Drug & supplement interaction

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation + Metoprolol

Metoprolol brand names: Lopressor, Toprol XL.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation and Metoprolol in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation and Metoprolol

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Metoprolol and Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — research on Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation alongside specific medications may be limited.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation at all — not against Metoprolol, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation is a treatment rather than something you take. Tell whoever provides it which medicines you use, and ask your prescriber whether it is appropriate for your health and treatment. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation safety at a glance

Transcutaneous Ele... overall Use caution Generally well tolerated, but it should be avoided by people with pacemakers and used under guidance.
Pregnancy Use caution Use during pregnancy is not well studied and should only be done with medical supervision.
Breastfeeding Not established There is little research on its use while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Metoprolol and Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation and Metoprolol May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so having Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation while taking the medicine can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Trouble sleeping Additional detail

    Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation

    “Insomnia and temporary hand paralysis have been reported in one person each in a clinical trial.”

    Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in insomnia.

    1 source cited
    1. 104742. Song Y, Xue X, Han H, et al. Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with diazepam for acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome: A double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial. J Int Med Res. 2020;48(4):300060520910052. PubMed

    Metoprolol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Metoprolol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Itching / Swelling Additional detail

    Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation

    “Itchiness, skin redness, and swelling have been reported rarely in clinical research.”

    Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in rosacea.

    6 sources cited
    1. 104735. Chen J, Tu Q, Miao S, Zhou Z, Hu S. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after general anesthesia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Surg. 2020;73:57-64. PubMed
    2. 104741. Szmit M, Agrawal S, Gozdzik W, et al. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation reduces postoperative analgesic requirement in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair: A randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Med. 2021;10(1):146. PubMed
    3. 104742. Song Y, Xue X, Han H, et al. Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with diazepam for acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome: A double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial. J Int Med Res. 2020;48(4):300060520910052. PubMed
    4. 107054. Xie J, Chen LH, Ning ZY, et al. Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with palonosetron on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Chin J Cancer 2017;36(1):6. PubMed
    5. 107056. Kabalak AA, Akcay M, Akcay F, Gogus N. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation versus ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative vomiting following pediatric tonsillectomy. J Altern Complement Med 2005;11(3):407-13. DOI
    6. 107060. Xiong Q, Min S, Wei K, et al. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with dexamethasone and tropisetron prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting in female patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective, randomized co

    Metoprolol

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Metoprolol. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Effects for Metoprolol come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Overlapping uses

What Metoprolol Is Prescribed For, and What Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Metoprolol is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation is a treatment: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Metoprolol is prescribed for: Metoprolol is used to treat several heart and blood pressure conditions. Metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets (including Toprol-XL) are approved for high blood pressure, angina pectoris (chest pain from the heart), and heart failure. Metoprolol tartrate tablets (including Lopressor) are approved for high blood pressure, angina, and — when used alongside intravenous metoprolol — to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death after a definite or suspected heart attack. Metoprolol tartrate injection (intravenous form) is used in hemodynamically stable patients with a definite or suspected acute heart attack to reduce cardiovascular death, and is followed by oral metoprolol therapy.

Read the rest of what Metoprolol is prescribed for

Lowering blood pressure with metoprolol reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation has been studied for:

  • Stroke studied, not established Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation for stroke

    It is unclear if acustimulation is beneficial for improving muscle function after a stroke.

  • Kidney failure studied, not established Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation for kidney failure

    It is unclear if acustimulation is beneficial for hemodialysis-associated fatigue or uremic pruritus.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Metoprolol on your own; if you are taking Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation or Metoprolol

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation or Metoprolol, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Metoprolol

This page covers Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metoprolol page lists 183 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), American Mistletoe (major), Indian Snakeroot (major) and Tyramine (major).

