While metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate are both generally very safe, people may experience problems if they abruptly stop taking them.

If the person experiences no problems on the initial dosage, a doctor may increase the dosage to a maximum of 200 mg per day. The initial dosage of metoprolol succinate ranges from 25–100 mg per day. Metoprolol succinate is available as an extended-release tablet, which means that people only have to take one tablet a day. If an individual tolerates this dose, the doctor may recommend that they switch to using metoprolol tartrate tablets instead. One full dose of the intravenous injection provides 15 mg of the drug. The recommended dosage of metoprolol tartrate ranges between 100–450 milligrams (mg) daily. People using the immediate-release tablet may need to take it several times a day, and doctors advise that they do so either with or directly after a meal. Metoprolol tartrate is available either as an immediate-release tablet, as an intravenous injection, or in liquid form. The appropriate dosage of both metoprolol tartrate and metoprolol succinate depends on a person’s condition and how well that condition responds to the medication.