About labetalol hcl
Alpha- and beta-blocker
Used for
- Treats high blood pressure.
- May be used for severe high blood pressure in hospital settings.
Usual adult dose
High blood pressure: usually 100 mg twice daily initially; adjusted according to response, commonly up to 200–400 mg twice daily.
Usual dose in children
Not routinely used in children; specialist dosing varies by age and weight.
Common side effects
- Dizziness or tiredness
- Nausea
- Scalp tingling
- Slow heartbeat
Important warnings
- May cause dizziness when standing; use caution with activities requiring alertness.
- Can worsen asthma or other bronchospastic conditions.
- May mask warning signs of low blood sugar.
- Do not stop suddenly without medical guidance.
Pregnancy
Used for high blood pressure during pregnancy when clinically appropriate; treatment should be supervised.
Breastfeeding
Small amounts enter breast milk; generally considered compatible, with infant monitoring as appropriate.
Interactions
- Other blood-pressure medicines may increase low blood pressure.
- Verapamil or diltiazem may worsen slow heartbeat or heart block.
- Diabetes medicines: labetalol can mask some signs of low blood sugar.
- Cimetidine may increase labetalol exposure.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.