Metoprolol Succinate
About Metoprolol Succinate
Metoprolol Succinate is an extended-release prescription tablet used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), and to improve survival rates after a heart attack. It is also prescribed to help manage stable, long-term heart failure. By helping your cardiovascular system work more efficiently, Metoprolol Succinate protects your heart from unnecessary strain.
To get the best results, you should take Metoprolol Succinate consistently at the same time every day. You can take Metoprolol Succinate with food or on an empty stomach, but it is best to choose one way and stick to it daily. Making healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a low-salt diet, staying moderately active, and managing stress, can greatly improve your treatment outcomes.
While taking Metoprolol Succinate, you may experience some common, mild side effects like feeling tired, dizzy, or noticing a slower heartbeat. However, you should consult your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects like severe shortness of breath, sudden weight gain, or fainting. Always monitor how you feel and share any changes with your healthcare team.
Before you begin taking this medication, talk to your doctor if you have a history of asthma, severe blood circulation problems, liver damage, or diabetes. Do not take this if you have certain severe heart conditions, such as a dangerously slow heart rate, severe heart block, or cardiogenic shock.
Metoprolol Succinate can interact with other blood pressure drugs, certain antidepressants, alcohol, and tobacco, which can cause your blood pressure or heart rate to drop too low. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, planning a pregnancy, or are an older adult, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist to make sure Metoprolol Succinate is safe for you.
Uses of Metoprolol Succinate
• Management of Hypertension: Metoprolol Succinate is frequently prescribed to lower high blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
• Angina Pectoris Relief: Metoprolol Succinate is effective in preventing chest pain (angina) by enhancing blood flow to the heart muscle.
• Heart Failure Treatment: Metoprolol Succinate serves as a part of the treatment plan for specific types of heart failure, helping the heart function more efficiently.
• Post-Myocardial Infarction Management: Metoprolol Succinate is often used after a heart attack to improve survival rates and minimize the likelihood of further heart complications.
• Control of Arrhythmias: Metoprolol Succinate is beneficial in managing certain abnormal heart rhythms, contributing to the stabilization of heart function.
Medicinal Benefits
Metoprolol Succinate helps support heart health by lowering blood pressure, reducing the workload on the heart, and improving overall cardiovascular function. Regular use can help manage several heart-related conditions and improve quality of life.
Benefits may include:
- Helps lower and maintain healthy blood pressure levels, protecting the heart, brain, and kidneys from long-term damage.
- Helps prevent episodes of chest pain (angina), allowing for greater comfort during physical activity.
- Supports the management of stable heart failure by helping the heart pump more efficiently.
- May reduce symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and reduced exercise tolerance.
- Helps lower the risk of certain cardiovascular complications when taken as prescribed.
- Promotes long-term heart health and supports a more active and comfortable daily life.
Directions for Use
- Metoprolol Succinate can be taken with or without food, or as advised by your doctor.
- Generally, it is recommended to be taken once daily. Follow your doctor's instructions regarding dosage and timing for optimal results.
- Swallow Metoprolol Succinate as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Metoprolol Succinate
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, especially when standing up
- Feeling unusually tired or fatigued
- A slower heart rate than usual
- Cold hands or feet
- Mild headache or sleep difficulties
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Severe shortness of breath or wheezing
- Sudden weight gain or swelling in your ankles and feet
- An extremely slow or irregular heartbeat
- Fainting spells
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as a skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, and difficulty breathing
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Inspect Metoprolol Succinate before use: Do not take Metoprolol Succinate if the tablets are discolored, chipped, crumbling, or otherwise damaged.
- Use caution during activities requiring alertness: Metoprolol Succinate may cause dizziness or drowsiness, especially when starting treatment. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing hazardous tasks until you know how Metoprolol Succinate affects you.
- Monitor blood sugar if you have diabetes: Metoprolol Succinate can mask some warning signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid heartbeat or palpitations. Check your blood glucose regularly if you have diabetes.
- Inform healthcare providers before procedures: Tell your surgeon, dentist, anesthesiologist, or other healthcare professionals that you are taking Metoprolol Succinate before any medical, surgical, or dental procedure.
- Rise slowly to prevent dizziness: Stand up gradually from a sitting or lying position to help reduce the risk of dizziness, lightheadedness, and falls.
Drug Interactions
- Calcium channel blockers (e.g., diltiazem, verapamil): Taking these medicines alongside Metoprolol Succinate may cause your heart rate or blood pressure to drop too low.
- Antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, paroxetine): These medicines may increase the amount of Metoprolol Succinate in the body and raise the risk of side effects.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., ibuprofen): Taking these medicines with Metoprolol Succinate may reduce its blood pressure-lowering effect.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAlcohol might increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of Metoprolol Succinate. It might also cause increased dizziness. Therefore, avoid alcohol consumption while taking Metoprolol Succinate.
Pregnancy
unsafeMetoprolol Succinate belongs to pregnancy category C. Metoprolol Succinate is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, think you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
cautionMetoprolol Succinate may pass into breastmilk. Consult a doctor before taking Metoprolol Succinate if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionMetoprolol Succinate may cause dizziness and tiredness. Therefore, drive or operate machinery only if you are alert.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol Succinate if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol Succinate if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
unsafeMetoprolol Succinate is not recommended in children as the safety and efficacy have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Limit your salt intake: Reduce your daily sodium consumption, as excess salt can cause fluid retention, raise blood pressure, and increase the workload on your heart.
