[Experimental study of metoprolol-induced side effects]

Abstract

To study side effects of drugs in preclinical as well as in postmarketing surveillance phase is very important. In our experiments the influence of metoprolol on carbohydrate- and lipid metabolism was investigated in male. Wistar rats. Metoprolol is a liposoluble beta1-selective adrenoceptor antagonists. We have calculated therapeutic dose which reduced heart frequency/min of the animals by 25%. This was 10 mg/kg. The blood glucose and triglyceride values of healthy rats are in the normal human domain. Blood glucose was high after the first metoprolol dose and increased further with continued treatment. Drug administration period comprised 16 days. At finishing experiments diminished glycogen content was measured which may be related to higher glucose output. In blood samples obtained one hour after last 16. metoprolol dose administration triglyceride values were high and HDL-C decreased. These data pertain to the development of a secondary hypertriglyceridaemia. Hyperglycemic and hypertriglyceridaemic responses were established with therapeutic doses regimen so they may be considered as unwanted effects.