Pharmaceutics>Formulation Property Practice Test

A 58-year-old man with hypertension and palpitations is switched from immediate-release metoprolol tartrate 50 mg twice daily to extended-release metoprolol succinate 100 mg once daily. After the change, he reports smoother symptom control with fewer peaks and troughs, and his home blood pressure curves look flatter across the day. He asks why the once-daily tablet works more evenly even though the total daily dose is similar. The pharmacist notes he should not crush the new tablet. He takes no acid-suppressing therapy and has normal hepatic function.

A 56-year-old man with hypertension was stabilized on metoprolol tartrate immediate-release 50 mg twice daily. To simplify his regimen, he is switched to metoprolol succinate extended-release 100 mg once daily. After one week, he reports steadier blood pressure control and fewer palpitations compared with the immediate-release tablets. He is told not to crush or chew the new tablets and asks why the once-daily product maintains a more even effect throughout the day. No other medications were changed, and his diet and activity remain the same.