Effectiveness of Metoprolol: It’s Dosage & Side Effects

Metoprolol medicine is not to be taken if you have any severe cardiac problem such as sick sinus syndrome, heart block or slow heart rate, severe heart failure, severe circulation problems or any previous history of slow heart rate that caused fainting.

Metoprolol medicine is an effective beta-blocker. It affects the blood flow through veins and arteries mainly in the heart.

Metoprolol medicine is used to effectively treat hypertension or high (B.P) blood pressure and angina/chest pain. Metoprolol medicine is also used for the effective treatment and prevention of heart attack.

If you are allergic to metoprolol, you should not take this medicine similarly, even to other beta-blockers such as nebivolol, atenolol, sotalol, carvedilol, propranolol, labetalol. You should not take this medicine if you have these conditions as well:

• Serious circulation problems
• Any serious cardiac conditions such as slow heart rate, sick sinus syndrome, heart block
• Any history of slow heart rate that has caused fainting
• Severe heart failure, which needed you to be hospitalized.

You must tell your doctor if you have any of these following conditions to make metoprolol medicine safe for you:

• Congestive heart failure
• Liver disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, breathing disorder sleep apnea
• Thyroid disorder
• Circulation problems like Raynaud’s Syndrome
• Diabetes (if you take this medicine having diabetes, it will be difficult to tell when you have low sugar levels in blood)
• Adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma)
• According to FDA pregnancy category C, it is unknown if metoprolol can harm an unborn child. Therefore, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
• You must tell your doctor if you are breast feeding your child as metoprolol will pass through breast milk to the feeding child.
• Metoprolol is not to be given to anyone below 18 years of age

Dosage for treatment for Angina Pectoris Prophylaxis, Hypertension, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Angina Pectoris – Regular Adult Dosage

Beginning metoprolol dosage: 100 milligrams to be divided in to 1 or 2 doses orally

Maintenance Dosage: 100 – 450 milligrams per day

Metoprolol (E.R) Extended Release: Can be used at the same dosage given one time a day.

Early Treatment

IV dosage: 3 bolus injections (5milligrams given at 2 minute intervals) through IV.

Oral metoprolol dosage: Patients who tolerate complete IV dosage of 15 milligrams should be given metoprolol medicines every 6 hours (50 milligrams) and the first tablet must be given within 15 minutes of the last IV dosage and must continue for 48 hours

Maintenance metoprolol dosage: 100 milligrams two times a day orally.

Patients who do not tolerate to complete the IV dosage, should be given metoprolol medicine every 6 hours (25 milligrams or 50 milligrams) and the first tablet is to be given within 15 minutes of the last intravenous dosage or at the earliest clinical condition time.

Late Treatment

100 milligrams to be given two times a day orally.

Those patients who have contraindications to this treatment during the initial phase or with definite myocardial infraction, and those who do not tolerate to the treatment, and for those patients whose treatments are delayed by the physicians for other reasons are to be given metoprolol medicines at the earliest time clinical condition allows.

Beginning metoprolol dosage: One time a day 25 milligrams (XL formulation) for the first 2 weeks mainly in those patient with NYHA class II heart failure and in those patients who have severe heart failure, 12.5 milligrams one time a day (XL formulation).

Maintenance metoprolol dosage: The dosage level is to be increased/doubled once every 2 weeks to the highest level tolerated by the patient or up to 200 milligrams.
If any temporary heart failure occurs in the patient, increased metoprolol dosages of diuretics would be the best treatment and it might be needed to lower the dosage level or discontinue this treatment for some time. The metoprolol dosage is not to be increased until the worsening heart failure symptoms stabilize.

The early stages difficulty with titration should not prevent the later initiations to start the treatment. If the patient has symptomatic bradycardia the dosages, levels are to be reduced immediately.

Immediate Release

For children between the ages of 1 – 17 years

Beginning metoprolol dosage: 1-2 milligrams/kg can be given per day and that too in 2 divided dosages. Only depending on the patient’s response to the treatment dosage levels are to be adjusted.

Max. dosage: 6 milligrams/kilogram per day (>= 200 milligrams per day)

Metoprolol (ER) Extended Release

For children between the ages of 6 – 16 years

Beginning metoprolol dosage: 1 milligrams/kilogram can be given one time in a day with dosage not exceeding 50 milligrams once in a day. Maximum dosage is not to exceed one half of the 25 milligrams tablet.

Maintenance dosage: Dosage levels are to be adjusted only after checking the blood pressure response and levels. Dosage levels over 3 milligrams/kilogram (or exceeding 200 milligrams) one time a day is not studied yet.

If you experience any allergic reactions to this medicine such as swelling of tongue, face, throat, lips, difficulty in breathing or hives, get immediate medical assistance

Also, if you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor

• Light headed feeling like passing out.
• Very slow heartbeats.
• Cold feeling in feet or hands.
• Rapid weight gain, swelling, shortness of breath (even with mild exertion).

Other common side effects of metoprolol medicine

• Diarrhea.
• Tired feeling, dizziness.
• Trouble sleeping, nightmares are also side effects if metoprolol.
• Rashes or mild itching.
• Memory problems, confusion.