What are the efficacy, uses, and side effects of Betaloc?

Generally speaking, Betaloc refers to metoprolol tartrate tablets, whose possible efficacy and functions include lowering blood pressure, slowing heart rate, relieving angina, treating myocardial infarction, and improving heart failure; possible side effects may include fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, dyspnea, bradycardia, and sexual dysfunction. Detailed analysis is as follows:

I. Efficacy and Functions

1. Lowering Blood Pressure

Metoprolol tartrate tablets can block β-receptors on the heart and blood vessels, slowing heart rate and reducing myocardial contractility, thereby decreasing cardiac output. At the same time, it can inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, causing vasodilation and reduced peripheral resistance. It usually effectively lowers blood pressure and is suitable for the treatment of primary hypertension.

2. Slowing Heart Rate

Metoprolol tartrate tablets block cardiac β₁-receptors and inhibit the excitatory effects of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart. This medication lowers the automaticity of the sinoatrial node, slows atrioventricular conduction velocity, and thus reduces heart rate. For patients with arrhythmias such as sinus tachycardia, it can restore normal heart rate levels and alleviate symptoms such as palpitations.

3. Relieving Angina

Metoprolol tartrate tablets reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, on one hand by slowing heart rate and reducing cardiac workload, and on the other hand by weakening myocardial contractility and lowering the heart's energy demands. Thus, it alleviates angina symptoms caused by myocardial ischemia, improves patients' quality of life, and reduces the frequency and severity of angina attacks.

4. Treating Myocardial Infarction

This medication reduces myocardial oxygen consumption and cardiac burden, improving myocardial perfusion. After an acute myocardial infarction occurs, metoprolol tartrate tablets can limit the expansion of the infarct area. At the same time, it reduces the risk of complications such as arrhythmias, improving patients' survival rates and prognosis.

5. Improving Heart Failure

For patients with chronic heart failure, metoprolol tartrate tablets can inhibit excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system, delaying the process of myocardial remodeling. It improves cardiac diastolic function, increases the heart's ejection fraction, alleviates symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue, enhances exercise tolerance, and improves quality of life.

II. Side Effects

1. Fatigue

Metoprolol tartrate tablets can slow heart rate and reduce myocardial contractility, leading to decreased cardiac output and relatively insufficient blood perfusion to various tissues and organs throughout the body. This usually causes patients to feel fatigued, weak, and experience reduced exercise tolerance.

2. Dizziness and Insomnia

The drug-induced decrease in blood pressure may affect cerebral blood supply, leading to dizziness. At the same time, it may affect nervous system function and interfere with normal sleep rhythms, thus causing insomnia, with symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep, vivid dreams, and frequent awakenings.

3. Dyspnea

In some patients, metoprolol tartrate tablets may block β₂-receptors on bronchial smooth muscle, causing bronchoconstriction and thus dyspnea, especially in patients with respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.

4. Bradycardia

When the blocking effect of this medication on cardiac β₁-receptors is too strong, it may excessively inhibit the automaticity of the sinoatrial node and atrioventricular conduction. This leads to a slowed heart rate, resulting in bradycardia. Patients may experience symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, and dizziness, and severe cases may lead to visual darkening or fainting.

5. Sexual Dysfunction

Metoprolol tartrate tablets may affect the secretion of sex hormones and blood circulation, resulting in reduced blood supply to the genital organs. Male patients may experience erectile dysfunction and decreased libido; female patients may experience reduced libido, which can affect patients' quality of life and mental health.

It is recommended that patients closely monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and other indicators during daily medication use, and promptly inform their doctor if any abnormalities occur; at the same time, strictly follow medical advice for medication and do not adjust the dosage or stop taking the medication suddenly.