Pronunciation: MET-oh-PROE-lol TAR-trate
Generic Name: Metoprolol Tartrate
Brand Name: Lopressor
Do not suddenly stop taking Lopressor. Sharp chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and sometimes heart attack may occur if you suddenly stop Lopressor. The risk may be greater if you have certain types of heart disease. Your doctor should slowly lower your dose over several weeks if you need to stop taking it. This should be done even if you only take Lopressor for high blood pressure. Heart disease is common and you may not know you have it. Limit physical activity while you are lowering your dose. If new or worsened chest pain or other heart problems occur, contact your doctor right away. You may need to start taking Lopressor again.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Lopressor before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
Tell your doctor if you have a history of diabetes or if you take medicine to lower your blood sugar (eg, glyburide, insulin). Lopressor may hide signs of low blood sugar, such as fast heartbeat. Be sure to watch for other signs of low blood sugar (eg, anxiety, chills, dizziness, drowsiness, fainting, headache, tremor, unusual sweating, vision changes, weakness). Tell your doctor right away if these effects occur.
Lopressor should not usually be used by patients who have a history of certain lung or breathing problems (eg, asthma) or who have a certain type of adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma). It may worsen these conditions. Tell your doctor if you have a history of breathing problems or adrenal gland tumors. If you have these conditions and must take Lopressor, your doctor may need to adjust your dose or prescribe additional medicine to reduce the risk of side effects. Check with your doctor for more information.
Tell your doctor if you have a history of overactive thyroid. Lopressor may hide symptoms of overactive thyroid (eg, fast heartbeat). Do not suddenly stop taking Lopressor; suddenly stopping Lopressor could worsen your condition. Your doctor should slowly lower your dose over several weeks if you need to stop taking it. Check with your doctor for more information.
Lopressor is used for:
Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It is also used for the long-term treatment of chest pain (angina) and for reducing the risk of death because of heart problems in certain patients who have had a heart attack. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Lopressor is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent (beta-blocker). It works by reducing the amount of work the heart has to do (reduces chest pain) and the amount of blood the heart pumps out (lowers high blood pressure). It is also used to stabilize the heart rhythm in conditions in which the heart is beating too fast or in an irregular rhythm.
Do NOT use Lopressor if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Lopressor or to another beta-blocker (eg, propranolol)
- you have a very slow heart rate (eg, bradycardia), certain types of irregular heartbeat (eg, atrioventricular [AV] block, sick sinus syndrome), moderate to severe heart failure, very low systolic blood pressure (less than 100 mm Hg), or severe blood circulation problems
- you are taking mibefradil
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Lopressor:
Some medical conditions may interact with Lopressor. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have an adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma), an overactive thyroid, or are scheduled to have surgery
- if you have low blood pressure or a history of heart attack, slow or irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or other heart problems; chest pain or angina; blood circulation problems; or liver problems
- if you have diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, breathing problems, or a history of asthma
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Lopressor. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Amiodarone, bupropion, cimetidine, digoxin, diltiazem, diphenhydramine, disopyramide, flecainide, certain HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir), hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), hydralazine, hydroxychloroquine, ketanserin, mefloquine, mibefradil, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (eg, phenelzine), phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), propafenone, propylthiouracil, quinazolines (eg, alfuzosin), quinidine, reserpine, certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine, paroxetine), terbinafine, or verapamil because serious side effects, such as very slow heart rate, very low blood pressure, fainting, severe dizziness, or lightheadedness when standing, may occur
- Clonidine because stopping it or Lopressor suddenly can lead to a rapid increase in blood pressure
- Barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), indomethacin, or phenylpropanolamine because they may decrease Lopressor's effectiveness
- Bupivacaine, disopyramide, flecainide, hydralazine, ketanserin, or lidocaine because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Lopressor
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Lopressor may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Lopressor:
Use Lopressor as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Take Lopressor by mouth with food or immediately following a meal at the same time each day.
- If you miss a dose of Lopressor, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Lopressor.
Important safety information:
- Lopressor may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Lopressor with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Lopressor may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
- Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
- Do not suddenly stop taking Lopressor without first consulting your doctor. If your doctor decides you should no longer use Lopressor, you will need to stop Lopressor gradually according to your doctor's instructions.
- If your doctor has instructed you to check your blood pressure and heart rate regularly, be sure to do so.
- Do not take any medicines used to treat colds or congestion without first talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Diabetes patients - Lopressor may hide signs of low blood sugar, such as rapid heartbeat. Be sure to watch for other signs or low blood sugar. Low blood sugar may make you anxious, sweaty, weak, dizzy, drowsy, or faint. It may also make your vision change; give you a headache, chills, or tremors; or make you more hungry. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Lopressor before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
- If you have a history of any severe allergic reaction, talk with your doctor. You may be at risk of an even more severe allergic reaction if you come into contact with the substance that caused your allergy. Some medicines used to treat severe allergies may also not work as well while you are using Lopressor.
- Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, blood pressure, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you use Lopressor. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Lopressor should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Lopressor while you are pregnant. Lopressor is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Lopressor, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Lopressor:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; dry mouth or eyes; gas; headache; heartburn; lightheadedness; mild drowsiness; muscle aches; nausea; stomach pain; trouble sleeping; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, unusual hoarseness); blue or unusually cold hands or feet; chest pain; chills, fever, or sore throat; fainting; hallucinations; mood or mental changes (eg, confusion, depression, foggy thinking, short-term memory loss); pounding in the chest; severe dizziness or lightheadedness; shortness of breath; slow or irregular heartbeat; swelling of the arms, hands, and feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; vision changes; wheezing; yellowing of the skin or eyes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Lopressor side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include difficult or slowed breathing; fainting; severe dizziness; very slow heart rate; weakness.
Proper storage of Lopressor:
Store Lopressor at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Lopressor out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Lopressor, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Lopressor is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Lopressor. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Lopressor resources
- Lopressor Side Effects (in more detail)
- Lopressor Dosage
- Lopressor Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Lopressor Drug Interactions
- Lopressor Support Group
- 8 Reviews for Lopressor - Add your own review/rating
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