Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
What Is Lopressor Injection?
Lopressor Injection (metoprolol tartrate) is a selective beta1-adrenoreceptor blocking agent (beta-blocker) indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Lopressor Injection may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents. Lopressor Injection is also indicated in the long-term treatment of angina pectoris, and in the treatment of hemodynamically stable patients with definite or suspected acute myocardial infarction to reduce cardiovascular mortality.
What Are Side Effects of Lopressor Injection?
Side effects of Lopressor Injection are usually mild and temporary and include:
- tiredness,
- depression,
- mental confusion,
- short-term memory loss,
- headache,
- nightmares,
- insomnia,
- shortness of breath,
- slow heart rate,
- cold extremities,
- heart palpitations,
- swelling in the hands and feet,
- low blood pressure (hypotension),
- wheezing,
- shortness of breath,
- runny or stuffy nose,
- diarrhea,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- dry mouth,
- abdominal pain,
- constipation,
- gas,
- heartburn,
- itching, or
- rash
Lopressor Injection may cause serious side effects including:
- hives,
- difficulty breathing,
- swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat,
- severe dizziness,
- fainting,
- blue fingers or toes,
- new or worsening symptoms of heart failure,
- shortness of breath,
- swelling ankles or feet,
- unusual tiredness,
- unusual or sudden weight gain,
- mood changes,
- confusion,
- mood swings, and
- depression
Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:
- Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
- Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out;
- Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.
Dosage for Lopressor Injection
The usual initial dosage of Lopressor Injection is 100 mg daily in single or divided doses, whether used alone or added to a diuretic. The effective dosage range is 100-450 mg per day.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Lopressor Injection?
Lopressor Injection may interact with catecholamine-depleting drugs, digitalis glycosides, other beta-blockers, inhalation anesthetics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiretrovirals, antihistamines, antimalarials, antifungals, medications for stomach ulcers, and clonidine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Lopressor Injection During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, Lopressor Injection should be used only if prescribed. Lopressor Injection passes into breast milk in small amounts. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Additional Information
Our Lopressor Injection (metoprolol tartrate) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
QUESTION
Salt and sodium are the same. See AnswerGet emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- very slow heartbeats;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain; or
- cold feeling in your hands and feet.
Common side effects may include:
- dizziness, tired feeling;
- depression, confusion, memory problems;
- nightmares, trouble sleeping;
- diarrhea; or
- mild itching or rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
SLIDESHOW
How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise Tips See SlideshowSIDE EFFECTS
Hypertension and Angina
These adverse reactions were reported for treatment with oral Lopressor. Most adverse effects have been mild and transient.
Central Nervous System
Tiredness and dizziness have occurred in about 10 of 100 patients. Depression has been reported in about 5 of 100 patients. Mental confusion and short-term memory loss have been reported. Headache, nightmares, and insomnia have also been reported.
Cardiovascular
Shortness of breath and bradycardia have occurred in approximately 3 of 100 patients. Cold extremities; arterial insufficiency, usually of the Raynaud type; palpitations; congestive heart failure; peripheral edema; and hypotension have been reported in about 1 of 100 patients. Gangrene in patients with pre-existing severe peripheral circulatory disorders has also been reported very rarely. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS, and PRECAUTIONS.)
Respiratory
Wheezing (bronchospasm) and dyspnea have been reported in about 1 of 100 patients (see WARNINGS). Rhinitis has also been reported.
Gastrointestinal
Diarrhea has occurred in about 5 of 100 patients. Nausea, dry mouth, gastric pain, constipation, flatulence, and heartburn have been reported in about 1 of 100 patients. Vomiting was a common occurrence. Postmarketing experience reveals very rare reports of hepatitis, jaundice and non-specific hepatic dysfunction. Isolated cases of transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactic dehydrogenase elevations have also been reported.
Hypersensitive Reactions
Pruritus or rash have occurred in about 5 of 100 patients. Very rarely, photosensitivity and worsening of psoriasis has been reported.
Miscellaneous
Peyronie's disease has been reported in fewer than 1 of 100,000 patients. Musculoskeletal pain, blurred vision, and tinnitus have also been reported.
There have been rare reports of reversible alopecia, agranulocytosis, and dry eyes. Discontinuation of the drug should be considered if any such reaction is not otherwise explicable. There have been very rare reports of weight gain, arthritis, and retroperitoneal fibrosis (relationship to Lopressor has not been definitely established).
The oculomucocutaneous syndrome associated with the beta blocker practolol has not been reported with Lopressor.
Myocardial Infarction
These adverse reactions were reported from treatment regimens where intravenous Lopressor was administered, when tolerated.
Central Nervous System
Tiredness has been reported in about 1 of 100 patients. Vertigo, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, headache, dizziness, visual disturbances, confusion, and reduced libido have also been reported, but a drug relationship is not clear.
Cardiovascular
In the randomized comparison of Lopressor and placebo described in the CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY section, the following adverse reactions were reported:
| Lopressor® | Placebo | |
| Hypotension (systolic BP <90 mmHg) | 27.4% | 23.2% |
| Bradycardia (heart rate <40 beats/min) | 15.9% | 6.7% |
| Second- or third-degree heart block | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| First-degree heart block (P-R ≥0.26 sec) | 5.3% | 1.9% |
| Heart failure | 27.5% | 29.6% |
Respiratory
Dyspnea of pulmonary origin has been reported in fewer than 1 of 100 patients.
Gastrointestinal
Nausea and abdominal pain have been reported in fewer than 1 of 100 patients.
Dermatologic
Rash and worsened psoriasis have been reported, but a drug relationship is not clear.
Miscellaneous
Unstable diabetes and claudication have been reported, but a drug relationship is not clear.
Potential Adverse Reactions
A variety of adverse reactions not listed above have been reported with other beta-adrenergic blocking agents and should be considered potential adverse reactions to Lopressor.
Central Nervous System
Reversible mental depression progressing to catatonia; an acute reversible syndrome characterized by disorientation for time and place, short-term memory loss, emotional lability, slightly clouded sensorium, and decreased performance on neuropsychometrics.
Cardiovascular
Intensification of AV block (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).
Hematologic
Agranulocytosis, nonthrombocytopenic purpura, and thrombocytopenic purpura.
Hypersensitive Reactions
Fever combined with aching and sore throat, laryngospasm, and respiratory distress.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been reported during postapproval use of Lopressor: confusional state, an increase in blood triglycerides and a decrease in High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). Because these reports are from a population of uncertain size and are subject to confounding factors, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Lopressor Injection (Metoprolol Tartrate Injection)
© Lopressor Injection Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Lopressor Injection Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
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