blood pressure or hypertension is labelled as “silent” killer. This is mainly due to the absence of symptoms on its incidence. Hypertension occurs in 2 distinct forms namely essential hypertension and secondary form of hypertension. Drugs like labetalol are used for bringing down pressure levels. Do you know the side effects this med causes? It can be useful to know the adverse effects prior to taking this drug.
Nearly 93% of cases of hypertension is categorised as primary. You may get this condition if you are smoking, drinking alcohol frequently and if you are adding excessive salt in your foods. Secondary form is caused by many reasons, like intake of contraceptive pills, renal conditions, etc.
Your blood pressure is represented by systolic and diastolic pressure levels. Systolic pressure refers to a maximum point while diastolic denotes the minimum. In general, a reading of 80/120 – 90/130 millimeters mercury (mmHg) is viewed as “normal”.
If you are experiencing pressure reading of say, 90/140 mmHg (or more), you need to monitor blood pressure on a periodic basis. Also, if you are living with blood sugar related conditions such as diabetes mellitus, risks of hypertension tend to go high.
What is labetalol?
This med is widely administered for treating hypertension. You can avail it either as injection or as an orally-consumed tablet. This medication was launched for general use in the later-part of 1970s. Ever since launch, its popularity has grown steadily. As per recent estimates, number of prescriptions of labetalol has touched the 2.0-million mark per year. The generic form of this drug is available; this is good news for price-conscious buyers.
Labetalol ranks highly, one among the top-220 highly-prescribed meds in the US. Such popularity is mainly due to its alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic strengths. As a beta-blocker, its strengths do not measure up to propranolol; also, it is not regarded more potent than phentolamine on the alpha-adrenergic front. Active chemicals of labetalol are known to decrease vascular stresses, and thus help stabilise heart-rate.
What are the side effects of labetalol?
The most commonly experienced adverse effects of labetalol are dizziness and feeling drowsy. It is also likely to make you tired and some users report discomforts like nausea. The good thing is most of these adverse effects may go away on their own; but if you see one ore more of the aforesaid effects persist – talk to your treating doctor immediately.
In some remote instances, labetalol has triggered a few severe side effects like hypotension (a marked drop in blood pressure level), damage of hepatic wellbeing (shows up as decrease in appetite level, yellowing or eyes or skin), respiratory problems like gasping or wheezing. Upon sensing any of these adverse side effects, it is highly recommended to rush to a local healthcare setting – like a clinic or a hospital – at the earliest possible time.
Labetalol may constrict (narrow down) your air pathways. So, those who are living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD) such as bronchitis or asthma must tell their caregiving team of such conditions. Your treating doctor may enhance the dosages of asthma meds like salmeterol, indacaterol, albuterol, etc.
Last but not least, intake of labetalol along with antidepressants (especially of the tricyclic genre) may lead to involuntary shaking of your body or tremors. Upon witnessing tremors, call 911 without delay (if you are in US); those living in Canada must rush to a poison control unit or can call Health Canada on an emergency mode.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.