronic condition in which blood pressure is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when blood supply to the heart is blocked). Additionally, high blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be diagnosed with the help of a blood pressure monitor or sphygmomanometer. Normal blood pressure lies between 90/60 mm of Hg and 120/80 mm of Hg. If the blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or greater, it is considered high blood pressure.
FAQs
Metoprolol is indicated in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), prevention of heart-related chest pain (angina), heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia), and heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Metoprolol helps in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. Thereby, lowers blood pressure.
Do not stop taking Metoprolol without consulting your doctor as it may lead to a rise in blood pressure. To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Metoprolol for as long as your doctor has prescribed it to you. Do not be reluctant to speak with your doctor if you experience any difficulty while taking Metoprolol.
Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol if you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) as it might mask the symptoms or make it difficult to recognise the signs of thyrotoxicosis (excess thyroid hormone in the body).
Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol with anti-diabetic medicines as it might mask the signs of low blood sugar. Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels while taking Metoprolol is advised.
Your doctor may probably ask you to stop taking Metoprolol 24hours prior to the surgery, as it might lower blood pressure when combined with general anaesthesia. If you are due to have any surgery or are receiving an anaesthetic, inform the doctor that you are taking Metoprolol.
Taking Metoprolol along with multivitamin/multimineral supplements may decrease the effect of Metoprolol. Therefore, maintain a gap of at least 2 hours between both. However, you are advised to take Metoprolol with other medicines only after consulting your doctor.
High blood pressure increases the workload on the arteries and heart. If untreated, it could damage the blood vessels of the heart, brain, and kidney and might result in stroke, heart failure or kidney failure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart attacks. Therefore, anti-hypertensives such as Metoprolol are used to lower the blood pressure to normal; this reduces the risk of developing these disorders.
Yes, Metoprolol contains metoprolol which belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers.
No, Metoprolol is not a blood thinner. It is an antihypertensive medicine.
Metoprolol starts working within 2 hours. However, it can take up to a week to show its full effect.
No, it is not dangerous to take Metoprolol. It is safe to take Metoprolol if prescribed by the doctor.
Metoprolol may cause sleepiness. Drive or operate machinery only if you are alert. Consult the doctor if you have sleep problems.
Alcohol might increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of Metoprolol. It might also cause increased dizziness. Therefore, avoid alcohol consumption while taking Metoprolol.
Metoprolol may cause side effects like dizziness, tiredness, diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea, and headache. If the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
