Disclaimer: This post is not a recommendation or endorsement for metoprolol. This medication is FDA-approved for the treatment of specific medical disorders, and can only be taken by prescription and with oversight from a licensed medical professional. We have written this post for informational purposes only, and our goal is to inform people about the science behind metoprolol’s effects, mechanisms, and current medical uses.

What is Metoprolol?

Metoprolol has been used to treat high blood pressure since 1975. It comes in two forms:

1. Immediate release, also known as metoprolol tartrate or the brand name Lopressor
2. Extended release, also known as metoprolol succinate or the brand name Toprol XL.

Both types of metoprolol belong to a group of drugs called beta blockers [R, R].

The major difference between metoprolol tartrate and succinate is what they are used to treat and how frequently they are dosed.

Both can be used to treat high blood pressure and angina (chest pain). Metoprolol tartrate is the only form used to treat myocardial infarction (heart attack), unstable angina, and arrhythmias, while metoprolol succinate is the only form used to treat heart failure.

Other beta blockers include atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, and nebivolol. Although similar to metoprolol, these drugs have some differences in their use and side effects [R, R].

Mechanism of Action

Beta-blockers are named for their main mechanism of action, which is to block adrenaline receptors, located in the heart and brain [R, R].

There are multiple types of adrenaline receptors. At normal doses, metoprolol blocks only one type, beta-1 adrenaline receptors. Activated beta-1 receptors raise blood pressure and heart rate, and increase the stress response [R, R].

Metoprolol achieves its effects by preventing the activation of these receptors.

Metoprolol may reduce heart damage after heart surgery, heart attack, and heart failure. Typically, the heart responds by “remodeling” the injured heart tissue in ways that increase the risk of future heart problems. Metoprolol may reduce these remodeling processes by [R, R]:

• Increasing the number of “fight or flight” nerve fibers [R]
• Protecting heart cells [

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