Labetalol

What you should know before using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of labetalol injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of labetalol in geriatric patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver and heart problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving labetalol injection.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Albuterol
• Amiodarone
• Arformoterol
• Bambuterol
• Bitolterol
• Broxaterol
• Clenbuterol
• Clonidine
• Colterol
• Fenoldopam
• Fenoterol
• Fentanyl
• Formoterol
• Halothane
• Hexoprenaline
• Isoetharine
• Levalbuterol
• Metaproterenol
• Pirbuterol
• Procaterol
• Reproterol
• Rimiterol
• Ritodrine
• Salmeterol
• Terbutaline
• Tretoquinol
• Tulobuterol
• Verapamil

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Angina (severe chest pain)—May provoke chest pain if stopped too quickly.

• Asthma or
• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
• Heart block or
• Heart failure or
• Low blood pressure, severe and prolonged—Should not use in patients with these conditions.

• Diabetes or
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—May cover up some of the signs and symptoms of these diseases, such as a fast heartbeat.

• Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

• Lung disease (e.g., bronchitis, emphysema)—May cause difficulty with breathing in patients with this condition.

• Pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor)—Use with caution. May require an increased dose.