What is the most important information I should know about labetalol?
Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.
What is labetalol?
Labetalol is a beta-blocker that is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). Labetalol oral is sometimes given with other blood pressure medications.
Labetalol injection is used when hypertension is severe.
Labetalol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using labetalol?
You should not use labetalol if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- asthma;
- "AV block" (2nd or 3rd degree);
- uncontrolled heart failure;
- very low blood pressure;
- slow heartbeats that have caused you to faint; or
- if your heart cannot pump blood properly.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- congestive heart failure;
- angina (chest pain);
- liver disease;
- emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or other breathing problems;
- pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);
- diabetes;
- coronary artery bypass surgery (sometimes called "CABG");
- kidney disease; or
- allergies.
Labetalol can affect your pupils. If you need eye surgery, tell the surgeon about your use of this medicine, even if you no longer take it.
Labetalol may cause low blood pressure, low blood sugar, slow heartbeats, or breathing problems in a newborn if the mother uses labetalol during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.
Not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I use labetalol?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Labetalol oral is taken by mouth.
Labetalol injection is given in a vein by a healthcare provider when hypertension is severe. After the injection you may need to remain lying down for up to 3 hours. You may feel light-headed when you first stand up.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often, and you may need other medical tests. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar regularly.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.
Labetalol can cause false results with certain lab tests of the urine, including a drug-screening urine test. Tell the laboratory staff that you use labetalol.
Tell your doctor if you have a planned surgery.
You should not stop using labetalol suddenly. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include slow heart rate, wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing, extreme dizziness, seizure, or fainting.
What should I avoid while using labetalol?
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of labetalol.
What are the possible side effects of labetalol?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing (breathing may stop);
- shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
- severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears; or
- liver problems --loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), flu-like symptoms, itching, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Severe dizziness or fainting may be more likely in older adults.
Common side effects may include:
- dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness;
- nausea, vomiting;
- sudden warmth, skin redness, sweating;
- numbness; or
- tingly feeling in your scalp.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect labetalol?
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- any other blood pressure medicine;
- aminophylline, theophylline;
- cimetidine;
- heart medication;
- insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
- an antidepressant --amitriptyline, doxepin, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline, and others; or
- a bronchodilator --albuterol, formoterol, levalbuterol, metaproterenol, olodaterol, salmeterol, and others.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect labetalol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about labetalol.
