What Is Metoprolol Blood Pressure Medicine?

Metroprolol is the generic name of a prescription medication used most commonly to treat hypertension. In some cases, doctors prescribe metroprolol to treat angina, heart failure and to prevent a repeat heart attack in patients who have already suffered one.

Function

• Metroprolol blocks the action of a chemical in your body known as adrenaline. By inhibiting adrenaline, metroprolol lowers heart rate and blood pressure, and reduces stress on your heart.

Dosage

• For hypertension, angina and heart failure, doctors typically prescribe 50mg of metroprolol taken twice per day, reports RxList. To prevent heart attacks, doctors usually combine intravenous and tablet forms of metroprolol while in the hospital followed by a tablet dose of 100mg twice per day for three months after discharge.

Drug Interactions

• Some types of general anesthetics used for surgery cause a dangerous decrease in heart rate of patients taking metroprolol. Drugs like those used to treat arrhythmia, AIDS medications like ritonavir, antihistamines like diphenhydramine, antimalarials like quinidine, antifungals like terbinafine and ulcer medications like cimetidine pose a risk of increased side effects when combined with metroprolol.

Risks

• The most common side effects of metroprolol include tiredness, dizziness, depression, shortness of breath, slow heart rate, diarrhea and itchy skin rashes. When patients suddenly stop taking metroprolol, there is a risk for an abrupt return of severe angina or heart attacks, reports RxList.

Considerations

• Because metroprolol has the potential to cause harmful effects upon fetal development in laboratory animals, doctors restrict use of metroprolol to instances when there is no safe alternative to treatment. If you have a history of heart block, blood vessel disease, adrenal gland tumors, heart rhythm problems, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia or liver or lung disease, it may not be safe for you to take metroprolol, cautions the Mayo Clinic.