Toprol-XL Uses

Angina
Angina is a type of heart disease that occurs when the heart muscle is not getting enough nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood for a short period of time. The inadequate blood flow is caused by narrowed coronary arteries (the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart). Chest pain is the most commonly experienced angina symptom.
 
(Click Angina Symptoms to learn about other symptoms of angina.)
 
Toprol-XL is effective in treating symptoms of angina, decreasing the number of angina attacks, and improving exercise tolerance. The medication is effective for treating this type of heart disease because it decreases the workload of the heart. This, in turn, means that the heart needs less oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to function properly at any given level of effort. Toprol-XL does not cure this type of heart disease.
 
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. It does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working; it means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way that it should.
 
When it is used to treat people with congestive heart failure, Toprol-XL decreases blood pressure and makes the heart more efficient, which allows more blood to be pumped from the heart. In clinical studies, these effects of Toprol-XL led to decreased hospitalizations and loss of life from heart failure among study participants. In these clinical studies, Toprol-XL was combined with other congestive heart failure medications, including ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and digoxin (Digitek®, Lanoxin®, Lanoxicaps®).
 

Toprol-XL Uses in Children

Toprol-XL has been studied for treating high blood pressure in children as young as six years old; it has not been adequately studied in children younger than six years old or for other uses. However, healthcare providers may prescribe the medication off-label to treat children with certain conditions. For example, Toprol-XL may be used in children with Marfan syndrome to slow the progression of aortic dilation (widening of the aorta).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
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