By severity: 5 major · 152 moderate · 26 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Metoprolol page

“With metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), a beta-blocker for high blood pressure and heart problems, these interactions deserve genuine care, starting with the five rated major. Most entries pull blood pressure one way or the other: many supplements add to metoprolol's lowering effect and can drop pressure too far, while a few, tyramine…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metoprolol interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation and Metoprolol Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation
Steady interest

#1,121 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Metoprolol
Top 10

#7 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation and Metoprolol records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Treatment approach

About Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation

What is Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation?

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Indigestion and functional dyspepsia
  • Constipation and bowel motility
  • Pain relief
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Post-operative recovery support

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA) is not a herb or supplement but a non-drug therapy that applies mild electrical pulses through skin pads placed over traditional acupuncture points. It is being studied mostly for nausea, digestive problems, and pain, but the evidence is still early and mixed. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before trying it, especially if you have a pacemaker or other implanted device.

Not applicable (this is a device-based therapy, not a plant or supplement) · Skin-surface electrode pads connected to a small electrical stimulator unit

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation record says about it on its own.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation: dosing

There is no single standard "dose" for TEA. Settings vary widely between studies and devices, including the placement of the pads, the strength of the electrical pulses, the frequency, and how long and how often it is used.If you have a TEA device, follow the manufacturer's instructions for pad placement, intensity, and session length. Do not turn the intensity up to a painful level.

From our Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Metoprolol

What Is Metoprolol Used For?

Brand names: Lopressor, Toprol XL

Metoprolol is used to treat several heart and blood pressure conditions. Metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets (including Toprol-XL) are approved for high blood pressure, angina pectoris (chest pain from the heart), and heart failure. Metoprolol tartrate tablets (including Lopressor) are approved for high blood pressure, angina, and — when used alongside intravenous metoprolol — to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death after a definite or suspected heart attack.

Metoprolol tartrate injection (intravenous form) is used in hemodynamically stable patients with a definite or suspected acute heart attack to reduce cardiovascular death, and is followed by oral metoprolol therapy. Lowering blood pressure with metoprolol reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Metoprolol

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 23,416 reports
Dyspnea 20,183 reports
Diarrhea 19,912 reports
Nausea 19,659 reports
Dizziness 16,726 reports
See full Metoprolol drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation References

The 8 references that drive our Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Chen J, Tu Q, Miao S, Zhou Z, Hu S. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after general anesthesia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Surg. 2020;73:57-64. PubMed
  2. Szmit M, Agrawal S, Gozdzik W, et al. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation reduces postoperative analgesic requirement in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair: A randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Med. 2021;10(1):146. PubMed
  3. Song Y, Xue X, Han H, et al. Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with diazepam for acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome: A double-blind randomized sham-controlled trial. J Int Med Res. 2020;48(4):300060520910052. PubMed
  4. Ma D, Han JS, Diao QH, et al. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for the treatment of withdrawal syndrome in heroin addicts. Pain Med 2015;16(5):839-48. PubMed
  5. Xie J, Chen LH, Ning ZY, et al. Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with palonosetron on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Chin J Cancer 2017;36(1):6. PubMed
  6. Kabalak AA, Akcay M, Akcay F, Gogus N. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation versus ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative vomiting following pediatric tonsillectomy. J Altern Complement Med 2005;11(3):407-13. DOI
  7. Xiong Q, Min S, Wei K, et al. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation combined with dexamethasone and tropisetron prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting in female patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective, randomized co
  8. Xuan JL, Zhu YW, Xu WH, Zhao H, Chen JDZ, Wu GJ, Gong L. Integrative effects of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation on abdominal pain, gastrointestinal motility, and inflammation in patients with early-stage acute pancreatitis. Neurogastroenterol Mot PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Having Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation While Taking Metoprolol: Common Questions

Is it safe to have Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation while taking Metoprolol?
We do not list a known interaction between Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation and Metoprolol. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation and Metoprolol have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 3 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Are Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation and Metoprolol used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Metoprolol is being adjusted to a target.
Does Metoprolol interact with any supplements?
Yes. Metoprolol has documented interactions with 183 supplements in our database — Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation is not one of them. The Metoprolol interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Metoprolol and Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.