Labetalol - a beta-blocker

About labetalol

Labetalol is a type of beta blocker that is used to treat presión arterial alta.

Most people with high blood pressure do not feel unwell, but it is important that your high blood pressure is treated even if you feel fine. This is because high blood pressure can be damaging to your blood vessels and can put a strain on your heart.

In particular, labetalol is one of the medicines of choice for treating high blood pressure during pregnancy.

It works on your heart and blood vessels. It does this by blocking tiny areas (called receptors) where messages are received by your heart and blood vessels. As a result, the pressure of blood within your blood vessels is reduced, and your heart beats more slowly and with less force.

When it is given by injection, it reduces blood pressure quickly, and for this reason it is used to keep blood pressure down during surgery, and in people who have had a heart attack.

The most common side effects of labetalol are:

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.

• Feeling sleepy or tired.

• Sentirse mal (náuseas).

• Estar enfermo (vómitos).

• Dolor de cabeza.

• Cold fingers and toes.

You may also experience other side effects such as:

• Sueño perturbado.

• Slow heartbeat.

• Blocked nose.

• Swollen ankles.

• Tingling feelings.

• Feeling depressed.

• Dificultad para orinar.

• Difficulty getting an erection (erectile dysfunction).

Encontrará una lista completa en el prospecto del fabricante que se suministra con su medicamento. Los efectos no deseados a menudo mejoran a medida que su cuerpo se adapta al nuevo medicamento, pero hable con su médico o farmacéutico si alguno de los siguientes persiste o se vuelve problemático.

Si experimenta otros síntomas que cree que pueden deberse al medicamento, hable con su médico o farmacéutico para obtener más consejos.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking labetalol it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si estás embarazada o amamantando.

• Si tienes asma u otro trastorno respiratorio.

• Si tienes algún problema con el funcionamiento de tu hígado.

• If you have poor circulation.

• Si tienes diabetes (diabetes mellitus).

• Si tienes un problema de piel llamado psoriasis.

• Si tienes una condición que causa debilidad muscular, llamada miastenia gravis.

• If you have been told you have a slow heartbeat, heart failure, or heart block (a slow and irregular heartbeat).

• Si le han dicho que tiene dolor en el pecho causado por espasmos en los vasos sanguíneos del corazón, llamado angina de Prinzmetal.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que esté disponible para comprar sin receta, así como medicamentos herbales y complementarios.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento, o si ha tenido alguna otra reacción alérgica grave.

• Read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about labetalol and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take labetalol exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to take two doses a day. The directions will be printed on the label of the pack of tablets to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. Take labetalol at a mealtime, or with something to eat.

• Si olvida tomar una dosis, tómela tan pronto como lo recuerde (a menos que esté cerca la hora de su próxima dosis, en cuyo caso omita la dosis olvidada). No tome dos dosis juntas para compensar una dosis olvidada.

• Intenta mantener tus citas regulares con tu médico. Esto es para que tu médico pueda verificar tu progreso.

• Treatment with labetalol is often long-term. Continue to take the tablets unless your doctor tells you to stop.

  • Stopping treatment suddenly can cause problems in some people, so your doctor may want you to reduce your dose gradually if this becomes necessary.

• Si va a someterse a una operación o tratamiento dental, es importante informar a la persona que realiza el procedimiento que está tomando un betabloqueante. Esto es especialmente importante si es probable que le administren anestesia.

• Drinking alcohol while you are on labetalol is not recommended. Alcohol will add to the blood pressure-lowering effect of labetalol which will increase the chances of you experiencing side-effects such as feeling sleepy and dizzy.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with labetalol. Some medicines may not be (including some anti-inflammatory painkillers, and cold or flu remedies).

• Your doctor may give you dietary and lifestyle advice about eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and taking regular exercise. If so, it is important that you follow the advice you are given.

• If you have diabetes, labetalol can block the symptoms of low blood sugar. Your doctor will advise you about this.

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.

Is labetalol safe in pregnancy?

Labetalol is often considered safe to use in pregnancy and is one of the first-choice medicines for managing high blood pressure during this time. Like all medicines, it should only be taken under the guidance of your doctor, who will weigh the benefits and risks for you and your baby.

What type of beta blocker is labetalol?

Labetalol is a non-selective beta blocker with additional alpha-blocking effects. This means it lowers blood pressure by slowing the heart rate and relaxing blood vessels.

What is the difference between metoprolol and labetalol?

Metoprolol and labetalol are both beta blockers, but they work slightly differently. Metoprolol is a selective beta-1 blocker, mainly affecting the heart to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Labetalol is a non-selective beta blocker with added alpha-blocking effects, so it not only slows the heart but also relaxes blood vessels.