What is the most important information I should know about Lopressor?

Do not stop taking Lopressor without talking to your doctor first. Your condition may get worst if you suddenly stop the medicine.

If you need to have any type of surgery, you may need to temporarily stop using Lopressor. Be sure the surgeon knows ahead of time that you are using Lopressor.

Lopressor can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which could increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Lopressor.

Lopressor is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise and weight control. Follow your diet, medication and exercise routines very closely if you are being treated for hypertension.

Hypertension often has no symptoms, so you may not even feel that you have high blood pressure. Continue using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

What is Lopressor?

Lopressor is in a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins).

Lopressor is used to treat angina (chest pain) and hypertension (high blood pressure). It is also used to treat or prevent heart attack.

Lopressor may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Lopressor?

Before taking Lopressor, tell your doctor if you have:

asthma, bronchitis, emphysema;

low blood pressure;

diabetes;

a heart problem such as heart block, sick sinus syndrome, slow heart rate or congestive heart failure;

depression;

liver or kidney disease;

a thyroid disorder;

myasthenia gravis;

pheochromocytoma; or

problems with circulation (such as Raynaud's syndrome).

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Lopressor or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Lopressor can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.

How should I take Lopressor?

Take Lopressor exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Each dose should be taken with a full glass of water.

Take Lopressor at the same time every day.

Do not crush, chew or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or crushing the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. A Toprol XL tablet can be divided in half if your doctor has told you to do so. The half tablet should be swallowed whole, without chewing or crushing.

Do not skip doses or stop taking Lopressor without talking to your doctor first. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse.

In order to ensure this medication is helping your condition, your blood pressure will need to be checked on a regular basis. It is important that you do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon that you are using Lopressor. You may need to briefly stop using Lopressor before having surgery.

Lopressor is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise and weight control. Follow your diet, medication and exercise routines very closely if you are being treated for hypertension.

Hypertension often has no symptoms, so you may not even feel that you have high blood pressure. Continue using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

Store Lopressor at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is less than 4 hours away, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a Lopressor overdose may include uneven heartbeats, shortness of breath, bluish-colored fingernails, dizziness, weakness, fainting or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking Lopressor?

Lopressor can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which could increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Lopressor.

What are the possible side effects of Lopressor?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

slow or uneven heartbeats;

feeling light-headed, fainting;

feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

swelling of your ankles or feet;

nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

depression; or

cold feeling in your hands and feet.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

decreased sex drive, impotence or difficulty having an orgasm;

sleep problems (insomnia);

tired feeling; or

anxiety, nervousness.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Lopressor?

Before taking Lopressor, tell your doctor if you are using:

allergy treatments (or if you are undergoing allergy skin-testing);

clonidine (Catapres);

guanabenz (Wytensin);

a MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam);

a diabetes medication such as insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase, Glynase), glipizide (Glucotrol), chlorpropamide (Diabinese) or metformin (Glucophage);

a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine (Serpasil), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem);

medicine for asthma or other breathing disorders, such as albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil), bitolterol (Tornalate), metaproterenol (Alupent), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl), and theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theolair); or

cold medicines, stimulant medicines or diet pills.

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Lopressor or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Lopressor. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.