Labetalol

Labetalol is an antihypertensive (blood pressure-lowering agent) known as a beta-blocker. This medication reduces the workload on the heart and helps it beat more regularly. Labetalol lowers blood pressure in different ways. High blood pressure values can damage the kidneys and can cause a stroke or heart failure.

This high blood pressure medication acts on the cardiovascular system with the special characteristic of simultaneously inhibiting alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors in a physiologically balanced proportion.

Modern trends in the treatment of hypertension place greater importance on decreasing peripheral vascular resistance while simultaneously maintaining cardiac function.

Due to the blockage that this medicine exerts on both adrenergic receptors, the following occurs:

1. Due to alpha blockade, vasodilation, decrease in vascular resistance and consequent decrease in blood pressure
2. By beta-blockade, the heart is protected from undesirable reflex responses, such as disturbances of rhythm or cardiac

This reduces the risk of side effects that other preparations have due to their own alpha or beta-blocking action.

These blood pressure tablets belong to the group of medicines called alpha- and beta-blockers. Labetalol is indicated in the treatment of:

• Severe hypertension (high blood pressure), including pregnancy, when rapid control of blood pressure is essential
• Anesthesia, when a hypotensive technique is indicated
• Hypertensive episodes (high blood pressure) after acute myocardial infarction

Labetalol does not exert a detrimental action on kidney function and is particularly suitable for use in hypertensive patients with kidney dysfunction.

Always take the labetalol tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have doubts. If you think the action of labetalol is too strong or weak

Like all medicines, this high blood pressure medicine can have side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Most of the side effects are transient and happen during the first weeks of treatment. They include headache, tiredness, dizziness, depression and lethargy, nasal congestion, sweating, and rarely malleolar edema.

Postural hypotension is rare except at very high doses or if they increase too rapidly.

At the beginning of the treatment, a temporarily transient tingling sensation in the scalp may occur in some patients.

Tremors have been described in the treatment of hypertension of pregnancy. Acute urine retention, difficulty urinating, ejaculatory failure, epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting have also been described.

Positive antinuclear antibodies not associated with the disease have rarely appeared, as well as rare cases of systemic lupus erythematosus and, very rarely, drug fever.

Very rarely, cases of toxic myopathy have been described.

Among the rare cases of hypersensitivity: rash, itching, angioedema, and dyspnea. A reversible lichenoid rash has rarely occurred.

There have been rare cases of elevated liver function tests, jaundice (both hepatocellular and cholestatic), and hepatitis and liver necrosis. These signs and symptoms are generally reversible upon discontinuation of treatment.

Blurred vision, eye irritation, and cramps have been described, although they were not necessarily associated with Labetalol.

Some cases of bradycardia and heart block have been described.

Skin rashes and/or dry eyes have been described associated with the use of beta-adrenoreceptor blocking drugs. The incidence is small and, in most cases, symptoms disappeared with discontinuation of treatment. A gradual withdrawal of the drug should be considered if such a reaction is not otherwise explainable.

Rarely, generally reversible, severe hepatocellular injury has been reported during short and long-term therapy with labetalol. The necessary analytical tests should be carried out at the first sign or symptom of liver dysfunction. If there is analytical evidence of liver injury or if the patient is jaundiced, labetalol should be permanently discontinued.

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Yes, you can take Labetalol tablets during pregnancy and for a few weeks after delivery. However, using this medication can impact the growth of the foetus. Your healthcare provider may suggest additional scans to check the progress and adjust the medication if required. You must take Labetalol only after it has been prescribed by a healthcare provider, and it is important to monitor your blood pressure levels regularly.

Labetalol lowers the blood pressure within two hours of intake, and it lowers your blood pressure for about three days. The effects of this medicine can usually last at least 8 hours in your body. Due to its quicker onset of action, it is used in emergency situations. This medicine can also be used long-term under proper medical supervision.