labetalol hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Combined alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor blocker
Main role
Lowers high blood pressure; selected products also cover hypertensive angina and urgent hospital treatment
Tablets
Swallow whole with food
Injection
Given intravenously in hospital with blood pressure, pulse and breathing monitored
What is labetalol hydrochloride used for?
Selected UK products are licensed for:
Hypertension, including during pregnancy.
Angina when hypertension is also present, for the tablet product.
Severe hypertension, including severe hypertension of pregnancy, when rapid control is essential, for the intravenous product.
Controlled hypotension during anaesthesia, for the intravenous product.
How does labetalol hydrochloride work?
Labetalol blocks alpha-1 receptors in arteries, reducing resistance to blood flow. Its beta-blocking action limits the faster heartbeat and other reflex responses that would otherwise follow.
labetalol hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 5 mg/mL
How to take labetalol hydrochloride
Follow the dispensing label and prescriber's instructions. Intravenous labetalol is administered by healthcare professionals in hospital.
Swallow tablets whole with food.
Do not stop regular labetalol suddenly unless a clinician directs this; abrupt withdrawal can worsen angina or cardiovascular disease.
During intravenous administration, the patient is kept supine or in the left lateral position and monitored. Standing soon afterwards can cause marked postural hypotension.
labetalol hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Tiredness or headache
- Transient tingling of the scalp
- Blocked nose
- Nausea, vomiting or stomach discomfort
- Cold hands or feet
- Postural dizziness
- Sexual dysfunction
Get urgent medical advice
- Breathing difficulty, wheezing, facial swelling or another severe hypersensitivity reaction
- Marked bradycardia, fainting or heart block
- New or worsening heart failure symptoms, such as breathlessness and ankle swelling
- Jaundice or other symptoms of liver injury
- Severe hypotension or collapse
labetalol hydrochloride in pregnancy
Labetalol can be used during pregnancy and is commonly used for hypertension. Evidence does not suggest that beta-blockers cause congenital malformations, stillbirth or preterm birth. Fetal growth monitoring may be offered. Exposure near delivery can occasionally cause temporary neonatal bradycardia, hypotension, breathing difficulty or hypoglycaemia, so maternity and neonatal teams should know about treatment.
labetalol hydrochloride while breastfeeding
Labetalol passes into breast milk in very small amounts and is a preferred beta-blocker when breastfeeding a full-term, healthy infant. Monitor the infant for unusual sleepiness, poor feeding, inadequate weight gain, a slow heartbeat or signs of low blood sugar. Seek specialist advice for premature or unwell infants. Nipple pain or Raynaud's phenomenon of the nipple has been reported.
labetalol hydrochloride interactions
Important interactions include:
Verapamil or diltiazem
May cause marked bradycardia, hypotension, impaired cardiac conduction or worsening heart failure.
Amiodarone and class I antiarrhythmics
Can add to cardiac conduction slowing and myocardial depression.
Common questions about labetalol hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is labetalol hydrochloride used for?
It is used mainly to lower high blood pressure, including during pregnancy. Selected products are also licensed for angina with hypertension and for urgent hospital blood-pressure control or controlled hypotension during anaesthesia.
How does labetalol hydrochloride lower blood pressure?
It relaxes arteries through alpha-1 blockade while beta blockade limits reflex stimulation of the heart.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.