Lopresor SR online

Generic Name: metoprolol

Brand Names: Lopressor, Toprol-XL

Item info

Metoprolol belongs to the drug classification known as beta-blockers. Beta-blockers are known to affect the heart and blood circulation through arteries and veins. Metoprolol is used to treat angina, commonly known as chest pains, and hypertension or high blood pressure. This medication is also used to treat or prevent heart attack.

Drug class: Beta-blockers

Interactions

Inform your physician if you are taking any of the following BEFORE taking Metropolol:

• allergy treatments (or if you are undergoing allergy skin-testing);
• clonidine (Catapres);
• guanabenz (Wytensin);
• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam);
• a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), or metformin (Glucophage);
• a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine (Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem);
• medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), and theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair); or
• cold medicines, stimulant medicines, or diet pills.

If you are taking any of the substances mentioned above, your physician may require either a dosage adjustment, special monitoring during treatment, or prohibit you from taking Metropolol altogether

Inform your physician of other prescription and over-the-counter medications you may be using, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products BEFORE taking Metropolol, as some of these may interact with this medication.

Side effects

Seek immediate medical attention if you display any of these allergic reactions:

hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Inform your pjhysician immediately if you have any of these serious side effects while taking Metropolol:

• slow or uneven heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
• swelling of your ankles or feet;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• depression; or
• cold feeling in your hands and feet.

Other less serious side effects may also be likely to occur, such as:

• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• tired feeling; or
• anxiety, nervousness

Other side effects not listed here may also occur. Inform your physician if any of these side effects become particularly persistent or bothersome.

Prescription needed / OTC

RX Only

Dosage

Take Metropolol only as prescribed by your physician. Do not take any dosage other than that which was recommended by your physician. Metropolol must be taken with a full glass of water. Take Metropolol at the exact same time every day. Do not crush, chew, or break the extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or crushing the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Do not skip doses or stop taking metoprolol without first consulting with your physician. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. Your blood pressure may need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure that this medication is helping to improve your condition. Do not miss any scheduled consultations with your physician.

Inform your surgeon that you are taking Metropolol if you have a need to undergo any type of surgery. You may need to briefly stop taking Metoprolol before having surgery.

Metoprolol is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely if you are being treated for hypertension.

Continue using Metropolol even if you feel well, as hypertension often has no symptoms, so you may not even feel that your blood pressure is currently elevated.

Contraindications

Inform your physician if you have any of the following condition BEFORE taking Metropolol:

• asthma, bronchitis, emphysema;
• diabetes;
• low blood pressure;
• a heart problem such as heart block, sick sinus syndrome, slow heart rate, or congestive heart failure;
• depression;
• liver or kidney disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• myasthenia gravis;
• pheochromocytoma; or
• problems with circulation (such as Raynaud's syndrome)

If you have any of the conditions mentioned above, your physician may require either a dosage adjustment, special monitoring during treatment, or you may be prohibited from taking Metropolol altogether.

Metropolol is classified as FDA pregnancy category C, meaning this medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Inform your physician if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Metoprolol may pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Inform your physician if you are breast-feeding a baby BEFORE taking this medication.

Storage

Store metoprolol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

High blood pressure Medications

• Accupril
• Adalat
• Atacand
• Avapro
• Benace
• Benazepril
• Catapress
• Cozaar
• Diovan
• Diovan-HCTZ
• Ibesartan
• Lisinopril
• Lisinopril HCTZ
• Lopresor-SR
• Lotensin
• Micardis
• Micardis-Plus
• Norvasc