Labetalol (By mouth)
la-BAYT-a-lol
Treats high blood pressure. This medicine is a beta blocker.
Drug classes
Antianginal, Antihypertensive, Cardiovascular Agent (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Labetalol is used alone or together with other medicines to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may not function properly. This can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, resulting in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure may also increase the risk of heart attacks. These problems may be less likely to occur if blood pressure is controlled .
This medicine is a beta-blocker. It works by affecting the response to nerve impulses in certain parts of the body, like the heart. As a result, the heart beats slower and decreases the blood pressure. When the blood pressure is lowered, the amount of blood and oxygen is increased to the heart .
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription .
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to take and how often. Do not take more medicine or take it more often than your doctor tells you to.
It is best to take this medicine with food.
If a dose is missed:
If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you can. If your next dose is less than 8 hours away, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose.
Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store the medicine at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and never share your medicine with anyone.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Some drugs should not be taken together because they can interact. A drug interaction may cause mild to very serious medical problems. It can also make one of the drugs not work properly or make it too strong.
There are many drugs that can interact with labetalol. This especially includes medicines for asthma, diabetes, chest pain (angina), or heart rhythm problems, or epinephrine to treat severe allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these medicines, or if you are using other medicines to treat your high blood pressure.
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to any type of beta blocker medicine (such as atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, Corgard®, Inderal®, Lopressor®, Toprol®, Tenormin®), or if you have asthma or certain heart problems. Talk with your doctor about what these heart problems are.
Warnings
Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have emphysema, bronchitis, liver disease, overactive thyroid, diabetes, pheochromocytoma, or severe allergic reactions.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor, or you may develop life-threatening heart problems. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
This medicine may raise or lower your blood sugar, and it may cover up symptoms of very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
This medicine may make you dizzy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine.
If you stop using this medicine, your blood pressure may go up. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Even if you feel well, do not stop using the medicine without asking your doctor.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Chest pain (may be related to your disease and not a side effect)
Fainting or severe dizziness
Slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat
Swelling of your feet or ankles
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Wheezing or trouble breathing
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Cold hands and feet
Feeling dizzy, drowsy, or depressed
Trouble having sex
Trouble sleeping
Unusual tiredness or weakness
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Normodyne, Trandate
There may be other brand names for this medicine.
