1. What is labetalol?

• Generic Name: Labetalol
• Brand Name: Trandate
• Drug Class: β- blockers

Labetalol is an antihypertensive agent which belongs to a class of medicines called beta blockers. Labetalol is alpha-and beta-adrenergic blocker, it acts by decreasing heart rate, hence decrease blood pressure.

It is available as oral and intravenous dosage forms.

Labetalol is available as the brand name Trandate, it also comes in combination with diuretics and sold under the brand name Normozide.

Labetalol is used primarily in treatment of severe Hypertension, and hypertension in pregnancy.

2. How dose labetalol work?

Labetalol act by blocking alpha1 -, beta1 -, beta2 -adrenergic receptor sites, and this will slow heart rate, decrease peripheral vascular resistance and decrease blood pressure.

3. labetalol Uses

Labetalol is used for treatment of:

1. Hypertension
2. Labetalol is used to control hypotension in anesthesia
3. Hypertension of pregnancy
4. Hypertension following myocardial infraction
5. Hypertensive emergencies

Labetalol can also be used for management of:

1. Hypertension during acute ischemic stroke,
2. Preeclampsia
3. Pediatric hypertension.
4. hypertension associated with Pheochromocytoma (a benign tumor develops in an adrenal gland)

4. labetalol Dosage forms and strength

Solution for injection

• 5 mg/mL

Tablets

• Labetalol 100 mg
• Labetalol 200 mg
• Labetalol 300 mg

5. labetalol side effects

Labetalol may cause some side effects, common side effects include:

• Drowsiness
• dizziness
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Transient scalp tingling,

Less common and rare side effects include:

• peripheral edema
• depression
• anxiety
• constipation
• diarrhea
• diminished sexual ability
• Nasal congestion

Serious side effects:

• Shortness of breath
• Peripheral edema.
• weight gain

If you have experience any of these side effects, it is necessary to call your doctor immediately. Do not discontinue the drug, because sudden withdrawal may result in myocardial ischemia with palpitations and chest pain.

6. Special precautions

Before using labetalol tell your doctor if you have allergy to labetalol or any other ingredients that are combined with it.

It is important to tell your doctor about your previous medical experiences, specially asthma or obstructive airway disease, heart problems (such as cardiogenic shock, second- or third-degree heart block, heart failure, bradycardia and conditions associated with decreased blood pressure), liver diseases, diabetes, myasthenia gravis, severe anaphylaxis to allergens, peripheral vascular disease and Raynaud’s disease.

In elderly there is an increased risk of orthostatic hypotension and decreased peripheral circulation (due to peripheral vascular disease).

7. Pregnancy and breast feeding

Labetalol is one of the drugs that are recommended as a first-line agent in treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) in pregnancy due to its fewer side effects than other agents that are used during pregnancy (e.g. methyldopa). In breast feeding small amount of labetalol is distributed in breast milk, and this might produce toxicity due to alpha-blockage.