What is the difference between toprol xl and metoprolol

Metoprolol tartrate can be purchased as a generic prescription drug that is usually covered by Medicare and other insurance plans. SingleCare discount cards can be used at participating pharmacies to reduce the cost of this drug. Metoprolol succinate or extended-release metoprolol is available as generic medication that is covered by most Medicare and insurance plans. Generic metoprolol succinate is more likely to be covered than the brand name Toprol XL.

Check with your pharmacy to see if you can save more with a SingleCare savings card. Get the pharmacy discount card. Metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate can cause similar side effects. The most common side effects of metoprolol include fatigue or tiredness, dizziness, depression, shortness of breath dyspnea , and slow heartbeat bradycardia. Other side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and dry mouth. Hypersensitivity reactions such as rash or itching may also occur when taking either form of metoprolol.

Based on the FDA label , metoprolol tartrate may be more likely to cause certain side effects. This may not be a complete list. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for possible side effects. Source: DailyMed metoprolol tartrate , DailyMed metoprolol succinate. Metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate can interact with many of the same medications.

Other drugs that have similar actions or affect the metabolism of beta blockers can interact with both forms of metoprolol. Metoprolol should not be taken with catecholamine-depleting drugs. Taking these drugs together may increase the effects of beta blockers and cause adverse events such as low blood pressure hypotension and slow heartbeat bradycardia. Other adverse effects may include dizziness and fainting. Metoprolol is heavily processed by the CYP2D6 enzyme. Therefore, drugs that inhibit this enzyme can cause increased metoprolol levels in the body.

Increased metoprolol levels can increase the risk of adverse effects. Digoxin and drugs called calcium channel blockers may have additive effects when given with metoprolol. Taking any of these drugs with metoprolol can cause side effects in the heart. This may not be a complete list of all possible drug interactions. Consult a doctor with all the medications you may be taking. Both metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate should not be discontinued abruptly.

If treatment with metoprolol is stopped abruptly, some people may experience a higher risk of heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm , and chest pain. The risk of these events is higher in those with underlying heart disease.

Beta blockers can mask the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Those with diabetes may need to monitor their blood sugar while taking beta blockers.

Metoprolol tartrate is the generic name for Lopressor. In contrast, metoprolol tartrate is a short-acting or immediate-release medication that can affect the body within one hour after taking it DailyMed, Unfortunately, it not only acts quickly but is also broken down rapidly—most people usually take metoprolol tartrate twice a day.

Even though both metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate are available in generic forms, you may be familiar with their brand names. Lopressor is the brand name for metoprolol tartrate, and Toprol XL is the brand name for metoprolol succinate. While metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate both belong to the beta-blocker category of medications, they are not necessarily used in the same way.

It has, however, been approved to treat people right after a definite or suspected heart attack acute myocardial infarction. Metoprolol tartrate can decrease your risk of dying from a heart attack, especially if treatment is started 3 to 10 days after the event DailyMed, Metoprolol, along with other beta-blockers, decreases the workload on the heart. The succinate and tartrate forms of metoprolol both work the same way. They stop epinephrine also known as adrenaline from binding to beta receptors in your heart muscle, which results in your heart beating slower.

Beating slower and squeezing less forcefully decreases how hard your heart has to work, which in turn, lowers your blood pressure and improves chest pain. Since both drugs contain the same medicine, metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate have similar side effects. Black box warning for metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate: Do not abruptly stop taking metoprolol succinate or tartrate.

Stopping metoprolol suddenly may cause chest pain or heart attack myocardial infarction. Your healthcare provider will help you decrease the dose gradually if you need to stop metoprolol FDA, Fortunately, most of the common side effects are mild and generally well-tolerated.

Common side effects of both metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate are similar. Still, the likelihood of having them varies slightly between the two forms of the medicine, as you can see in the table below UpToDate, n. Talk to your healthcare provider about additional side effects. The two forms of metoprolol also share the same serious side effects, including:.

Metoprolol tartrate has the additional serious side effect of potentially worsening heart failure. This list does not include all possible side effects and others may occur. Get medical advice from your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more information. Before starting metoprolol succinate or metoprolol tartrate, seek medical advice about potential drug interactions. Join Now Already a member?

Toprol XL vs. Make sure the medicine you take is equivalent to the brand name drug! Isn't your health worth it? See the Review Now Already a member? Join now at www. Serious problems have been reported by some people switched from the popular blood pressure medication Toprol XL to generic versions. These problems include increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, hives and migraine headache.

Which generics are truly identical to original Toprol XL and which are not. What these differences can mean to you. A list of the generic products by distributor and manufacturer -- to help you tell them apart. Strategies and tips on getting the right drug, as well as the names of pharmacies that carry each generic brand.