When to take Toprol

[coffinam]

I'm going to ask my doctor but does anyone know about how you should time the taking of beta blockers? Should you take them at the same time every day or depending on how long you've been awake? I tend to get up at different times every day and I've been accustomed to taking the first dose right away and the second one 8 hours later. This however can result in large variations in the amount of time between one day's second dose and the next day's first. On the other hand, taking the meds at the same time every day would result in being awake for several hours some days without taking any meds. Also, how do you deal with time changes when travelling?

[Burton Borrok]

Hi Cof,
All the doctors I have seen over the years (and there has been a lot of them) and all the literature I have read about it has always said to strive to take your medications at the same time every day. Also, for split doses, try to space them out as evenly as possible.

When I flew through multiple time zones I used to "split the difference" or adjust the next dose by half the total time change. Of course, if you're really traveling so that you are with-in two hours of your next normal dose, just take the next one at the right time and forget the shifting. Then, when coming back, you can reintroduce the one you skipped.

Your body doesn't really know where you are, but it does know how long it has been since the last dose. Does that make any sense at all?
Burt

[Sarah]

You should take your pills at the same time every day. i used to have a very irregular schedule myself, so i know what a drag it is to figure out a good time. but beta blockers can be taken with food so maybe lunchtime would be better for you.

as for traveling, i ignore time changes as much as possible. when i went to south africa, i made sure to take my meds within two hours of the original time and then gradually shifted the dose by an hour or so to be able to take them at a reasonable hour.

[Bettie]

Ask your doctor about toprol XL. I only have to take it once a day.

[Sarah]

taking the meds at the same time every day would result in being awake for several hours some days without taking any meds.

That is ok. It is not imperative to have take your medication the second you wake up as if you are taking it at the same time every day, there will always be enough in your system.

[Laoshur]

I mentioned this problem to my doctor because my schedule is also quite varied from day to day. He has me on Toprol XL, 150mg twice a day. The insurance company wanted me to go on generic metoprolol, but I was afraid that I would never figure out the same time every day thing. Dr. Gilligan agreed that taking Toprol XL off schedule was not so much of a problem, especially if it is taken two times a day. So I would suggest that you ask to be on Toprol XL, if you are not already.

As far as the travel is concerned, since most of my travel is across 12-13 time zones, I just have to remember to take a dose somewhere over Alaska or the Pacific and I am fine. Travel to closer destinations requires the kind of manipulation that others have described. I would add that if you are going to be somewhere a week or less, I would try to keep the drugs on the old schedule.

Rhoda

[felixdacat]

Great to hear from you again?
My personal opinion is that it depends on the drug and it depends on the person.
Beta Blockers can make some people tired. Those people can benefit by taking it at night.
Some people get the best effects taking it in the morning.
I take 100MG's daily, but I split the pil and take 50 in the morning and 50 at night. Works for me, may not work for you.