Like other beta blockers, metoprolol works by changing the way your body responds to some nerve impulses, especially in the heart. It slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.
Metoprolol starts to work after about 2 hours, but it can take up to 1 week to fully take effect. You may not feel any different when you take metoprolol, but this doesn't mean it's not working.
If you're bothered by side effects, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine for your heart problems. If you stop taking metoprolol, it will take 1 day for it to be completely out of your body. Metoprolol works as well as other beta blockers for reducing blood pressure , but is less likely to cause side effects.
That's because metoprolol works mainly on the heart. Other beta blockers, such as propranolol, work on the heart but affect other parts of the body as well. There are lots of other medicines to lower blood pressure and treat chest pain that work in a different way from beta blockers. Beta blockers aren't usually the first choice of treatment for high blood pressure. Sometimes you may have to try other blood pressure-lowering medicines if you get side effects. Tell your doctor you're taking metoprolol if you're going to be put to sleep using general anaesthetic or have any kind of major operation.
Your doctor may advise you to stop taking metoprolol 24 hours before surgery. This is because metoprolol can lower your blood pressure too much when it's combined with some anaesthetics.
Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of side effects with metoprolol. It can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. During the first few days of taking metoprolol, or after an increase in your dose, it's best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.
It's best to stop drinking alcohol if you find metoprolol makes you feel dizzy. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you have high blood pressure or a heart problem.
But some types of hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combined pill and contraceptive patch , are not usually recommended for women with high blood pressure.
Talk to your doctor if you're taking a combined hormonal contraceptive. There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking metoprolol will reduce fertility in either men or women. But if you're trying for a baby or having problems getting pregnant while on metoprolol, speak to your doctor.
Some people on metoprolol say their sex drive goes down or they can't get an erection. But this isn't a common side effect and there's not enough evidence to say for sure that metoprolol causes it.
You do not need to stop playing sports if you take metoprolol, but don't push yourself too much. Regular exercise is good for you because it lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. But be aware that metoprolol is not allowed in some sports if you're competing at a high level. Metoprolol can make some people feel dizzy, especially when they first start taking it or after taking a bigger dose.
If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery. You can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes:. Page last reviewed: 13 December Next review due: 13 December Metoprolol On this page About metoprolol Key facts Who can and cannot take metoprolol How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.
About metoprolol Metoprolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta blockers. It's used to: treat high blood pressure treat illnesses that cause an irregular heartbeat prevent future heart disease, heart attacks and strokes prevent chest pain caused by angina prevent migraines Metoprolol can help reduce your symptoms if you have too much thyroid hormone in your body thyrotoxicosis.
Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Metoprolol slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. Your very first dose of metoprolol may make you feel dizzy, so take it at bedtime. If you don't feel dizzy after that, you can take it in the morning.
Metoprolol is usually taken once or twice a day, but sometimes it's prescribed to be taken up to 4 times a day. Stopping the drug suddenly while also taking metoprolol can cause a big jump in blood pressure. Ergot alkaloids, such as dihydroergotamine, narrow blood vessels to treat headaches. If you take them at the same time as metoprolol, they may cause dangerous narrowing of blood vessels. Dipyridamole is used for heart testing.
All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dosage, form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:.
Your body may process this drug more slowly. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage so that too much of this drug does not build up in your body. Too much of the drug in your body can be dangerous. Treatment with this drug is often started in the hospital with the intravenous formulation as soon as possible after a heart attack.
Treatment with the oral medication as noted below is begun if your body tolerates the intravenous dosing. For people with liver disease: Liver disease may affect your dosage. Your doctor can tell you more. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages.
This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Taking it again could be fatal cause death. A doctor may still prescribe it, but with careful monitoring. At higher doses, metoprolol can block different receptors on the breathing passages.
This narrows the passages, which worsens asthma or COPD. For people with diabetes : Metoprolol may eliminate tremors and reduce heart rate. Tremors and an increased heart rate are signs of low blood sugar. Without these signals, it becomes more difficult to recognize low blood sugar levels.
For people with poor circulation: If you have poor circulation in your feet and hands, it may become worse when taking metoprolol. Because metoprolol reduces blood pressure, you may get even less blood to these parts of your body. For pregnant women: Metoprolol is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:.
For women who are breastfeeding: Metoprolol enters the breast milk and could be passed to your baby if you breastfeed while taking this drug. Talk to your healthcare provider before breastfeeding. His first concern with the study is that it was done entirely on one specific population: Caucasian Spaniards. McAuliffe said. You need to be sure that you are not introducing bias by your grouping of subjects.
It would be interesting to see more studies done. Intuitively, the findings of the study might apply to certain patients like those with sleep apnea or diabetes, he said, because in that population of patients, blood pressure tends to be high at night.
But Dr. McAuliffe cautioned against taking a blanket approach on this topic. Each patient is different, and each medication works in a different way to lower blood pressure, he said. Diuretics are a perfect example of the mechanism issue. Sleep is restorative, so anything that interrupts that pattern can have a deleterious effect that may counterbalance any beneficial effect.
Another category of medicines that you would not want to take at night are beta blockers, Dr. In addition to helping control blood pressure, these drugs reduce heart rate.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with use of metoprolol oral tablet. For example, metoprolol oral tablets may interact with caffeine.
Eating foods or drinking beverages that have caffeine in them can make metoprolol less effective. Metoprolol oral tablet has a boxed warning about possible heart problems if you suddenly stop taking the medication. Metoprolol oral tablets may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take metoprolol oral tablets.
Factors to consider include those in the list below. This is because both alcohol and metoprolol can lower your blood pressure. They may recommend a different medication for you. They may recommend a medication other than metoprolol for you. Metoprolol is present in the breast milk of people who are taking the drug. If you have certain heart problems, your doctor may recommend metoprolol oral tablet for you.
With heart attack, blood flow to your heart muscle is impaired. In addition, metoprolol succinate can be used in children ages 6 years and older with high blood pressure. Metoprolol oral tablets work by decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure. They help your heart pump blood more easily throughout your body. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects. You can also call to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use their online resource.
However, if you have severe symptoms, immediately call or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room. Both metoprolol and atenolol belong to a group of drugs called beta-blockers. They work in very similar ways to treat heart problems. Both atenolol and metoprolol tartrate are immediate-release medications.
In comparison, metoprolol succinate is an extended-release medication. And talk with your doctor about which drug is better for your condition. Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors.
These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. To find current prices for metoprolol oral tablets in your area, visit GoodRx. Financial assistance to help you pay for metoprolol oral tablets may be available. Medicine Assistance Tool and NeedyMeds are two websites that provide resources to help reduce the cost of metoprolol oral tablet.
These websites also offer tools to help you find low-cost healthcare and certain educational resources. To learn more, visit their websites. Before you start taking metoprolol oral tablets, you may wish to ask your doctor or pharmacist some questions.
Here are some questions that may help you:. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional.
You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.
The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
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