Labetalol

• High blood pressure (hypertension), including high blood pressure in pregnancy
• Chest pain (that increases on exercise or doing any work called ‘angina pectoris’) in patients with high blood pressure

When should one not use Labetalol

• Allergy to Labetalol or any of its components
• If you have a lower than usual heart rate or missed heartbeats (heart block/ bradycardia) and low blood pressure
• Heart failure that is not responding to treatment
• Sudden fall in the pumping efficiency of the heart which can be fatal (cardiogenic shock)
• If the specialized muscle in the heart that regulates the heartbeat (natural pacemaker of your heart) is not working correctly (sick sinus syndrome)
• Poor blood circulation that requires treatment
• History of asthma or any lung problems
• Do not eat properly/ improper food habits
• High acid levels in blood due to kidney problems (metabolic acidosis)
• Cancer of the adrenal glands (present above the kidney) causing life-threatening high blood pressure (a condition called phaeochromocytoma)
• Chest pain at rest (prinzmetal’s angina)

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Allergic reactions causing swelling of the face, lips, throat causing breathing difficulty with or without skin rashes or itching (angioedema)
• Failure of the heart to pump efficiently causing breathing problem, swelling of feet and missed heartbeats
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Difficulty in maintaining erection of the penis or ejaculation
• Feeling dizzy
• Fever, chills, headache, weakness (flu-like symptoms)
• Tingling sensation in the scalp
• Increased blood levels of liver enzymes
• Lung problems (coughing or breathing problems, asthma or worsening of symptoms)
• Change in behavior, sleep issues, depression, confusion, etc
• Very slow heartbeats (rare)
• Severe skin reactions with joint pains and fever (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE, an immune system disorder). This side effect is sporadic

Other General Warnings

• Liver or kidney disease
• Any conditions that may cause poor blood circulation (obesity, diabetes, tendency to form blood clots, or Raynaud’s disease, a condition which causes severe narrowing of blood vessels)
• Red, scaly patches on the skin (psoriasis)
• Planning a surgery that requires anaesthesia
• Planning an operation and have taken a medicine called Tamsulosin
• Prone for allergic reactions
• Uncontrolled blood sugars (low or diabetes)

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Anti-depressants (Amitryptiline, etc.)
• Barbiturates (Phenobarbital etc.)
• Other medicines used to lower blood pressure (Hydralazine, Nifedipine)
• Other similar medicines (Atenolol, Propranolol, Metaprolol)
• Medicines that contain a hormone called adrenaline (a powerful medicine to lower blood pressure)
• Medicines used to treat mental illness (Chlorpromazine, etc.)
• Painkillers
• Medicines used to treat stomach ulcers or heartburn (Cimetidine, etc.)
• Antimalarial medicines (Mefloquine, Quinine)
• Migraine medications (Ergotamine, etc.)
• Medicines used to treat impotence (Alprostadil, Moxisylyte)
• Aldesleukin (treats kidney cancer)
• Hormone pills (estrogen and progesterone)
• Injection medicines used to treat abnormal heart rhythm (Verapamil, Diltiazem, Quinidine, Amiodarone, Disopyramide, Digoxin)
• Clonidine (used to treat high blood pressure)
• A class of medicines used to treat depression (Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors – Phenelzine, Rasagiline, Selegiline)

Interactions with food items

Overdose

Missed a Dose