Key takeaways
- Whether you take metoprolol in the morning or evening may depend on your total dosage and the condition being treated.
- If you experience metoprolol side effects like dizziness or lightheadedness, taking it at night may be safer. But if these side effects don’t occur, your doctor may recommend taking metoprolol in the morning or during the day.
- For immediate-release metoprolol tablets, doses can be taken up to three times per day, with spacing between doses (usually 8 to 12 hours apart) recommended by a healthcare professional to avoid complications.
Overview
Metoprolol is a generic beta-blocker medication. Healthcare professionals prescribe it to reduce stress on the heart and blood vessels. Metoprolol helps treat conditions such as:
- high blood pressure
- angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart)
- heart attack recovery
- atrial fibrillation or flutter (types of atypical heart rhythms)
Metoprolol is available as immediate release, where the drug gets to work straight away, or long-acting, where the release of the medication is extended. These different versions of metoprolol are available as brand-name drugs, such as Lopressor and Toprol XL.
What time of the day you take metoprolol may not matter too much. What’s most important is that you remember to take it around the same time each day. However, some side effects may make it easier for you to take metoprolol at night.
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When is the best time to take metoprolol?
What time of day you take metoprolol can depend on different factors, such as:
- the condition being treated
- which form of the drug you’re taking
- how many doses you need each day
- your tolerance to certain side effects
If you’re prescribed immediate-release metoprolol oral tablets, you’ll need to take a dose one to three times per day. If you need to take two doses per day, you’ll typically take one dose of metoprolol in the morning and another dose in the evening.
You could also take a dose closer to noon and then another dose later at night if that fits better with your lifestyle, as long as you space the doses out to avoid taking more than you are prescribed.
It’s a good idea to ask your doctor or healthcare professional how to space out your doses. Usually, you need at least 8 hours between doses. However, they’ll likely recommend waiting 12 hours in between doses.
Another thing to keep in mind is that immediate-release metoprolol tablets need to be taken with food or immediately after you have eaten to avoid an upset stomach.
Extended-release metoprolol oral tablets only need to be taken once per day. So you can take your dose either in the morning or at night. Also, extended-release tablets and capsules do not need to be taken with food. (Extended release means that the drug is released slowly into your body over a longer period of time.)
It’s important to take metoprolol exactly as your doctor prescribed it. Don’t take metoprolol more often or less frequently than is recommended. This could lead to serious complications.
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Get free cardWhen may it be better to take metoprolol at night?
If you take metoprolol only once per day, for example, to treat high blood pressure, your doctor or healthcare professional may ask you to try your first dose at night. This allows you to check whether the medication makes you dizzy or lightheaded, which are common side effects of metoprolol.
If metoprolol makes you dizzy or lightheaded, you may need to continue taking it at night or at a time when these side effects won’t cause safety issues. If the drug does not cause these side effects, your doctor may recommend that you take metoprolol in the morning or during the day.
Side effects of metoprolol
Side effects of metoprolol can vary from person to person. The most common side effects reported include:
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- fatigue or drowsiness
- decreased heart rate
- low blood pressure
- depression
- cold hands and feet
If you experience severe side effects, consult a healthcare professional about switching to a lower dose or a different medication. They can help you to wean off metoprolol gradually.
Summary
Whether you take metoprolol in the morning or at night depends on the number of doses you need per day, the form of the drug you take (either immediate or extended release), your tolerance to side effects, and the condition that’s being treated.
If you only need to take metoprolol once per day, and it causes side effects like dizziness or lightheadedness, it’s usually safer to take it at night. If it doesn’t cause these side effects, you can take it in the morning. If you take the immediate-release form of metoprolol, it’s best to take it with food, which may also influence what time of the day you take it.
If you take metoprolol more than once per day, your doctor may recommend that you space out the doses so that they’re about 12 hours apart. Always follow instructions, and don’t take metoprolol more or less often than your doctor tells you to.
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Disclaimer: While Optum Perks strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses.