Lopressor

Generic name: Metoprolol

Brand name: Lopressor

Uses for Lopressor:

Lopressor is beta-adrenergic blocking agent prescribed to treat abnormal rhythms of the heart, heart pain, high blood pressure, and some neurologic conditions. Lopressor reduces the heart rate and is useful in treating rapid heart rhythms. By reducing the heart rate and the force of muscle contraction, Lopressor reduces the need for oxygen by heart muscle. Since heart pain (angina pectoris) occurs when oxygen demand of the heart muscle exceeds the supply of oxygen, Lopressor, by reducing the demand for oxygen, is helpful in treating heart pain.

Your doctor may prescribe this remedy for other purposes. Contact your physician if you need to learn more information about this drug.

Don’t stop treatment with Lopressor earlier than it was prescribed by your doctor even if you notice improvements of your condition. Stopping the medication too early may worsen your condition. Be careful about doing dangerous tasks, driving, operating machinery or climbing until you are aware how this drug affects you. Don’t drink alcohol. Always contact a medic before giving Lopressor to a child.

What symptoms or conditions should I report to a doctor before I take this medicine?

It is important to report to a doctor if you have or had the following conditions:

• diabetes
• liver or kidney disease
• allergy to Lopressor, other medicines, preservatives, foods or dyes
• congestive heart failure
• pheochromocytoma
• a thyroid disorder
• problems with circulation (such as Raynaud’s syndrome)
• depression
• bronchitis, asthma, emphysema
• low blood pressure
• myasthenia gravis

How to use Lopressor?

Note: This remedy was prescribed to you only. Don’t share this medicament with others. Follow strictly your doctor’s recommendations. Don’t take more or longer than your doctor recommended.

This medicament is taken orally with some water with food or after meal. Lopressor pill can be divided in half if your physician recommended so. Don’t chew or crush the pill. Take the doses on the rigid schedule.

Overdosage:

Taking any medicine in large doses you can have serious consequences for your health. If you feel an overdose, contact your health care professional instantly.

In large doses, this remedy may cause the following conditions: dizziness, swelling of the feet, hands, ankles, fainting, difficulty breathing or swallowing.

If you forget about a dose:

In case you forget about the dose, do your best to take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take excessive or extra doses.

Interactions may occur with:

• ritonavir (Norvir)
• stimulant medicines, cold medicines, or diet pills
• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin)
• a heart medication such as quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia), reserpine (Serpasil), propafenone (Rythmol), verapamil (Verelan, Calan, Isoptin)
• clonidine (Catapres)
• an MAO inhibitor such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl), phenelzine (Nardil)
• a diuretic (water pill) such as chlorthalidone (Thalitone, Hygroton), amiloride (Moduretic, Midamor), furosemide (Lasix), spironolactone (Aldactone, Aldactazide), hydrochlorothiazide (Hyzaar, HCTZ, Zestoretic, Lopressor, HydroDiuril, Vasoretic), torsemide (Demadex), triamterene (Maxzide, Dyrenium, Dyazide), and others
• medicine to treat depression or mental illness, such as bupropion (Zyban, Wellbutrin), paroxetine (Paxil), fluoxetine (Sarafem, Prozac), thioridazine (Mellaril), and others
• medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, such as bitolterol (Tornalate), albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), pirbuterol (Maxair), metaproterenol (Alupent), theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair), terbutaline (Brethine, Brethaire, Bricanyl)
• anti-malaria medications such as hydroxychloroquine (Quineprox, Plaquenil), chloroquine (Aralen)
• terbinafine (Lamisil)
• a diabetes medication such as glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase), insulin, chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), or metformin (Glucophage)

This list of interactions may be not complete. Provide your medical practitioners entire list of medicines, herbs, dietary supplements or non-prescription drugs you take. Moreover tell them whether you drink alcohol, use illegal drugs or smoke. Particular items may interact with your drug.

Which side effects can I perceive from this remedy?

Contact your physician immediately if you notice any of the following

Serious side effects:

• difficulty breathing, chest pain
• allergy like swelling of the face, lips or tongue, skin rash, difficulty breathing, itching or hives
• unusual bleeding
• slow, irregular heartbeat
• unusual weight gain
• sore throat and fever
• swelling of the feet or hands

Less serious side effects:

• constipation, diarrhea
• cold hands and feet
• stomachupset
• excessive tiredness
• lightheadedness, dizziness
• vomiting
• rash

This list of side effects may be not complete, others may occur. Inform your medical practitioners about all side effects you experience.

Your doctor may advise you diet, weight control, exercise. Follow the instructions carefully. Check your blood pressure regularly during treatment with this remedy. Ask your physician if you need detailed information.

Inform all doctors and dentists that you are taking Lopressor, especially if you are going to have surgery.

FDA pregnancy category C.

There is not enough information about safety of Lopressor during pregnancy. Be careful, Lopressor can affect the baby. Contact your physician to get more detailed information. Do not take Lopressor without consulting your doctor. Don’t take Lopressor without consulting your physician if you are breast-feeding a baby.

You may get dizzy or drowsy. Don’t drive, use machinery or do any activity that requires mental sharpness until you know the way this medication affects you. Avoid standing or sitting up quickly, moreover if you are an older patient. This diminishes the dizzy or fainting spells risk.

Storage:

Lopressor should be stored at room temperature, between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F), in a tightly closed container. Protect from moisture, direct heat, and light. Do not store in the bathroom or near a sink. Keep Lopressor out of the reach of children and away from animals.

Warning: Before taking the drug you need to consult your doctor. The information contained in this article is not intended to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, adverse effects, directions, uses, allergic reactions or warnings.

John Buducci

He knows everything about medications – to which pharmacological group the drug belongs, what components are included in its composition, how it differs from its analogs, what indications, contraindications, and side effects remedy has. John is a real pro in his field, so he knows all these subtleties and wants to tell you about them.