Tag: Chronotropic

Metoprolol is one of the most widely prescribed beta-blockers globally, used to treat conditions like hypertension and angina. While its primary role is well-known, a key pharmacological question often arises: Is metoprolol an inotrope? The answer lies in its ability to decrease the heart's force of contraction, making it a negative inotropic agent.

The heart has five fundamental properties that govern its function, first described in 1897. This guide breaks down what is inotropic vs chronotropic vs dromotropic vs bathmotropic by exploring how medications and the nervous system precisely modulate the heart's rate, contractility, electrical conduction, and excitability.

The human heart beats approximately 100,000 times per day, and understanding how different medications influence its function is fundamental in pharmacology. Master the core concepts of cardiac medication by learning how to remember chronotropic, inotropic, and dromotropic effects through easy-to-use mnemonics and clear explanations.