LOPRESOR® / SLOW LOPRESOR®
50mg and 100mg Tablets
200mg Divitabs
Metoprolol Tartrate
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Lopresor and Slow Lopresor.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place
of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of
you taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor against the benefits they expect it will
have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Lopresor and Slow Lopresor is used for
- Lopresor and Slow Lopresor can be used to lower high blood pressure, also
called hypertension
Everyone has blood pressure. This pressure helps to move your blood around
your body. Your blood pressure may be different at various times of the day,
depending on how busy you are. You have hypertension (high blood pressure)
when your blood pressure stays higher than is needed, even when you are calm
and relaxed.
There are usually no symptoms of hypertension. The only way of knowing that
you have it is to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. You may
feel fine and have no symptoms but, if high blood pressure is not treated, it
can lead to serious health problems. Lopresor and Slow Lopresor helps to lower
your blood pressure. - Lopresor and Slow Lopresor can be used to prevent a type of chest pain
called angina
Angina is a pain or uncomfortable feeling in the chest, often spreading to the
arms or neck and sometimes to the shoulders and back. This may be caused by
too little blood and oxygen getting to the heart. The pain of angina is
usually brought on by exercise or stress but it can also happen while you are
resting.
Lopresor and Slow Lopresor helps to prevent angina from happening. It is not
used to treat an attack once it starts. - Lopresor and Slow Lopresor can be used to treat heart problems accompanied
by a feeling of fast or irregular heartbeat and other disorders of heart
function - Lopresor and Slow Lopresor can be used to prevent migraine headaches
Lopresor and Slow Lopresor belong to a group of medicines called
beta-blockers. It works by affecting the body's response to some nerve
impulses, especially in the heart. As a result, it decreases the heart's need
for blood and oxygen and reduces the amount of work that the heart has to do.
It also widens the blood vessels in the rest of the body. - Lopresor and Slow Lopresor can be used as additional medication in
Hyperthyroidism
Lopresor and Slow Lopresor can be used alone or in combination with other
medicines to treat your condition.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been
prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
Lopresor and Slow Lopresor are only available with a doctor's prescription.
It is not addictive.
Before you take Lopresor or Slow Lopresor
When you must not take it
Do not take Lopresor or Slow Lopresor if you have an allergy to:
- metoprolol (the active ingredient) or to any of the other ingredients of
Lopresor or Slow Lopresor listed at the end of this leaflet - any other beta-blocker medicines
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, itching or
hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the
body; shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing.
Do not take Lopresor or Slow Lopresor if you have any of the following
medical conditions:
- asthma, wheezing, difficulty breathing or other severe lung problems, or
you have had these problems in the past - a very slow heart beat, less than 45 to 50 beats per minute
- low blood pressure
- a severe blood vessel disorder causing poor circulation in the arms and
legs - phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland) which is not
already being treated with other medicines - certain other heart conditions
If you are not sure whether any of the above medical conditions apply to
you, check with your doctor.
Do not take Lopresor and Slow Lopresor after the expiry date printed on
the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
In that case, return it to your pharmacist.
Do not give this medicine to a child.
There is not enough information on its use in children.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to:
- any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
- bee or wasp stings
Your doctor will want to know if you are prone to allergies. Beta-blocker
medicines can make an allergic reaction worse.
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions:
- diabetes
- an overactive thyroid gland
- liver problems
- certain types of angina such as Prinzmetal angina or variant angina
Your doctor may want to take special precautions if you have any of the above
conditions.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
Lopresor and Slow Lopresor may affect your baby, especially if you take it in
the last few days before your baby is born. Your doctor can discuss the risks
and benefits of taking this medicine during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed.
The active ingredients in Lopresor and Slow Lopresor pass into breast milk and
there is a possibility that your baby could be affected.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell him/her
before you take Lopresor and Slow Lopresor.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including
medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or
health food shop.
Other medicines and Lopresor and Slow Lopresor may interfere with each other.
