This may sound like a stupid question but just out of curiousity does anyone know if someone taking Atenolol 50mg can take half of a Toprol XL100mg tablet in substitute for a day or two.
If not what are the differences of the two medicines because a friend told me that they both work the same way.
Thanks in advanced
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The answer given above is incorrect. Atenolol is NOT the generic form of Toprol XL. The generic form of Toprol and Toprol XL is lopressor. Atenolol is the generic form of Tenormin. Atenolol and lopressor are both a class of drugs known as beta blockers. However, they are NOT the same drugs. So they are not interchangeable on a milligram per milligram basis.
The following is from medicinenet.com:
"Atenolol is prescribed for patients with high blood pressure (hypertension), used to treat chest pain (angina pectoris) related to coronary artery disease, and is also useful in slowing and regulating certain types of abnormally rapid heart rates (tachycardias). Other uses for atenolol include the prevention of migraine headaches and the treatment of certain types of tremors (familial or hereditary essential tremors)."
"Metoprolol is prescribed for patients with high blood pressure (hypertension), used to treat chest pain (angina pectoris) related to coronary artery disease, and is also useful in slowing and regulating certain types of abnormally rapid heart rates (tachycardias). Other uses for Metoprolol include the prevention of migraine headaches and the treatment of certain types of tremors (familial or hereditary essential tremors)."
The descriptions are nearly identical. However, individuals may tolerate drug one better than another with fewer undesireable side effects.
I am a physician.
Yes. Atenolol is the generic version of the medication that is NOT time-released. Toprol XL is the timed release version of the same medication. DO NOT CUT, BREAK OR CRUSH TOPROL XL for any reason. It will release the medication in an irregular, unpredictable fashion and could be dangerous.
Both medicines are long acting beta blockers. Atenolol is the most prescibed beta blocker in the US.
Differences include: Atenolol is less expensive. Toprol is not cleared by the kidneys (very important when deciding on the which medication to use). Toprol has better data for use with heart failure patients.
Both are drugs are good medications. Yes you can take toprol in place of atenolol IF NEEDED. I would speak with your MD before making any decisions (your medical histroy is important in making decisions like these).
Just as a data point, the following was just shipped to me as a genric for Toprol XL
"METROPROLOL SUCC ER 25MG TASAN"