How Long Does Metoprolol Remain In The Body?

Posted on Sun, 22 Mar 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 Answered on

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I took 6 tablets of 25 mg of Metropol three weeks ago . I will like to know how long I have to wait for the drug to leave my system.

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
NO WAITING - IT HAS LEFT ALREADY

Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic

     The blood level of any substance - including drugs - falls to negligible levels (5 % / < 2 Standard deviations) in by the end of 5th half life. Even with a half life of one day, by the end of one week, only less than 1 % will be left in the body.
     Half life of one day means half the substance will be cleared by the body in one day – in other words only 50% will remain on second day.      At this rate, the reminder on day 3 = 25% / Day 4 = 12.5% / day 5 = 6.25% / Day 6 = 3.125% / Day 7 = 1.5625% / Day 8 = 0.78125
     In other words only 50% will remain on the end of FIRST half life time / At this rate, the reminder on end of SECOND ½-life = 25% / THIRD ½-life = 12.5% / FOURTH ½-life = 6.25% / FIFTH ½-life = 3.125% / SIXTH ½-life = 1.5625% / SEVENTH ½-life = 0.78125 and so on

The half-life of Metoprolol is between 3 to 7 hours / so, in 2 days, it will be gone!

Good luck
God bless you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D