Metoprolol Side Effects

Generic Name: Lopressor, Toprol-XL
Brand Name: Metoprolol, Metoprolol Succinate ER, Metorpolol Tartrate
Some side effects of metoprolol may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Consumer need to know

Applies to Metoprolol: Oral and Intravenous Administration
Metoprolol and its Side Effects
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Metoprolol is a beta-blocker oral/intravenous medication for the treatment of heart complications. It treats angina (chest pain) and hypertension (high blood pressure); it also treats and prevents heart attacks.
As a beta-blocker, Metoprolol aims at reducing the workload of the heart which in turn effects circulation of blood with direct impact to the respiratory system. Things to watch when taking Metoprolol are:

• Tightening and pain in the chest;
• Dizziness;
• Difficulty breathing;
• Water retention (swelling of extremities);
• Pain the stomach, nauseating feeling, darkening of urine
• Skin gets bruised easily;
• Depression, disorientation, nervousness, sleep disturbance;
• Diminished sex drive and even impotence.

Patients should call their health care provider immediately if any of the above side effects come with the use of Metoprolol. FDA has specific guidelines with the use of Metoprolol that help improving patient care and lessen the side effects. Some of the guidelines are as follows:

• Take the dose as prescribed
• Take the dose with food or after the meal (to avoid stomach pain, nausea)
• Take the dose at a precise time frame to increase its effect
• When missing a dose, take it right away and resume your dose-intake schedule
• Skip the missing dose if the time for the next dose arrives

The prescribed dose of Metoprolol may vary for different patients depending on patient’s health condition. It is important to tell the health care provider on any known health conditions so that the health care provider can adjust the dose accordingly. Certain health conditions make the use of Metoprolol a harming medication. Below are the typical health conditions that make Metoprolol a definte no-no medication:

• Congestive heart failure (workload of the heart is diminished; no need to slow it further);
• Low blood pressure (Metoprolol lowers blood pressure; no need for further reduction);
• Pheochromocytoma (neuroendocrine tumor mainly in the medulla and adrenal glands);
• Raynaud’s syndrome (referring mainly to discoloration of fingers and toes);
• Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema (it effects the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood);
• Diabetes mellitus (its association with the cardiovascular disease)
• Depression (beta-blockers are known to cause depression)
• Anomalies of the liver and kidney
• Disorder of thyroid
• Respiratory disorders and allergies