What Is Betaloc Tablets Used For?

Betaloc tablets contain metoprolol tartrate, which belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. These tablets help manage several heart and blood pressure conditions.

Primary Uses

Betaloc tablets are used to lower high blood pressure (hypertension), prevent angina, treat or prevent heart attacks, reduce your risk of heart complications following a heart attack, and prevent migraine headaches.

How It Works

Betaloc works by affecting the body’s response to some nerve impulses, especially in the heart. It decreases the heart’s need for blood and oxygen, reducing the amount of work the heart has to do. It also widens the blood vessels in the body and helps the heart to beat more regularly.

How to Take Betaloc Tablets

Betaloc tablets are available as 50 mg or 100 mg tablets. Your doctor will determine the right dose for your specific condition.

Dosage Instructions

For high blood pressure: Usually start with one 50 mg or 100 mg tablet once daily for one week, then increased to 50 mg or 100 mg once or twice daily. For angina: Usually 50 mg or 100 mg taken two or three times daily. After heart attack: Usually 100 mg twice daily, often starting with a lower dose for 2 days. For migraine prevention: Usually 100-150 mg twice daily, taken morning and evening. Swallow the tablet with a glass of fluid. Take at the same time each day, before or after food.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Available Tablet Strengths

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• Headache, tiredness, drowsiness, weakness, or lack of energy
• Aches and pains, painful joints
• Nausea (feeling sick), vomiting
• Stomach upset, diarrhea or constipation, weight gain
• Dry mouth, changes in taste sensation
• Difficulty sleeping, nightmares
• Mood changes
• Confusion, short-term memory loss, inability to concentrate
• Increased sweating, runny or blocked nose
• Hair loss

Important Warnings

There are several important conditions and situations where Betaloc should not be used or requires special caution.

Who Should Not Take Betaloc Tablets

Do not use if you are allergic to metoprolol tartrate or any ingredients, have asthma, wheezing, difficulty breathing or other lung problems, have a history of allergic problems including hayfever, have low blood pressure, have a very slow heartbeat (less than 45-50 beats/minute), have certain other heart conditions, have untreated phaeochromocytoma (a rare adrenal gland tumor), have severe blood vessel disorder causing poor circulation in arms and legs, or are receiving emergency treatment for shock or severely low blood pressure.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have asthma, wheezing, difficulty breathing or other lung problems, diabetes, overactive thyroid gland, liver problems, kidney problems, certain types of angina, any other heart problems, phaeochromocytoma, or any blood vessel disorder causing poor circulation in arms and legs.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Like most beta-blocker medicines, Betaloc is not recommended during pregnancy. The active ingredient passes into breast milk and may affect the breastfed baby. Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with Betaloc and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking.

• Other beta-blocker medicines, including beta-blocker eye drops
• Calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem)
• Blood pressure medicines (clonidine, hydralazine, prazosin)
• Heart rhythm medicines (amiodarone, disopyramide, quinidine)
• Anti-inflammatory medicines (indomethacin, ibuprofen)
• Warfarin (blood thinner)
• Digoxin (heart failure medicine)
• Diabetes medicines
• Cimetidine (stomach ulcer medicine)
• Rifampicin (antibiotic)
• Depression medicines
• Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Alcohol & Driving

Betaloc may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery and can interact with alcohol.

Alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Betaloc affects you. Betaloc may cause dizziness, light-headedness, tiredness, or drowsiness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Betaloc before driving or operating machinery.

Temperature Regulation

Dress warmly during cold weather, especially if you will be outside for a long time (for example when playing winter sports). Betaloc, like other beta-blocker medicines, may make you more sensitive to cold temperatures especially if you have circulation problems.

Storage

Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take Betaloc out of the blister pack it will not keep well. Store in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C, away from moisture, heat or sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car or on window sills. Keep where young children cannot reach it.

Overdose Information

If you think you have used too much Betaloc tablets, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. If you take too many tablets, your blood pressure may drop too far, you will feel faint, and your heart rate will slow down. You may also have nausea, vomiting, and convulsions. In extreme cases, serious heart and lung problems may occur.

Frequently Asked Questions