- Limit alcohol consumption: Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, as it may interfere with the effects of Metoprolol Succinate and increase the risk of low blood pressure and dizziness.
- Stay physically active: Engage in regular, moderate-intensity activities such as brisk walking or swimming, but consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program, as Metoprolol Succinate can affect your heart rate during physical activity.
- Avoid smoking: Seek support to quit smoking, as nicotine can constrict blood vessels and increase heart rate, reducing the benefits of Metoprolol Succinate.
- Monitor your blood pressure and heart rate: Check your blood pressure and pulse regularly at home and maintain a record to share with your doctor during follow-up visits.
Special Advise
- Monitor your blood pressure daily, and if there is too much fluctuation, then contact your doctor immediately.
- If you are due to have any surgery, inform the doctor that you are taking Metoprolol Succinate.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hypertension: The blood exerts increased pressure on the walls of blood vessels leading to hypertension. Blood pressure is the measurement of the heart's force to pump blood to all parts of the body. Hypertension is a chronic condition in which blood pressure is too high. This condition can lead to hardened arteries (blood vessels), decreasing the blood and oxygen flow to the heart. Raised blood pressure can cause chest pain (angina) and heart attack (when blood supply to the heart is blocked). Additionally, high blood pressure also causes brain damage (stroke) and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be diagnosed with the help of a blood pressure monitor or sphygmomanometer. Normal blood pressure lies in between 90/60 mm of Hg and 120/80 mm of Hg. If the blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or greater, it is considered high blood pressure.
FAQs
Metoprolol Succinate is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), prevention of heart-related chest pain (angina), heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia), and heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Metoprolol Succinate helps in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. Thereby, lowers blood pressure.
No. Do not stop taking Metoprolol Succinate suddenly, even if your blood pressure has returned to normal, because the medication is helping to keep it under control. Stopping it abruptly may cause your blood pressure to rise rapidly and may increase the risk of severe chest pain, worsening heart disease, or even a heart attack. If you wish to stop or adjust your dose, consult your doctor, who will advise you on the safest approach.
Do not stop taking Metoprolol Succinate without consulting your doctor, as it may lead to a rise in blood pressure. To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Metoprolol Succinate for as long as your doctor has prescribed it to you. Do not be reluctant to speak with your doctor if you experience any difficulty while taking Metoprolol Succinate.
Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol Succinate if you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) as it might mask the symptoms or make it difficult to recognise the signs of thyrotoxicosis (excess thyroid hormone in the body).
Yes, but only under your doctor's supervision. Metoprolol Succinate can be taken with anti-diabetic medicines; however, it may mask the warning signs of low blood sugar (such as a fast heartbeat), making hypoglycaemia harder to recognize. Regular blood glucose monitoring is recommended, and you should consult your doctor if you notice symptoms of low blood sugar.
Your doctor may probably ask you to stop taking Metoprolol Succinate 24hours prior to the surgery, as it might lower blood pressure when combined with general anaesthesia. If you are due to have any surgery or are receiving an anaesthetic, inform the doctor that you are taking Metoprolol Succinate.
Taking Metoprolol Succinate along with multivitamin/multimineral supplements may decrease the effect of Metoprolol Succinate. Therefore, maintain a gap of at least 2hours between both. However, you are advised to take Metoprolol Succinate with other medicines only after consulting your doctor.
Yes, Metoprolol Succinate is a selective beta-blocker, that acts on the heart muscles.
No, do not stop taking Metoprolol Succinate if your blood pressure level comes in control as discontinuing suddenly may worsen the condition. Therefore, continue taking Metoprolol Succinate for long as it is advised by your doctor.
No, Metoprolol Succinate is not a blood thinner. Metoprolol Succinate relaxes the blood vessels, and slows down the heart rate. Thereby, it reduces the workload on the heart and makes it easier to pump blood effectively.
The side effects of Metoprolol Succinate include stomach pain, nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, tiredness or headache. If these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Metoprolol Succinate is generally safe if used as prescribed by the doctor. If this medication is stopped suddenly, it may cause harmful effects such as a sudden increase in the heart rate and affect its activity, which can be dangerous for heart failure patients and in some cases even result in a heart attack. Therefore, take Metoprolol Succinate for the prescribed duration and do not stop taking it suddenly.
Metoprolol Succinate belongs to the class of medicines called beta-blockers. Though their effect on sleep differs from person to person, it has been found that these medications are known to change the sleep pattern and disturb sleep in some patients. On the other hand, it has also been observed to promote better sleep in patients with increased anxiety and heart rate by calming down the nerves and heart. If you have any sleep disturbances, please consult your doctor.
No, you are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption after taking Metoprolol Succinate as alcohol might increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of Metoprolol Succinate and might cause increased dizziness.
Cold fingers and toes are common because Metoprolol Succinate reduces blood flow to your skin and extremities. Dress warmly, wear gloves or thick socks, and avoid smoking, which can make the problem worse. If this symptom becomes painful or if your skin changes color, talk to your doctor.
Metoprolol Succinate is generally not recommended during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks, as it can reduce blood flow to the placenta and affect the baby's heart rate and growth. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor.
Some common pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can reduce the effectiveness of Metoprolol Succinate in lowering your blood pressure. If you need a pain reliever, acetaminophen is usually a safer option, but you should talk to your doctor.
Some people may experience mild weight gain when starting Metoprolol Succinate due to fluid retention or a slightly slower metabolism. However, rapid weight gain (such as gaining 2 to 3 pounds in a single day) can be a sign of worsening heart failure and requires immediate attention. Talk to your doctor.
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