Scientists identify a neuroprotective action of metoprolol after a stroke (Ischemic stroke and severe COVID-19)

Medical Xpress / Centro Nacional de Investigaciones / British Journal of Pharmacology ^ | Oct. 6, 2022 | Agustín Clemente‐Moragón et al

[ConservativeMind]

There are currently few treatment options available for the consequences of stroke, one of the most severe of which is neuronal death, caused by the lack of oxygen during the arterial blockade and the inflammation that follows the restoration of blood flow.

Now, Dr. Borja Ibáñez has demonstrated in a rat model that treatment with metoprolol protects the brain during a stroke and greatly reduces the severity of its long-term consequences. Rats that received intravenous metoprolol during the course of a stroke had less cerebral inflammation and neuronal death and better long-term improvement in neuromotor capacities.

"This animal study beats the path to clinical trials of the utility of metoprolol in patients with ischemic stroke," said Dr. Ibáñez.

Dr. Ibáñez's group first showed that metoprolol is beneficial in patients suffering a heart attack. The "eureka moment" came when the group discovered that metoprolol protects the heart during an infarction by inhibiting the exacerbated inflammatory response triggered by immune cells called neutrophils.

"When we discovered this mechanism of action, we thought it might also apply to other conditions in which neutrophil hyperactivation plays an important role," said Dr. Ibañez.

Following this lead, the CNIC investigators recently demonstrated that metoprolol reduces the exacerbated inflammation seen in patients with severe COVID-19.

"Metoprolol, in addition to blocking the hyperactivation of proinflammatory neutrophils, appears to selectively promote the reparatory activity of the population of antiinflammatory neutrophils, resulting in notable improvements in the affected area," explained researcher Agustín Clemente-Moragón.

Eduardo Oliver explained that "testing the possible benefit of metoprolol in stroke was a goal we had been pursuing for some time, since neuroinflammation is known to play a central role in stroke-related injury."

The new study includes highly sophisticated brain imaging analysis, which was led by Dr. Manuel Desco.

[ConservativeMind]

Metoprolol is also known as generic Lopressor, which is a couple dollars a prescription, so this is a cheap therapy for those with a stroke.

[ConservativeMind]

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[nickcarraway]

I heard it’s not always a fun medication to take.

[nurees]

Very safe. Husband and I have been on for years. Now Metformin… that’s another bathroom story.

[markman46]

I take this for my high blood pressure have for years, plus I had a stroke 10yrs ago still take it today

[TheThirdRuffian]

I take it for an electric arrhythmia caused by shrapnel near my heart.

Never bothered me.

[TheThirdRuffian]

I take it for an electric arrhythmia caused by shrapnel near my heart.

Never bothered me.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Except it causes double posts!

[6ppc]

Been taking it for almost 20 years. No side effects.

[heartwood]

Can cause nightmares.

[fella]

My Cardiologist has me on metoprolol 50 mg a day to lower my heart rate and blood pressure. Works well on my heart rate and has lowered my BP some.

[Auntie Dem]

Wish I could say that. I was taking metoprolol to reduce my heart rate. It didn’t work so I went off it about a month ago. Still taking other HBP meds but recently had to stop them due to bad kidneys. My kidneys are so bad due to repeated stones that they can’t clear my system of several of the drugs, causing me to get so dizzy I almost pass out. Now my BP is too low, and that’s without irbesartan. Hoping my kidneys recover enough to stop all this crap.

[egfowler3]

Have they done a Lithotripsy on you? Its painless. Ask you Urologist about it.

I’ve had two about 10 yrs ago. No problems since.

[Auntie Dem]

Oh yes. Had lithotrpsy 2 weeks ago to remove “numerous” stones from my left ureter. So many stones that they blocked urine back up to the kidney and made a tear in the ureter. They went back into the kidney last week and removed over 500 mg of stones, several 4-5 mm in diameter. It’s been 8 days and my kidney values are still in the dumpster. Getting kind of discouraging.

[egfowler3]

Sorry to hear that. My doc was very careful about that happening to me. T must have passed “sand” for a month after, but had to do a second pass to treat the remainder of the stones. Still clean. I’ll keep you in my prayers.