Metoprolol Succinate
About Metoprolol Succinate
Metoprolol Succinate is used in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension), heart-related chest pain (angina), and irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Hypertension is a lifelong or chronic condition in which the force exerted by the blood against the artery walls becomes so high that it leads to heart disease.
Metoprolol Succinate contains Metoprolol Succinate, which helps in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
Not everyone who is taking Metoprolol Succinate will get these side effects. In some cases, Metoprolol Succinate may cause certain common side effects like dizziness, tiredness, diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea, and headache. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and resolve gradually over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
You can take Metoprolol Succinate with food or without food. It should be swallowed as a whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, bite, crush, or break it. Your doctor will advise you on how often you should take your tablets based on your medical condition. It is always important to complete your treatment course for better results.
Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Metoprolol Succinate. Also, let your doctor know if you have low blood pressure, asthma, an overactive thyroid, metabolic acidosis, or severe blood circulation problems. Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol Succinate if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Metoprolol Succinate is not recommended for use in children. Metoprolol Succinate may cause dizziness, so drive with caution.
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 in slowing down the heart rate, making it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
- This medicine lowers the blood pressure and helps in reducing the risk of having a stroke, heart attack, or other heart or kidney problems in the future.
- Metoprolol Succinate may also help in relieving symptoms of migraine-related headache and tremors (fits).
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
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Headache
Drug Warnings
- Do not take Metoprolol Succinate if you are allergic to any component present in Metoprolol Succinate or any other beta-blockers.
- Avoid taking Metoprolol Succinate if you have/had heart conduction, rhythm problems, uncontrolled/severe heart failure, blocked blood vessels, blood circulation problems, untreated pheochromocytoma, metabolic acidosis, low blood pressure, or Prinzmetal angina.
- Inform your doctor if you have asthma, COPD, diabetes, blood vessel disorder, slow heart rate, pheochromocytoma, myasthenia gravis, dry eye problems, kidney or liver impairment; if you are taking anti-depressants, other blood pressure-lowering medicines, or anti-arrhythmic agents.
- Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol Succinate if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Metoprolol Succinate is not recommended for children as safety and efficacy have not been established.
- Metoprolol Succinate may cause dizziness, so drive with caution.
- Don't stop taking Metoprolol Succinate without consulting your doctor. Suddenly stopping the use of Metoprolol Succinate may cause changes in your heart rhythm and blood pressure, cause chest pain, or a heart attack. Your doctor will gradually lower your dose to help prevent these symptoms.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Metoprolol Succinate may interact with antacid (cimetidine), blood pressure-lowering agents (hydralazine, clonidine, prazosin), anti-arrhythmic (amiodarone, propafenone), anaesthetics (cyclopropane), anxiolytics (temazepam, nitrazepam, diazepam), NSAID's (indomethacin, celecoxib), antibiotic (rifampicin), anti-fungal (terbinafine), corticosteroids (hydrocortisone, prednisolone), a local anaesthetic (lidocaine), anti-depressants, barbiturates, phenothiazines, and other beta-blockers.
Drug-Food Interaction: Alcohol might increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of Metoprolol Succinate. It might also cause increased dizziness. Therefore, avoid alcohol consumption while taking Metoprolol Succinate.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Metoprolol Succinate may have interaction with disease conditions such as heart conduction problems, rhythm problems, uncontrolled/severe heart failure, blocked blood vessels, blood circulation problems, untreated pheochromocytoma (tumour in the adrenal gland), metabolic acidosis (excess acid in the body), low blood pressure, and Prinzmetal angina.
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
- Maintain a healthy body weight, ideally with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, as excess weight increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
- Engage in regular physical activity, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week (e.g., brisk walking, cycling, swimming) to help lower blood pressure by about 5–8 mmHg.
- Limit sodium intake to ≤2300 mg per day, with an ideal goal of 1500 mg daily for adults with high blood pressure or heart problems.
- If you drink alcohol, limit intake to up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men, as excessive drinking can raise blood pressure.
- Quit smoking, as it significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and complications from high blood pressure.
- Manage stress through relaxation techniques, deep breathing, mindfulness, adequate sleep, and spending time with loved ones to help maintain stable blood pressure levels.
- Monitor blood pressure regularly at home and keep a record. Contact your doctor promptly if you notice frequent or large fluctuations.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and omega-3 fatty acids (from fish, flaxseeds, or walnuts) to support cardiovascular health.
- Use healthy cooking oils such as olive, canola, or soybean oil, and limit saturated fats to help manage blood pressure and improve heart health.
- Follow your doctor’s advice strictly regarding medications, diet, and lifestyle adjustments to reduce the risk of severe heart complications.
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.
High blood pressure increases the workload on the arteries and heart. If untreated, it could damage the blood vessels of the heart, brain, kidney and might result in stroke, heart failure or kidney failure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart attacks. Therefore, anti-hypertensives such as Metoprolol Succinate are used to lower the blood pressure to normal; this reduces the risk of developing these disorders.
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).
Consult your doctor before taking Metoprolol Succinate with anti-diabetic medicines as it might mask the signs of low blood sugar. Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels while taking Metoprolol Succinate is advised.
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 time taken by Metoprolol Succinate to start working varies from person to person. Usually, it starts working within 15 minutes. However, it may take up to 2 hours to start working in some people. The maximum or full effect is usually achieved within 1 week as it starts acting slowly. In case you do not feel any difference while taking Metoprolol Succinate, do not worry. It exerts its beneficial effects when taken for a long time.
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.
