Metoprolol Tartrate to Succinate Conversion Calculator

Metoprolol Tartrate to Succinate Conversion Calculator

Once Daily (QD) Twice Daily (BID) Three Times Daily (TID) Four Times Daily (QID)

Recommended Conversion:

Total Daily Dose: mg

Metoprolol Succinate (ER) Dose: mg once daily

function calculateMetoprololConversion() { var tartratePerDose = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tartrateDose').value); var frequency = parseInt(document.getElementById('frequency').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('conversionResult'); var totalDailyDoseSpan = document.getElementById('totalDailyDose'); var succinateDoseSpan = document.getElementById('succinateDose'); var warningSpan = document.getElementById('doseWarning'); if (isNaN(tartratePerDose) || tartratePerDose <= 0) { alert('Please enter a valid dosage amount.'); return; } var totalDaily = tartratePerDose * frequency; totalDailyDoseSpan.innerText = totalDaily; succinateDoseSpan.innerText = totalDaily; var warningText = "Standard Metoprolol Succinate tablets are available in 25mg, 50mg, 100mg, and 200mg strengths. "; if (![25, 50, 100, 200, 400].includes(totalDaily)) { warningText += "The calculated dose of " + totalDaily + "mg may require combining tablet strengths or splitting scored tablets."; } warningSpan.innerText = warningText; resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding Metoprolol Tartrate vs. Succinate

Metoprolol is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), and heart failure. However, there are two distinct salt forms of the medication: Tartrate and Succinate. While they contain the same active ingredient, their delivery mechanisms differ significantly.

Key Differences

• Metoprolol Tartrate (Lopressor): This is the immediate-release formulation. It is absorbed quickly by the body, meaning it needs to be taken multiple times per day (usually twice) to maintain consistent blood levels.
• Metoprolol Succinate (Toprol-XL): This is the extended-release (ER) formulation. It is designed to release the medication slowly over a 24-hour period, allowing for once-daily dosing.

How the Conversion Works

The conversion between Metoprolol Tartrate and Metoprolol Succinate is generally a 1:1 total daily dose ratio. This means if your total daily intake of the immediate-release version is 100mg, your extended-release dose will typically be 100mg taken once daily.

Example Scenarios:

Tartrate Regimen	Total Daily Dose	Equivalent Succinate (ER)
25 mg Twice Daily	50 mg	50 mg Once Daily
50 mg Twice Daily	100 mg	100 mg Once Daily
100 mg Twice Daily	200 mg	200 mg Once Daily

Why Switch?

Physicians often switch patients from Tartrate to Succinate to improve compliance (taking one pill is easier than two) or to provide a more stable heart rate and blood pressure control throughout the night and early morning hours.

Medical Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes only. Dosage changes should only be made under the direct supervision of a licensed healthcare provider. Metoprolol formulations are not always interchangeable for certain conditions like heart failure. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before changing your medication schedule.