Assessment of Metoprolol in the Prevention of Vasovagal Syncope in Aging Subjects

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. resting heart rate \<50 bpm or supine systolic blood pressure \<90 mm Hg in the absence of beta blockers or antihypertensive medications,
• •2. other causes of syncope, such as sick sinus syndrome, ventricular tachycardia, complete heart block, postural hypotension or hypersensitive carotid sinus syndrome,
• •3. an inability to give informed consent,
• •4. important valvular, coronary, myocardial or conduction abnormality,
• •5. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or known or probable genetic arrhythmia
• •6. a contraindication to beta blockers such as asthma, insulin-dependent diabetes, severe depression, peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or previous intolerance of beta blockers,
• •7. another clinical need for beta blockers which can not be met with other drugs,
• •8. a seizure disorder,
• •9. major chronic non-cardiovascular disease,
• •10. an implanted defibrillator,
• •11. Known hypersensitivity to metoprolol and derivatives.