These medicines include:
- other beta-blocker medicines including eye drops
- other medicines used to treat high blood pressure such as calcium channel
blockers and clonidine - other medicines used to treat irregular heart beat (arrhythmias)
- medicines for diabetes
- some local and general anaesthetics used during surgery
- monoamine-oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medicines
- indomethacin, a medicine for arthritis, pain or inflammation
- cimetidine, a medicine for stomach ulcers
- medicines used to treat depression (fluoxetine, paroxetine or bupropion)
- medicines for mental disorders (thioridazine)
- medicines for HIV/AIDS (ritonavir )
- medicines used to treat allergies/hayfever (diphenhydramine)
- medicines to treat malaria (hydroxychloroquine, quinidine)
- medicines used to treat fungal infections (terbinafine)
You may need to take different amounts of your medicines or you may need to
take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful
with or avoid while taking Lopresor and Slow Lopresor.
How to take Lopresor and Slow Lopresor
Follow the directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist
carefully.
These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or
pharmacist for help.
How much to take
High blood pressure: the usual dose is from 100 mg to 200 mg each day, either
as a single dose or divided into two doses (morning and evening).
Divitabs: 1 Divitab in the morning. In mild hypertension ½ of one Divitab
taken early in the morning may suffice. If necessary, another antihypertensive
can be prescribed in addition.
Angina: the usual dose is from 100 mg to 200 mg each day, divided into two
doses, the daily dose can be increased to 400mg.
Divitabs: ½ or 1 Divitab taken in the morning; if necessary, this dose can be
repeated in the evening.
Heart problems accompanied by a fast or irregular heart beat; the usual dose
is 100mg to 200mg daily, given as a single dose in the morning or as 2 divided
doses (morning and evening)
Prevention of migraine: the usual dose is 100 mg given as a single dose in
the morning; if necessary, the daily dose can be increased to 200 mg each day,
divided into two doses (morning and evening).
Divitabs: ½ of one Divitab daily, given in the morning; if necessary the
daily dosage can be raised to 1 Divitab to be taken as a single dose in the
morning.
Hyperthyroidism: the usual dose is 150 to 200 mg each day, divided into three
or four doses, the daily dose can be increased to 400 mg.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water or other liquid.
It does not matter if you take Lopresor and Slow Lopresor before or after food.
How long to take it
Continue taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor for as long as your doctor tells
you to.
Lopresor and Slow Lopresor help to control your symptoms but it does not cure
your condition. Your doctor will check your progress to make sure the medicine
is working and will decide how long your treatment should continue. If you are
unsure, talk to your doctor.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose (eg. within 2 or 3 hours), skip
the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take the dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to
taking it as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the one that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your
pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much
Immediately telephone your doctor or National Poisons Centre, Dunedin
(telephone 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) for advice, or go to the Accident and
Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone
else may have taken too much Lopresor or Slow Lopresor. Do this even if there
are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.
Symptoms of an overdose may include feeling sick and vomiting, bluish skin
and nails, very low blood pressure, slow heart beat, difficulty breathing,
fainting, convulsions (fits) or coma.
While you are taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor
Things you must do
Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress
can be checked.
This helps your doctor to give you the best treatment and to prevent unwanted
side effects from happening.
If you become pregnant while taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor, tell your
doctor.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits of taking it
while you are pregnant.
If you have an allergic reaction to a food, another medicine or an insect
sting while you are taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor, tell your doctor
immediately.
There is a chance that Lopresor or Slow Lopresor could make the allergic
reaction worse or harder to treat.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or
standing up, get up slowly.
You may feel light-headed or dizzy when you start to take Lopresor or Slow
Lopresor. This is because your blood pressure is falling suddenly. If this
problem doesn't go away, talk to your doctor.
To avoid symptoms of low blood pressure, here are some hints that may help:
- Stand up slowly to help your body get used to the change in position and
blood pressure - If you feel dizzy, sit or lie down until you feel better
- If you feel faint, breathe deeply and bend forward with your head between
your knees - Take extra care when exercising, driving or standing for long periods,
especially in hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids, especially if you sweat a
lot.
If you are being treated for diabetes, make sure you check your blood
sugar regularly and report any problems to your doctor.
Lopresor or Slow Lopresor may change how well your diabetes is controlled. It
may also prevent some of the warning signs of low blood sugar, such as fast
heart beat, and may make low blood sugar last longer. The dose of your diabetes
medicines may need to be changed.
If you plan to have surgery and will need an anaesthetic, tell your doctor
or dentist that you are taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor.
This will help your doctor to prevent unwanted side effects such as a sudden
drop in blood pressure.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and
pharmacist that you are taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor.
