Metoprolol: study card

Metoprolol — Beta-1 selective beta-blocker. Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name: Metoprolol
Class: Beta-1 selective beta-blocker
Mechanism: Beta-1 selective (cardioselective) adrenergic receptor blocker without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity; blocks beta-2 at higher levels.
Used for: Hypertension in adults; Long-term angina pectoris treatment to reduce attacks and improve exercise tolerance; Reduction of cardiovascular mortality in hemodynamically stable patients with definite or suspected acute myocardial infarction
Common side effects: Tiredness; Dizziness; Depression; Shortness of breath; Bradycardia
Warnings: Abrupt cessation may worsen ischemia; Worsening heart failure; May mask hypoglycemia
Interactions: Catecholamine-depleting drugs; CYP2D6 inhibitors; Digoxin, clonidine, diltiazem, verapamil

Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.

Drug class families: Beta-adrenergic blockers

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Label date: 20260817 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Practice

Pronunciation

Metoprolol: me-TOE-proe-lol

Shared name ending: -olol · Atenolol, Propranolol, Nebivolol, Bisoprolol

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name. A name ending is a memory cue, not a classification rule.

Other drugs in the same class

Beta-adrenergic blockers: Carvedilol, Atenolol, Propranolol, Nebivolol, Timolol maleate (ophthalmic), Bisoprolol, Labetalol, Dorzolamide / Timolol

Body system

Cardiovascular · 47 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Carvedilol

Same class family: Beta-adrenergic blockers

Mechanism: Racemic mixture: nonselective beta-blockade from the S(-) enantiomer and alpha-1 blockade from both enantiomers; no intrinsic sympathomimetic activity.

On both cards: Common side effects — Dizziness; Bradycardia · Warnings — May mask hypoglycemia

Only on the Carvedilol card: Used for — Mild-to-severe chronic heart failure of ischemic or cardiomyopathic origin, usually with other heart-failure medicines; Reduction of cardiovascular mortality in clinically stable survivors of acute myocardial infarction with LVEF at or below 40%; Essential hypertension · Common side effects — Fatigue; Hypotension; Hyperglycemia · Warnings — Do not abruptly discontinue; Bronchial asthma / bronchospastic conditions · Interactions — CYP2D6 inhibitors, rifampin; Digoxin, cyclosporine; Clonidine, reserpine, MAO inhibitors

Atenolol

Same class family: Beta-adrenergic blockers

Mechanism: Beta-1 selective adrenergic blocker without membrane stabilizing or intrinsic sympathomimetic activity; selectivity lost at higher doses.

On both cards: Common side effects — Dizziness; Depression; Bradycardia

Only on the Atenolol card: Used for — Hypertension · Common side effects — Tiredness / fatigue; Cold extremities · Warnings — Contraindicated in sinus bradycardia, >1st-degree block; Contraindicated in cardiogenic shock / overt failure · Interactions — Catecholamine depletors (reserpine); Calcium channel blockers, disopyramide, amiodarone; Clonidine withdrawal

Timolol maleate (ophthalmic)

Same class family: Beta-adrenergic blockers

Mechanism: Non-selective beta1/beta2 adrenergic receptor blocker without significant intrinsic sympathomimetic or membrane-stabilizing activity.

On both cards: Common side effects — Bradycardia · Interactions — CYP2D6 inhibitors

Only on the Timolol maleate (ophthalmic) card: Used for — Ocular hypertension; Open-angle glaucoma · Common side effects — Burning / stinging on instillation; Headache; Asthenia / fatigue · Warnings — Contraindicated with bronchial asthma or its history, or severe COPD; Contraindicated with sinus bradycardia or second-/third-degree AV block; Overt cardiac failure and cardiogenic shock are contraindications · Interactions — Oral beta-blockers; Calcium antagonists

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.