LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Toprol Xl: Toprol-Xl
built 640 days ago
Metoprolol CR/XL (marketed in the U.S. as Toprol-XL) is the most widely prescribed branded beta-blocker in the world. In the U.S., Toprol-XL is available in 50, 100 and 200 mg tablets and is indicated for hypertension and angina pectoris. It is not indicated for congestive heart failure. As with most beta-blocking agents, Toprol-XL is contraindicated in sinus bradycardia, heart block greater than first degree, cardiogenic shock, and overt cardiac failure. Patients with ischemic heart disease taking the medication should avoid abrupt cessation of therapy.
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The recommended starting dose of Toprol-XL is 25 milligrams once daily for 2 weeks (12.5 milligrams in severe cases). Your doctor will double the dose every 2 weeks up to the highest level that works without side effects. The maximum recommended dose is 200 milligrams daily.
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Toprol-XL is contraindicated in severe bradycardia, heart block greater than first degree, cardiogenic shock, decompensated cardiac failure and sick sinus syndrome (unless a permanent pacemaker is in place). Patients taking Toprol-XL should avoid abrupt cessation of therapy. Following abrupt cessation of therapy with certain beta-blocking agents, exacerbations of angina pectoris and, in some cases, myocardial infarction have occurred. The dosage should be reduced gradually over a one- to two-week period while monitoring patients.
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October, 2004 - Trials of Coreg, bisoprolol, and Toprol-XL show that these beta-blockers reduce hospitalizations and risk of death, and improve symptoms and heart size in CHFers. However, most trials ended early because the drugs' benefits were so clear. That means long-term results have been hard to find. For example:
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The manufacturers of Toprol-XL, Topamax, and Tegretol/Tegretol-XR recently sent letters to healthcare professionals and pharmacists, alerting them to this name confusion and suggesting ways to reduce the potential for dispensing errors. For example, prescribers should use both brand and generic name, as well as indication, when writing prescriptions. Pharmacists could physically separate the products on stock shelves and use "shelf talkers" as needed.
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Follow the instructions of your doctor if they want you to cut the Toprol-XL pill in half so you receive the proper dosage. It is important that you do not crush, chew or dissolve the time-release tablet.... Toprol-XL is a time-release medication and crushing or chewing the pill could cause too much of the medication to be released at one time.
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Toprol-Xl