LABETALOL oral

Therapeutic action

• Non cardioselective beta-blocker

Indications

• Hypertension in pregnancy

Forms and strengths

• 100 mg and 200 mg tablets

Dosage

• 100 mg 2 times daily. Increase if necessary in 100 to 200 mg increments until an effective dose is reached, usually 400 to 800 mg daily (max. 2400 mg daily). If higher doses are required, give in 3 divided doses.

Duration

• According to clinical response. Do not stop treatment abruptly, decrease doses gradually.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• Do not administer to patients with asthma, chronic obstructive bronchopneumonia, heart failure, severe hypotension, bradycardia < 50/minute, atrio-ventricular heart blocks, Raynaud's syndrome, hepatic impairment.
• May cause: bradycardia, hypotension, heart failure, bronchospasm, hypoglycaemia, gastrointestinal disturbances, dizziness, headache, weakness, urinary retention.
• Administer with caution to patients with diabetes (risk of hypoglycaemia).
• Reduce dosage in patients with renal impairment.
• In the event of anaphylactic shock, risk of resistance to epinephrine.
• Avoid or monitor combination with: mefloquine, digoxin, amiodarone, diltiazem, verapamil (risk of bradycardia); tricyclic antidepressants, antispychotics, other anti-hypertensive drugs (risk of hypotension).
• Do not administer simultaneously with antacids (aluminium or magnesium hydroxide, etc.). Administer 2 hours apart.
• Monitor the neonate: risk of hypoglycaemia, bradycardia, respiratory distress occurring most often during the first 24 hours and until 72 hours after the birth.
• Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

Storage