Tell any other doctor, dentist or pharmacist who treats you that you are
taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor without telling your doctor
first.
Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the amount of Lopresor or Slow Lopresor
you are taking before stopping it completely. This helps to reduce the chance of
your condition becoming worse or keep other unwanted heart problems from
happening.
Do not use Lopresor or Slow Lopresor to treat any other complaints unless
your doctor says you can.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem to
be similar to yours.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to
be alert while you are taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor until you know how it
affects you.
As with other beta-blocker medicines, Lopresor or Slow Lopresor may cause
dizziness, light-headedness or decreased alertness in some people. If you have
any of these symptoms, do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Be careful to dress warmly during cold weather, especially if you will be
outside for a long time.
Like other beta-blocker medicines, Lopresor or Slow Lopresor may make you more
sensitive to cold temperatures, especially if you have problems with your blood
circulation. These medicines tend to decrease blood circulation in the skin,
fingers and toes.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well
while you are taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor.
All medicines have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time
they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side
effects. If you are over 65 years of age, you may have an increased chance of
getting side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects and they
worry you:
- tiredness, drowsiness, decreased alertness
- dizziness, spinning sensation (vertigo), light-headedness or fainting
- headache or other aches and pains
- difficulty sleeping, nightmares
- depression or other changes in mood
- stomach upset, nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
- diarrhoea or constipation
- dry or irritated eyes, blurred vision
- buzzing or ringing in the ears, difficulty hearing
- dry mouth
- increased sweating
- runny nose
- problems with sexual function
- weight gain
- hair thinning
Tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency
Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- signs of allergy such as swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may
cause problems with swallowing or breathing - chest tightness, wheezing, rattly breathing
- shortness of breath, sometimes with tiredness, weakness or reduced ability
to exercise - swelling of the feet or legs due to fluid buildup
- coldness, burning, numbness or pain in arms and legs
- chest pain
- changes in heart rate (fast, slow, irregular)
- yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), sometimes with pain in the
abdomen - constant "flu-like" symptoms (chills, fever, sore throat, aching joints,
swollen glands, tiredness or lack of energy) - unusual bleeding or bruising
- skin reactions (rash, itching, worsening of psoriasis)
- symptoms of sunburn (redness, itching, swelling, blistering) that happen
much more quickly than normal - abnormal thinking or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not
there)
The above side effects could be serious. You may need urgent medical
attention.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel
unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may happen in some people.
After taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor
Storage
- Keep your tablets in the original container until it is time to take them.
- Store the tablets in a cool dry place at room temperature.
- Do not store Lopresor and Slow Lopresor or any other medicine in the
bathroom or near a sink. - Do not leave the tablets in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Lopresor and Slow Lopresor will
keep well if it is cool and dry.
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good
place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Lopresor or Slow Lopresor, or the
expiry date on the medicine has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any
tablets that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Lopresor 50 mg: rose pink, heart- shaped, film coated tablet, marked HM on
one side and CIBA on the other; packs of 100 tablets.
Lopresor 100 mg: light blue, heart- shaped, film coated, scored tablet,
marked IP on one side and CIBA on the other; packs of 60 tablets.
Slow Lopresor 200mg: light yellow, capsule shaped, film coated, scored
tablet, marked CG/CC on one side and CDC/CDC on the other; packs of 28 divitabs.
Ingredients
Lopresor tablets contain 50 mg or 100 mg metoprolol tartrate as the active
ingredient.
The 50mg tablets also contain:
- silica aerogel
- cellulose
- lactose
- magnesium stearate
- polyvinylpyrrolidone
- sodium carboxymethyl starch
- hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
- red iron oxide
- polysorbate 80
- talc
- titanium dioxide
The 100 mg tablets also contain:
- silica aerogel
- cellulose
- magnesium stearate
- sodium carboxymethyl starch
- hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
- glyceryl polyethylene glycol oxystearate
- talc
- titanium dioxide
Slow Lopresor contains 200mg metoprolol tartrate as the active ingredient. It
also contains:
- silica aerogel
- cellulose
- dibasic calcium phosphate
- copolymer based on polyacrylic/methacrylic esters
- magnesium stearate
- hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
- glycol palmitostearate
- yellow iron oxide
- polysorbate 80
- talc
- titanium dioxide