Key takeaways:
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) is a beta blocker that’s prescribed for health conditions such as high blood pressure, chest pain, and heart failure.
If you take it once a day, you can take metoprolol in the morning or at night, as long as you’re consistent with when you take it. Either way, it’s recommended to take metoprolol with meals to help lessen or prevent stomach-related side effects.
Metoprolol can cause side effects and interact with other medications. If you have any concerns about metoprolol or how to take it, talk to your healthcare team.
Metoprolol is available as immediate-release metoprolol tartrate and extended-release metoprolol succinate. Both forms come as a brand-name medication as well as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you find ways to save on your prescription.
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Metoprolol is one of the most common medications prescribed in the U.S. It treats high blood pressure and other heart-related conditions, and comes in two different versions.
Metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor) is the immediate-release (IR) version, usually taken 2 to 4 times a day. Metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL) is the extended-release (ER) form. It’s designed to last longer, so it’s usually taken once a day.
If you’ve been prescribed metoprolol, your healthcare team likely gave you dosage instructions to follow. And your pharmacist may have reviewed the side effects with you, too. But it never hurts to review the basics, including whether you should take metoprolol in the morning or at night. Below, you’ll find five pharmacist-backed tips to help you get the most from metoprolol.
Good to know: These tips can vary slightly depending on whether you’re taking metoprolol tartrate (metoprolol IR) or metoprolol succinate (metoprolol ER). Be sure to check your medication bottle so you know which type of metoprolol you’re taking. It’s also a good idea to double check with your healthcare team to see if they have any specific instructions for how they’d like you to take metoprolol.
1. You can take metoprolol in the morning or at night, as long as you’re consistent
If you’re taking it once a day, you can take metoprolol in the morning or at night. In fact, it’s fine to take it any time of the day, as long as you take it around the same time each day.
Keep in mind that you may take metoprolol IR more than once a day. Your prescriber and pharmacist will let you know how far apart to space your doses in that case.
It’s a good idea to take your very first dose of metoprolol with your evening meal, in case it makes you dizzy or tired. If you don’t experience dizziness or fatigue, you can then start taking it at your preferred time of day.
2. It’s recommended to take metoprolol with food
You should take both metoprolol IR and metoprolol ER with food. Taking metoprolol with or directly after a meal may help lessen stomach-related side effects. Plus, it may help you remember to take your dose(s) consistently.
A special formulation of metoprolol ER — called Kapspargo Sprinkle — has unique instructions. You can swallow these sprinkle capsules whole. But you can also open them and sprinkle the contents into a small amount of soft food, such as applesauce or pudding. This can be helpful for people who have trouble swallowing pills. But you should still take Kapspargo with or right after a meal, no matter how you take it.
3. You may need to separate metoprolol from certain medications
You can typically take metoprolol at the same time you take your other medications. But as discussed above, you should take metoprolol with or right after a meal. So if any of your other medications require an empty stomach, you shouldn’t take them along with metoprolol.
Another exception would be if you take another medication that needs to be separated from all other medications. One example of this is levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint), a thyroid medication. It’s recommended to take levothyroxine about 4 hours before or after other medications.
You usually don’t need to separate metoprolol from other blood pressure medications, such as losartan (Cozaar). But taking more than one blood pressure medication at the same time can raise your risk for hypotension (blood pressure that’s too low). Some people take different blood pressure medications at opposite times of the day to help prevent this side effect.
Keep in mind, there are some medications that you may need to avoid completely with metoprolol. For example, the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), can raise metoprolol levels in your body. This can cause very low blood pressure or other side effects. So this combination isn’t recommended in most cases.
Make sure your prescriber and pharmacist have an up-to-date list of your other medications and supplements. This can help them prevent or manage interactions.
4. Missing too many doses of metoprolol can cause potentially serious symptoms
Missing one or two doses of metoprolol is unlikely to cause serious harm. If you realize you forgot to take a dose, skip the missed one and take your next dose as usual. Never double up on doses to make up for a missed one.
Missing multiple doses of metoprolol can be more serious. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you miss several doses in a row. This is why you shouldn’t abruptly stop taking metoprolol on your own. Withdrawal symptoms can include:
High blood pressure
Chest pain
Anxiety
Fast heartbeat
Heart attack
Discuss with your healthcare team if you’re having trouble remembering your doses. And if you need to stop taking metoprolol, they can instruct you on how to stop it safely.
