Metoprolol
About
Metoprolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart-related chest pain (angina), irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), and to protect the heart after a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic condition in which the blood exerts an increased pressure against the arteries that may lead to various types of heart diseases. Besides this, Metoprolol may also help in relieving symptoms of migraine-related headache and tremors (fits).
Metoprolol contains 'Metoprolol', which helps in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. This 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.
Based on your medical condition, your doctor will decide the dose and duration. 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.
Inform your doctor 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. Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Metoprolol as it might increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of Metoprolol. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and medications to rule out any interactions.
Uses of Metoprolol
Medicinal Benefits
Metoprolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart-related chest pain (angina), irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), and to protect the heart after a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Besides this, it also helps in relieving symptoms of migraine-related headaches and tremors (fits). Metoprolol helps in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. This 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.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Metoprolol
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Headache
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
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. Let your doctor know if you are taking other prescription/non-prescription medicines or herbal supplements.
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
cautionMetoprolol is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
cautionMetoprolol 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
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose 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 helps in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. Thereby, lowers blood pressure.
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.
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.
