Metoprolol succinate (Toprol-XL) belongs to a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Doctors commonly prescribe this drug to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and heart-related chest pain called angina. Metoprolol succinate ER is a long-acting, once daily form of metoprolol. The 'ER' stands for extended release. A wide variety of side effects are possible with metoprolol succinate, ranging from nausea and fatigue to potentially serious heart rhythm abnormalities and shortness of breath.
Metoprolol is in a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins). Metoprolol is used to treat angina (chest pain) and hypertension (high blood pressure). It is also used to treat or prevent heart attack. Metoprolol definition is - a beta-blocker C15H25NO3 used in the form of its succinate and tartrate especially to treat hypertension and angina pectoris.
The 50-mg dose of metoprolol succinate ER is a mid-range amount. Side effects might be more common with higher doses. The most common side effects of metoprolol succinate relate to its actions as a beta-blocker. It prevents the hormone adrenaline from binding to matching receptors in the brain, heart, blood vessels and kidneys. These actions reduce the body's flight-or-fight response and can produce certain nervous system side effects. The most common is fatigue, which occurs in at least 10 percent of people, according to the manufacturer's prescribing information.
Headache and dizziness reportedly occur in 1 to 9.9 percent of the people and dizziness in less than 2 percent. More rare nervous system side effects include short-term memory loss, nightmares, anxiety, hallucinations and confusion. Although metoprolol succinate can benefit people with heart disease, it can also cause unwanted side effects involving the heart and circulatory system. July 2014 information from the manufacturer's prescribing information indicates the most negative effect is a slow heart rate, occurring in 1.5 percent of people taking the medication. Other possible side effects include low blood pressure, irregularities in the heart rhythm, chest pain, cold hands and feet, and worsening heart failure symptoms - such as lower extremity swelling, severe fatigue and shortness of breath.
Beta-blockers such as metoprolol succinate can also cause side effects in the lungs. Less than 10 percent of people might experience shortness of breath during physical exertion, according to the manufacturer. A sudden tightening of the lung airways called bronchospasm is much less common, occurring is less than 1 percent of people on metoprolol. People with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are more likely than others to experience this side effect. Although uncommon, metoprolol-related bronchospasm can lead to severe difficulty breathing and the need for emergency care. Symptoms of bronchospasm include chest tightness, severe shortness of breath and dizziness.
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