5. There are ways to help manage or relieve side effects from metoprolol
Common metoprolol side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and fatigue, usually improve as your body adjusts to it. But it’s important for your prescriber to know what you’re experiencing so they can adjust your metoprolol dosage if needed.
Consider taking it easy when you first start taking metoprolol. Then, slowly add in more activities as your body allows.
Other ways to help beat fatigue include:
Going to bed at regular times, allowing for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night
Staying hydrated throughout the day
Eating energy-boosting foods, such as leafy greens, whole grains, and seeds or nuts
Taking movement breaks throughout the day
Be aware of less common side effects of metoprolol
Metoprolol can sometimes slow your heart rate down too much. Your blood pressure might also drop too low. This doesn’t happen to most people taking metoprolol, but it’s important to tell your prescriber if you’re frequently feeling lightheaded or dizzy. You should also ask your prescriber if you should keep an eye on your blood pressure or heart rate at home.
Other possible metoprolol side effects can include:
Skin rash: Rashes can be caused by many things, so it’s best to contact your prescriber for any new or unusual skin changes.
Diarrhea: If needed, your pharmacist can recommend an over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication. Follow up with your prescriber for severe symptoms or diarrhea lasting more than 2 days.
Sleep changes: Many people feel sleepy when they first start metoprolol. But other sleep changes are possible too, including insomnia and disturbing dreams.
Sexual problems: Sexual side effects in men, such as erectile dysfunction, are possible with metoprolol. It’s unclear if beta blockers cause sexual side effects in women. Talk with your prescriber if your sex life seems negatively impacted after starting metoprolol. They may suggest a medication change or other treatment to help address your concerns.
Reach out to your healthcare team for any persistent side effects. For severe symptoms — including trouble breathing, chest pain, or body swelling — get emergency care right away.
How to save on the cost of metoprolol
Metoprolol tartrate (IR) and metoprolol succinate (ER) are both available as brand-name medications as well as lower-cost generics. GoodRx can help you find ways to save on your medication.
Generic metoprolol tartrate’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $9.00 for a 30-day supply with a free GoodRx discount. And a 30-day supply of generic metoprolol succinate ER may cost as little as $8.70 with a free GoodRx discount.
What’s more, anyone with a valid prescription can use GoodRx to purchase a 30-day supply of brand-name Toprol XL at an exclusive cash price as low as $39.
Frequently asked questions
Metoprolol can cause strange dreams or nightmares for some people taking it. This may interfere with the amount or quality of your sleep. A melatonin supplement may help manage this side effect. But check with your prescriber before adding one to your routine to make sure it’s a safe option.
It’s best to take metoprolol at the same time every day. If you want to change the time you take it due to side effects or other reasons, check with your prescriber first. They can let you know if it’s fine to make the switch and how to do it safely.
There aren’t any specific foods that interact with metoprolol. But it’s best to avoid high-sodium foods, alcohol, and large amounts of caffeine. These can all affect your blood pressure and can interfere with metoprolol’s effectiveness.
Metoprolol can cause strange dreams or nightmares for some people taking it. This may interfere with the amount or quality of your sleep. A melatonin supplement may help manage this side effect. But check with your prescriber before adding one to your routine to make sure it’s a safe option.
It’s best to take metoprolol at the same time every day. If you want to change the time you take it due to side effects or other reasons, check with your prescriber first. They can let you know if it’s fine to make the switch and how to do it safely.
The bottom line
Metoprolol is a commonly prescribed medication that comes in two forms: immediate-release metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor) and extended-release metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL). If you take it once a day, you can take metoprolol in the morning or at night. But you should stay on a consistent schedule with your doses. It’s also recommended to take metoprolol with or immediately after a meal.
If you miss a dose of metoprolol, skip it and take your next dose at its usual time. Missing one or two doses is unlikely to cause problems. But missing several doses in a row or abruptly stopping metoprolol can cause serious withdrawal symptoms. Always check with your prescriber or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns about taking metoprolol. They can provide you with additional tips to help you get the most out of your medication.
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References
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ClinCalc. (n.d.). The top 200 drugs of 2021.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Metoprolol.
Redpharm Drug. (2025). Metoprolol succinate- metoprolol succinate tablet, film coated, extended release [package insert].
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries. (2023). Kapspargo- metoprolol succinate capsule, extended release [package insert].
Zhong, Q., et al. (2022). Management of hypertension with female sexual dysfunction. Medicina.
