home > drugs a-z list > lopressor hct (metoprolol tartrate and hydochlorothiazide) drug center > lopressor hct (metoprolol tartrate and hydochlorothiazide) drug - consumer missed dose

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious interactions may occur: cisapride, dofetilide.

If you are currently using any of these medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting this product.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: lithium, mefloquine, drugs that may lower your potassium level (including corticosteroids such as prednisone).

Other medications can affect the removal of metoprolol from your body, which may affect how this product works. Examples include cimetidine, quinidine, propafenone, ritonavir, SSRI antidepressants (such as fluoxetine), St. John's wort, among others.

Cholestyramine and colestipol can decrease the absorption of hydrochlorothiazide. If you are taking either of these drugs, take them at least 4 hours before or after taking this product.

Check the labels on all your medicines (such as cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs such as ibuprofen for pain/fever reduction) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your blood pressure or heart rate. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

If your doctor has directed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This product may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including parathyroid, protein-bound iodide, tyramine, and phentolamine tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness, fainting, very slow heartbeat, trouble breathing.

NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.

Talk with your doctor about making changes to your lifestyle that may help this medication work better (such as stress reduction programs, exercise, and dietary changes).

Laboratory and/or medical tests (including kidney/liver function tests, blood mineral levels such as potassium) should be performed regularly to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Have your blood pressure and heart rate checked regularly while taking this medication. Learn how to check your own blood pressure and heart rate at home, and share the results with your doctor.

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE: Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Information last revised May 2011 Copyright(c) 2011 First DataBank, Inc.