The most common medicine error is taking double doses of the medicine. The severity of taking a double dose of the medicine depends on the type of medicine you are taking, age, and current condition.
Sometimes taking a double dose can lead to minor side effects while an overdose of some medications can even be life-threatening. The overdose of medicinal cases are reported to healthcare providers by the patients so that they can make future prevention plans for a drug overdose.
What Is Metoprolol
Metoprolol is the generic name for beta-1 receptor blocker drugs. Its brand name is Toprol XL and Lopressor. It is not an OTC medicine rather you can only buy it with a prescription.
It is also available in a generic form which is much cheaper than the brand option.
The two brands of metoprolol Lopressor and Toprol XL have different compositions of salt in them. Toprol XL is metoprolol succinate while Lopressor contains tartrate salt in it. The metoprolol Toprol succinate is an extended-release form of the drug and has a longer half-life. While metoprolol tartrate is an immediate-release form of the medicine.
It is available in extended-release and immediate-release oral tablets. It is also available in injectable forms but present only in hospitals. Extended-release oral capsules of Metropolol are also available on the market.
Mechanism Of Action
Both the dosage forms of metoprolol belong to beta-blockers. Therefore, the use of one medicine is similar to the other. They act on the beta-1 receptors by blocking them.
When the blood vessels become tightened and lose their elasticity, the blood pressure is raised in the vessels. High blood pressure increases stress on the heart because of higher oxygen demand to the body.
The beta-blockers drug attaches to beta-blocker receptors in the place of adrenaline (norepinephrine) in the blood vessels and the heart. The prevention of adrenaline attachment on beta receptors relaxes the blood vessels. when the blood vessels relax it ultimately lowers the heart rate and decreases the stress on the heart for oxygen demand. Thus, Metoprolol reduces chest pain and blood pressure.
How Should You Take Metoprolol?
The dosage form of metoprolol depends on the following factors
- Disease
- The severity of the disease
- Co morbidities (existence of other diseases)
- Allergy to the drug (how the body reacts to a medicine)
Dosage for angina
For angina (chest pain) metoprolol is available in immediate-release oral tablets, metoprolol tartrate has strengths of 25 mg, 37.5 mg, 50 mg, 75mg, and 100 mg. Extended-release oral tablets of metoprolol succinate are also available in strengths of 25mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg.
Metoprolol Dosage For Adults
- Immediate Release
The adult starting dose is 50 MG twice a day. The maintenance dosage for metoprolol is 100 to 400 MG per day. The dose should not exceed 400 MG per day
- Extended-Release
For extended-release tablets, the dose should be 100 mg once a day and should not exceed 400 mg per day.
Metoprolol Dosage For Elderly
Metoprolol dosage for elderly patients starts with a very minimal amount of the drug. Due to age, the body cannot metabolize drugs fast therefore lower dosage is given. A High dose can be life-threatening.
Dosage For High Blood Pressure
The immediate-release oral tablet is available in strengths of 25mg, 37.5mg, 50mg, 75mg, and 100mg.
While an extended-release tablet is available in strengths of 25mg, 50 mg, 100mg, and 200 mg.
Dosage For Adults
Immediate Release Tablet
For high blood pressure starting dose of an immediate-release tablet is given 100 mg in a single or divided dose. The maintenance dose is 100 to 450 MG per day. The dose should not exceed 450 mg per day.
Extended-Release Tablet
The extended-release tablet starting dose should be 25-100mg. The maintenance dose should be 400 mg per day.
Dosage For Elderly
The elderly dosage is based on their body weight, health, and other diseases. physicians give less dose to old patients due to their low metabolism rate and chances of drug side effects.
Dosage For Heart Failure
For heart failure patients only extended-release oral tablet metoprolol succinate is available in 25mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg strength.
Metoprolol dosage for anxiety
Metoprolol can be used in combination therapy for the treatment of anxiety. Apart from medication, lifestyle improvement also helps in coping with this problem. Since the drug causes relaxation and dizziness it helps in relieving fight and flight behavior. The dosage of metoprolol for anxiety should not exceed 2.5 mg and should not exceed 100 mg per day.
Metoprolol Dosage For Adult
The starting dose for people suffering from NYHA class ll heart failure should be 25 mg per day for 2 weeks. If the heart failure is severe then the dose should reduce up to 12.5 MG.
When the patient will start recovering the doctor doubles the dosage however the dose will not exceed 200 mg per day.
Uses of Metoprolol
The major use of metoprolol is to lower blood pressure (hypertension) and reduce chest pain (angina). Metoprolol tartrate helps in the prevention of heart attack. While metoprolol succinate is used as a treatment for heart failure.
Metoprolol Side Effects
Following are some of the most common side effects of metoprolol
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Bradycardia ( excessive decrease in heart rate)
- Reduce libido
- Skin rashes
- Respiratory issues such as cough wheezing and shortness of breath
Mild side effects go away within a few days or weeks but if someone is suffering from severe side effects they should visit the doctor immediately. Serious side effects of metoprolol usually occur when a patient overdoses like accidentally took double dose of metoprolol 25mg.
Following are some of the serious side effects of metoprolol
- Excessive low blood pressure hypotension
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- A patient can even faint
- Bradycardia (extreme slow heart rate)
- Severe depression
- Tiredness and fatigue-As the days pass it becomes worse
- Behavioral changes like feeling worthlessness, hopelessness, lacking interest in any activity, disturbance in the food cycle, and they’re unable to concentrate on anything.
If someone accidentally took double dose of metoprolol 25mg it can even become life-threatening, if the heart rate severely slows down. Therefore, one should be extra conscious while taking a metoprolol tablet.
How Long Does Metoprolol Stay In Your System?
The half-life of metoprolol drugs is 3.5 hours on an average (1-9 hours). The complete elimination of the drug takes around 5.5 times the elimination half-life. After taking the initial dose it completely eliminated from the system in about 16.5 to 38.5 hours.
