drug stability of metoprolol
(me TOE proe lole)
Lopressor, Toprol XL
What is the most important information I should know about metoprolol?
• Do not stop taking metoprolol without first talking to your doctor drug stability of metoprolol. Stoppingmetoprolol abruptly may cause your condition to become worse drug stability of metoprolol.
• Call your doctor immediately if you experience shortness of breath drug stability of metoprolol.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities drug stability of metoprolol. Metoprolol may cause dizziness or drowsiness drug stability of metoprolol. If you experiencedizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities drug stability of metoprolol.
What is metoprolol?
• Metoprolol is in a class of drugs called beta-blockers drug stability of metoprolol. Beta-blockersaffect the heart and circulatory system drug stability of metoprolol.
• Metoprolol is used to reduce hypertension (high blood pressure), to treatchest pain (angina), to treat heart failure, and to reduce the risk that a heartattack will recur drug stability of metoprolol.
• Metoprolol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide drug stability of metoprolol.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking metoprolol?
• Before taking metoprolol, tell your doctor if you have
· asthma;
· a heart problem such as low blood pressure, a slow heart rate, heartblock, sick sinus syndrome, a pacemaker, heart failure, and others;
· diabetes;
· depression;
· thyroid disease;
· kidney disease;
· liver disease; or
· any type of circulatory disease drug stability of metoprolol.
• You may not be able to take metoprolol, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove drug stability of metoprolol.
• Metoprolol is in the FDA pregnancy category C drug stability of metoprolol. This means that it isnot known whether metoprolol will harm an unborn baby drug stability of metoprolol. Do not take this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment drug stability of metoprolol.
• Metoprolol passes into breast milk in small amounts and may affect anursing baby drug stability of metoprolol. Do not take metoprolol without first talking to your doctor ifyou are breast-feeding a baby drug stability of metoprolol.
How should I take metoprolol?
• Take metoprolol exactly as directed by your doctor drug stability of metoprolol. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou drug stability of metoprolol.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water drug stability of metoprolol.
• Take metoprolol with food or immediately following a meal drug stability of metoprolol.
• Do not crush or chew the extended-release tablets and capsules (e.g.,Toprol XL) drug stability of metoprolol. The tablets can be divided in half if prescribed by your doctorand the half tablet should be swallowed whole, without crushing or chewing drug stability of metoprolol. These tablets are specially formulated to release the medication slowly in thebody drug stability of metoprolol.
• Do not stop taking metoprolol without first talking to your doctor drug stability of metoprolol. Stoppingmetoprolol abruptly may cause your condition to become worse drug stability of metoprolol.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat drug stability of metoprolol.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember drug stability of metoprolol. If it is almost time forthe next dose however, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose drug stability of metoprolol. Do not take a double dose of this medication drug stability of metoprolol.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention drug stability of metoprolol.
• Symptoms of a metoprolol overdose include a slow heart beat, shortnessof breath, fainting, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting drug stability of metoprolol.
What should I avoid while taking metoprolol?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities drug stability of metoprolol. Metoprolol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure changes drug stability of metoprolol. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities drug stability of metoprolol.
• Use alcohol cautiously drug stability of metoprolol. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile you are taking this medication drug stability of metoprolol.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication beforehaving surgery drug stability of metoprolol.
What are the possible side effects of metoprolol?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingmetoprolol and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives);
· wheezing or shortness of breath;
· an unusually slow or irregular heartbeat;
· swelling of the feet and lower legs;
· leg pain or cramping;
· sudden weight gain (more than 2 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in oneweek);
· chest (heart) pain;
· unusually cold or blue feet and hands; or
· skin rash drug stability of metoprolol.
• If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continuetaking metoprolol and talk to your doctor:
· fatigue or confusion;
· headache or dizziness;
· weak pulse or mildly slow heart rate;
· diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea, or vomiting;
· depression; or
· nightmares drug stability of metoprolol.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur drug stability of metoprolol. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome drug stability of metoprolol.
What other drugs will affect metoprolol?
• Before taking metoprolol, tell your doctor if you are taking
· a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine(Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem, DilacorXR), clonidine (Catapres), digoxin (Lanoxin), doxazosin (Cardura), guanadrel(Hylorel), prazosin (Minipress), or terazosin (Hytrin);
· a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase,Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), or metformin (Glucophage);
· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil, others), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), ketoprofen (Orudis,Orudis KT, Oruvail), and others;
· a respiratory medication such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, Volmax,others), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), pirbuterol(Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), or theophylline (Theo-Dur,Theochron, Theolair, others), and others;
· the stomach medication cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); or
· prescription or over-the-counter cough medicines, cold medicines, ordiet pills drug stability of metoprolol.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with metoprololor affect your condition drug stability of metoprolol. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products drug stability of metoprolol.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about metoprolol written forhealth professionals that your may read drug stability of metoprolol.
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