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Lopressor is a beta blocker, used for treating high blood pressure, angina chest pain, and heart attack. For high blood pressure, it can be used alone or in combination with certain other blood pressure medications. Beta blockers are a class of drugs that decrease the force and rate of heart contractions, thereby reducing the demand for oxygen and lowering blood pressure. Doctors may also prescribe Lopressor for other purposes, such as treating aggressive behavior, preventing migraine headache, or relieving temporary anxiety. Toprol-XL is an extended-release form of the same drug, and is prescribed for high blood pressure, angina, and heart failure.

Take exactly as instructed. The dose can only be determined by your physicain. Lopressor should be taken with food.

Store at room temp., in a tightly closed container, away from light and moisture.

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Consult your physicain as soon as any side effects develop or become more intense. Only your physicain can determine if it is safe for you to continue using Lopressor, and whether additional monitoring or care is necessary. More common side effects include depression, diarrhea, dizziness, itching, rash, shortness of breath, slow heartbeat, tiredness. Less common or rare side effects -- which are potentially more dangerous -- include blurred vision, cold hands and feet, confusion, congestive heart failure, constipation, difficult or labored breathing, dry eyes, dry mouth, gas, hair loss, headache, heart attack, heartburn, low blood pressure, muscle pain, nausea, nightmares, rapid heartbeat, ringing in the ears, short-term memory loss, stomach pain, swelling due to fluid retention, trouble sleeping, wheezing, worsening of heart irregularities.

If you take certain other drugs at the same time as you take Lopressor, they might interact and have different effects on you than expected. Tell your physicain about any drugs you are using, especially certain blood pressure drugs such as reserpine (Ser-Ap-Es). Other medications that might interact with Lopressor include Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), Amiodarone (Cordarone), barbiturates such as phenobarbital, calcium channel blockers such as Calan and Cardizem, Cimetidine (Tagamet), Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Clonidine (Catapres), Epinephrine (EpiPen), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Hydralazine (Apresoline), Insulin, Nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs such as Motrin and Indocin, oral diabetes drugs such as Glucotrol and Micronase, paroxetine (Paxil), Prazosin (Minipress), Propafenone (Rythmol), Quinidine (Quinaglute), Ranitidine (Zantac), and Rifampin (Rifadin).

You cannot use Lopressor if you have a slow heartbeat, certain heart irregularities, low blood pressure, inadequate output from the heart, or heart failure. Use Lopressor with caution if you have a history of congestive heart failure. Taking Toprol-Xl to relieve heart failure may temporarily worsen the condition as your dosage is increased. Alert your physicain to any signs of worsening heart failure such as weight gain or unusual shortness of breath. If you have peripheral vascular disease, use Toprol-XL with caution. Do not stop Lopressor abruptly. This can cause increased chest pain and heart attack. Dosage should be gradually reduced. Use Lopressor with caution if you suffer from asthma, seasonal allergies, other bronchial conditions, or liver disease. Lopressor can slow down your heartbeat; ask your physicain if you should check your pulse while taking Lopressor. If you are diabetic, Lopressor may make it harder for you to notice low blood sugar, or it may alter blood sugar levels. Consult your physicain. If you have pheochromocytoma and your physicain prescribes Toprol-XL, you will first need to take an alpha-blocking drug (a different type of blood pressure medication). Lopressor may cause you to become drowsy or less focused. If you are having a medical or dental procedure, notify the staff beforehand that you are taking Lopressor. Notify your physicain if you have any difficulty in breathing. Lopressor has not been established as safe for use in pregnant women, and is potentially unsafe in breastfeeding women. Consult a physicain. Any medication taken in excess can cause symptoms of overdose. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately. The symptoms of Lopressor overdose may include asthma-like symptoms, coma, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, shock, slow heartbeat, stopped heart.

Novartis is a global company that develops and markets health products. Its core businesses are in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care, and animal health. Novartis was created in 1996 from the merger of the Swiss companies Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz.