Category- Allopathy
Medicine Highlights
| Uses | 1. To treat high blood pressure 2. To prevent heart attack 3. To treat heart failure |
| Common Side Effects | 1. Blurred vision 2. Chest pain or discomfort 3. Confusion 4. Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position 5. Slow or irregular heartbeat 6. Sweating 7. Unusual tiredness or weakness |
| Additional Information | Avoid taking alcohol or tobacco with this medicine. |
| Storage | 1. The medicine should be stored at room temperature. 2. Keep away from sunlight and moisture. 3. Keep away from the reach of children. |
| How to Take This Medicine | This medicine is given by a nurse with a mix of saline. |
Labetalol Uses
Labetalol 5 mg/ml is an injection medicine belonging to the class of selective beta-blocker medicines. It is used for the following indications:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Chest pain (Angina pectoris)
- Heart attack (Myocardial infarction)
Directions for use
- Take labetalol exactly as prescribed by your doctor, consistently at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking labetalol without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s close to your next dose then skip the missed one.
Labetalol side effects
More Common
- Blurred vision
- Chest tightness
- Cold hands or feet
- Confusion
- Difficult or labored breathing
- Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- Sweating
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
- Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- Chest tightness
- Cough
- Decreased urine output
- Difficult or labored breathing
- Difficulty with speaking
- Dilated neck veins
- Disturbed color perception
- Double vision
- Fast, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
- Halos around lights
- Headache
- Inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
- Inability to speak
- Irregular breathing
- Loss of vision
- Night blindness
- Noisy breathing
- Overbright appearance of lights
- Pain, tension, and weakness upon walking that subsides during periods of rest
- Paleness or cold feeling in the fingertips and toes
- Rapid weight gain
- Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
- Short-term memory loss
- Slow speech
- Swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
- Tingling of the hands or feet
- Tingling or pain in the fingers or toes when exposed to cold temperatures
- Trouble breathing
- Tunnel vision
- Unusual weight gain or loss
How Labetalol works
Labetalol reduces blood pressure by lowering the action of two hormones, namely adrenaline and noradrenaline, thereby slowing down the heart rate and relaxing the blood vessels.
Safety Measures and Warning
Allergies/Hypersensitivity
If you are allergic to this medicine, then inform your doctor immediately.
Pregnancy
Labetalol crosses the placenta and can cause fetal abnormalities if taken during pregnancy, so if you are pregnant or planning to conceive, inform your doctor about it.
Breastfeeding
Labetalol passes into breast milk in small amounts and is generally considered safe during breastfeeding, with no major harmful effects reported in infants.
Labetalol Interaction with other Medicines
Avoid taking labetalol with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:
Labetalol Interaction with Food Products
Labetalol does not interact with any food products, but alcohol should be avoided before and after taking the medicine, as it can increase or decrease the effect of labetalol.
Storage
- The medicine should be stored at room temperature.
- Keep away from sunlight and moisture.
- Keep away from the reach of children.
Labetalol Chemical Structure
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name
1-[4-(2-methoxyethyl)phenoxy]-3-(propan-2-ylamino)propan-2-ol
Intake routine/cycle
Daily Dose
Take labetalol exactly as your doctor recommends. The dose may change based on your condition and how well you respond. Do not take more than prescribed without consulting your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.
Overdose
It is not recommended to take more than 1500 mg a day, as it can cause lower heart rate and slow breathing and can even cause life-threatening complications. If someone you know is taking this medicine and exhibits any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Labetalol Summary
Labetalol 5 mg/ml is a cardioselective beta blocker. The FDA approved it for the treatment of high blood pressure, chest pain, and heart failure and for reducing death risk after heart attack. Off-label uses of this medicine include migraine prevention, fast heart rhythms, and anxiety. It works by blocking beta receptors in the heart, which slows heart rate and reduces strain. The common side effects of this medicine are tiredness, dizziness, slow heartbeat, depression, and stomach upset. It interacts with alcohol and foods and can lower blood pressure. People with very slow heart rates, severe heart blocks, shock, or uncontrolled heart failure should avoid it. Taking more than 1000 mg can cause dangerously slow heart rate, very low blood pressure, fainting, seizures, breathing problems, and cardiac arrest.
FAQ’s
When to take labetalol tablets?
Labetalol usually causes dizziness, which is why doctors advise patients to take it before bedtime.
Can labetalol cause bradycardia?
A study conducted to examine the effect of labetalol on heart rate in both males and females found that women who consumed a high dose of labetalol had a lower heart rate, but the same effect was not observed in men.
Will labetalol lower heart rate?
Yes, Labetalol lowers heart rate by blocking adrenaline’s effects on the heart. It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions and not stop it suddenly.
Reference
- PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 3869, Labetalol; [cited 2026 Feb. 10]. Available from.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. Labetalol (oral route): Side effects & dosage [Internet]. Rochester (MN): Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2025 Dec 1 [cited 2026 Feb 10]. Available from.
- Drugs.com. Labetalol Hydrochloride Monograph [Internet]. Drugs.com; 2024 Aug 1 [cited 2026 Feb 10]. Available from.
- Miller M, Maani CV. Labetalol. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: Stat Pearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): Stat Pearls Publishing; 2025 Jan. Available from.
Authors
Siva Krishna Adithya Bhumireddy completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy from GIET School of Pharmacy, affiliated with Andhra University, and from his 3rd year of graduation, he was working as a freelance medical and publication writer. Having expertise in systematic reviews and clinical research. With his keen interest and skills in research and documentation practices, he also reviewed more than 150 manuscripts from international journals like Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Sage Journals, and all the manuscripts were indexed and appeared in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and he received honorary recognition letters and certificates from all of them. Siva Krishna Adithya also published a few systematic, narrative reviews and a few chapters of international expertise.