What Is Metoprolol Tartrate Used For?

High blood pressure and angina symptoms can often be treated with metoprolol tartrate. It is also used to improve survival following a heart attack. Occasionally, the medicine may be used in an off-label fashion to treat conditions such as arrhythmias, hyperthyroidism, and anxiety.

Metoprolol Tartrate Uses: An Overview

 Metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor®) has been licensed to treat a number of conditions. These uses for metoprolol tartrate include:
 
High Blood Pressure
A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers (for example, 120/80). The top number is known as the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as an average blood pressure higher than 140/90 with multiple blood pressure readings.
 
In previous clinical studies, metoprolol tartrate has been shown to significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The higher the dose, the greater the drop in blood pressure is expected to be. By lowering blood pressure, metoprolol tartrate can also decrease the risks that occur with long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure). The medication does not, however, cure high blood pressure.
 
Angina
Angina is a type of heart disease that occurs when the heart muscle is not getting enough nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood for a short time. The inadequate blood flow is caused by narrowed coronary arteries (the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart). Chest pain is the most common angina symptom that occurs (see Angina Symptoms for more information).
 
Metoprolol tartrate is effective at treating symptoms of angina, decreasing the number of attacks, and improving exercise tolerance. The medicine works by decreasing the workload of the heart. This, in turn, means that the heart needs less oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to function properly at any given level of effort. Metoprolol tartrate does not cure this type of heart disease, however.

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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