AboutDomenic Sica Expertise All aspects of hypertension as well as any consideration in drug therapy for the management
of hypertension.
Experience Heavily published in the area of drug therapy in hypertension and renal disease. Primary management physician for a large multi-state referral practice for diagnosis and management of complex hypertension
Organizations Multiple including the American Society of Hypertension, International Society of Hypertension, American Society of Nephrology, American Heart Association, American College of Clinical Pharmacology amongst others.
Publications Over 250 publications (see PubMed)
Education/Credentials Board certified in internal medicine, nephrology, clinical pharmacology, and hypertension
Awards and Honors Multiple awards as clinical and/or teacher of the year.
I am a 27 yo female. I am scheduled to undergo a coronary cat scan this comming Thursday morning. This test is being done for some symptoms I am experiencing and to rule out a coronary anomaly since my sister has a cardiovascular anomaly as well.
I have been prescribed to take one lopressor (100mg) the night before (wednesday night) the test and one the morning of my test (Thursday morning). My concern is that My blood pressure is almost always 95/60 and my heart rate (just resting in bed at night is in the 50's), it has been captured on a holter monitor at night in the 40's. To me it does not make sense for me to take this pill at night, when my b/p and hr are so low. I can see taking it in the morning, epecially when b/p and HR are higher, especially since I will be nervous. I explained this to my cardiologist and he said it should be okay...Well I don't feel okay about this pill at night.
So how long does it take for a 100mg of Lopressor to work on the BP and HR....is it right away, is it a couple of hours. What do you think?
Answer You might ask the cardiologist to either allow you to take 50-mg at bedtime or if your heart rate and blood pressure is as low as it is whether you can skip the dose if certain parameters are met - such as a blood pressure less than 100/60 or a heart rate < 60. It typically takes about an hour for the effect from this amount of metoprolol to work. Another thing might help is why metoprolol was given to you in the first place. If whoever prescribed this to you can explain the reason why and at the particular doses being given then that might help. I would be interested in why this is being given if you want to recommunicate with me.
