Labetalol - a beta-blocker

About labetalol

Labetalol is a type of beta blocker that is used to treat ارتفاع ضغط الدم.

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.

• الشعور بالغثيان.

• التقيؤ.

• الصداع.

• Cold fingers and toes.

You may also experience other side effects such as:

• Disturbed sleep.

• Slow heartbeat.

• Blocked nose.

• Swollen ankles.

• Tingling feelings.

• Feeling depressed.

• Difficulty peeing.

• Difficulty getting an erection (erectile dysfunction).

ستجد قائمة كاملة في النشرة المعلوماتية التي يوفرها المصنع مع دوائك. غالبًا ما تتحسن الآثار غير المرغوب فيها مع تكيف جسمك مع الدواء الجديد، ولكن تحدث مع طبيبك أو الصيدلي إذا استمرت أي من الآثار التالية أو أصبحت مزعجة.

إذا شعرت بأي أعراض أخرى تعتقد أنها قد تكون بسبب الدواء، تحدث مع طبيبك أو الصيدلي للحصول على مزيد من النصائح.

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:

• إذا كنت حاملاً أو مرضعة.

• إذا كنت تعاني من الربو أو أي اضطراب تنفسي آخر.

• إذا كان لديك أي مشاكل في كيفية عمل الكبد لديك.

• If you have poor circulation.

• إذا كنت مصابًا بمرض السكري (داء السكري).

• إذا كنت تعاني من مشكلة جلدية تُسمى الصدفية.

• إذا كنت تعاني من حالة تسبب ضعف العضلات، تُسمى الوهن العضلي الوبيل.

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

• If you have been told you have chest pain caused by spasms of your heart's blood vessels, called Prinzmetal's angina.

• إذا كنت تتناول أي أدوية أخرى. يشمل ذلك أي أدوية تتناولها والتي يمكن شراؤها بدون وصفة طبية، بالإضافة إلى الأدوية العشبية والمكملات الغذائية.

• إذا كنت قد تعرضت في أي وقت مضى لرد فعل تحسسي تجاه دواء، أو إذا كنت قد تعرضت لأي رد فعل تحسسي خطير آخر.

• 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.

• إذا نسيت تناول جرعة، فتناولها بمجرد أن تتذكر (إلا إذا كان الوقت قد اقترب لتناول الجرعة التالية، وفي هذه الحالة اترك الجرعة الفائتة). لا تتناول جرعتين معًا لتعويض الجرعة المنسية.

• حاول الحفاظ على مواعيدك المنتظمة مع طبيبك. هذا لكي يتمكن طبيبك من متابعة تقدمك.

• 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.

• If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, it is important to tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking a beta-blocker. This is particularly important if you are likely to be given an anaesthetic.

• 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).

• قد يقدم لك طبيبك نصائح غذائية ونمط حياة حول تناول نظام غذائي صحي، وعدم التدخين، وممارسة التمارين الرياضية بانتظام. إذا كان الأمر كذلك، فمن المهم أن تتبع النصائح التي تُعطى لك.

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

• احفظ جميع الأدوية بعيدًا عن متناول ورؤية الأطفال.

• احفظه في مكان بارد وجاف، بعيدًا عن الحرارة المباشرة والضوء.

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.