Health expenditure comparison of extended-release metoprolol succinate and immediate-release metoprolol tartarate

Metoprolol, a selective beta-1 blocker, is available in two different salt forms in the market - metoprolol succinate (MS) and metoprolol tartarate (MT). Both the formulations are Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of hypertension. Several studies have shown similar efficacies between the two salts; however, they differ in their pharmacokinetic properties and are therefore priced differently. The primary objective of this study was to compare the overall health care expenditures of hypertensive patients on MT and MS to see if the price difference in the two preparations is offset by savings in overall expenditure.