Can You Crush Metoprolol?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not metoprolol tablets can be crushed.
Hi, I have a question. Can you crush metoprolol tablets?
Jun 22, 2022- Metoprolol tartrate can be safely crushed, but metoprolol succinate cannot be crushed because it will destroy the extended-release mechanism and release all the medication at once. Metoprolol succinate tablets can be split along the score line because the medication is delivered through small pellets that won't be damaged by splitting.
Hello and thanks for reaching out!
The answer to this depends on which form of metoprolol you are talking about, as it is available as:
- Metoprolol tartrate
- Metoprolol succinate
Metoprolol tartrate is an immediate-release version of the drug while metoprolol succinate is the extended-release version.
Which Can You Crush?
Metoprolol tartrate (generic for Lopressor) can safely be crushed. Doing so will not alter how the medication works
Metoprolol succinate (generic for Toprol XL) on the other hand, cannot be crushed as it is an extended-release product. Doing so will destroy the extended-release mechanism, causing all of the medication to be released at once.
Interestingly enough, metoprolol succinate can be split and is scored (i.e. has a break line in the middle of the tablet). This is uncommon among extended-release drugs and metoprolol succinate is one of the few extended-release drugs where splitting is okay.
Metoprolol succinate can be split due to how the extended-release mechanism works. Each tablet contains a number of small controlled release pellets, which are evenly dispersed throughout the tablet. This can be seen in the image below.
Each pellet acts as its own delivery device, and splitting the tablets will not destroy them. For this reason, the tablet can be split. However, as mentioned, the tablets cannot be crushed, as doing so will destroy these pellets.
Final Words
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References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Metoprolol tartrate
- An immediate-release form of the drug metoprolol that allows the full dose to be absorbed quickly into the body.
- Metoprolol succinate
- An extended-release form of the drug metoprolol that slowly releases the medication over time.
- Immediate-release
- A medication form designed to dissolve and be absorbed quickly after being taken.
- Extended-release
- A medication form designed to slowly release the drug throughout the day rather than all at once.
- Lopressor
- A brand name for the immediate-release form of metoprolol tartrate.
- Toprol XL
- A brand name for the extended-release form of metoprolol succinate.
- Scored
- Having a groove or break line marked on a tablet to make it easier to split into smaller doses.
- Controlled release pellets
- Tiny beads inside a tablet that are designed to dissolve at different times to gradually release medication throughout the day.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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