metoprolol tartrate
(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 metoprolol tartrate. Stoppingmetoprolol abruptly may cause your condition to become worse metoprolol tartrate.
• Call your doctor immediately if you experience shortness of breath metoprolol tartrate.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities metoprolol tartrate. Metoprolol may cause dizziness or drowsiness metoprolol tartrate. If you experiencedizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities metoprolol tartrate.
What is metoprolol?
• Metoprolol is in a class of drugs called beta-blockers metoprolol tartrate. Beta-blockersaffect the heart and circulatory system metoprolol tartrate.
• 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 metoprolol tartrate.
• Metoprolol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide metoprolol tartrate.
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 metoprolol tartrate.
• 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 metoprolol tartrate.
• Metoprolol is in the FDA pregnancy category C metoprolol tartrate. This means that it isnot known whether metoprolol will harm an unborn baby metoprolol tartrate. Do not take this medicationwithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment metoprolol tartrate.
• Metoprolol passes into breast milk in small amounts and may affect anursing baby metoprolol tartrate. Do not take metoprolol without first talking to your doctor ifyou are breast-feeding a baby metoprolol tartrate.
How should I take metoprolol?
• Take metoprolol exactly as directed by your doctor metoprolol tartrate. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou metoprolol tartrate.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water metoprolol tartrate.
• Take metoprolol with food or immediately following a meal metoprolol tartrate.
• Do not crush or chew the extended-release tablets and capsules (e.g.,Toprol XL) metoprolol tartrate. The tablets can be divided in half if prescribed by your doctorand the half tablet should be swallowed whole, without crushing or chewing metoprolol tartrate. These tablets are specially formulated to release the medication slowly in thebody metoprolol tartrate.
• Do not stop taking metoprolol without first talking to your doctor metoprolol tartrate. Stoppingmetoprolol abruptly may cause your condition to become worse metoprolol tartrate.
• Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat metoprolol tartrate.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember metoprolol tartrate. If it is almost time forthe next dose however, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularlyscheduled dose metoprolol tartrate. Do not take a double dose of this medication metoprolol tartrate.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention metoprolol tartrate.
• Symptoms of a metoprolol overdose include a slow heart beat, shortnessof breath, fainting, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea, and vomiting metoprolol tartrate.
What should I avoid while taking metoprolol?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities metoprolol tartrate. Metoprolol may cause drowsiness, dizziness, and blood pressure changes metoprolol tartrate. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities metoprolol tartrate.
• Use alcohol cautiously metoprolol tartrate. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile you are taking this medication metoprolol tartrate.
• Tell your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication beforehaving surgery metoprolol tartrate.
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 metoprolol tartrate.
• 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 metoprolol tartrate.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur metoprolol tartrate. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome metoprolol tartrate.
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 metoprolol tartrate.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with metoprololor affect your condition metoprolol tartrate. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking anyprescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products metoprolol tartrate.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about metoprolol written forhealth professionals that your may read metoprolol tartrate.
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