The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a significant recall affecting more than 112,000 bottles of metoprolol succinate, a widely used heart medication taken daily by millions of Americans. Metoprolol is used alone or together with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. Overview: Metoprolol is a beta blocker. It is is used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, heart failure, and lower the risk of a repeat heart attack. Common side effects include tiredness. Metoprolol succinate is released slowly over the day, so one dose lasts about 24 hours. Only the extended-release form is approved for heart failure and for children, and only the immediate-release form is approved for use after a heart attack. Metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL) is used to treat hypertension and to control chronic (long-term) chest pain. It's also used to lower the risk for hospitalization and death in people with heart failure. Toprol XL (Metoprolol Succinate) may treat, side effects, dosage, drug interactions, warnings, patient labeling, reviews, and related medications including drug comparison and health resources. The specific agent in on-market formulations of metoprolol is either metoprolol tartrate or metoprolol succinate, where tartrate is an immediate-release formulation and the succinate is an extended-release formulation (with 100 mg metoprolol tartrate corresponding to 95 mg metoprolol succinate). Metoprolol succinate is a once-daily, extended-release beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and heart failure. It lowers cardiovascular risk, improves exercise tolerance, and reduces hospitalizations. Metoprolol's efficacy in the management of hypertension is similar to that of other β-blockers; however, metoprolol may be preferred over a nonselective β-blocker, like propranolol, in hypertensive patients with certain concomitant disease states. Metoprolol (Lopressor®) is a medication that lowers your blood pressure and heart rate, making it easier for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body.