Labetalol - en betablockerare

About labetalol

What is labetalol used for?

Labetalol is a type of beta blocker that is used to treat högt blodtryck.

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.

How does labetalol work?

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.

Side effects of labetalol

The most common side effects of labetalol are:

• Känner dig yr eller lätt i huvudet.

• Känner mig sömnig eller trött.

• Känna sig illamående (illamående).

• Kräkningar.

• Huvudvärk.

• Kalla fingrar och tår.

You may also experience other side effects such as:

• Disturbed sleep.

• Långsam hjärtslag.

• Blocked nose.

• Swollen ankles.

• Tingling feelings.

• Känner mig deprimerad.

• Difficulty peeing.

• Difficulty getting an erection (erectile dysfunction).

Du hittar en fullständig lista i tillverkarens informationsblad som medföljer din medicin. De oönskade effekterna förbättras ofta när din kropp anpassar sig till den nya medicinen, men tala med din läkare eller apotekare om något av följande fortsätter eller blir besvärligt.

How to manage labetalol side effects

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på medicinen, tala med din läkare eller apotekare för vidare råd.

Who should not take labetalol?

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:

• Om du är gravid eller ammar.

• Om du har astma eller någon annan andningsstörning.

• If you have any problems with the way your liver works.

• If you have poor circulation.

• If you have diabetes (diabetes mellitus).

• Om du har ett hudproblem som kallas psoriasis.

• Om du har ett tillstånd som orsakar muskelsvaghet, kallat myasthenia gravis.

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

• Om du har fått veta att du har bröstsmärtor orsakade av spasmer i hjärtats blodkärl, kallad Prinzmetals angina.

• Om du tar några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot ett läkemedel, eller om du någonsin har haft någon annan allvarlig allergisk reaktion.

How to take labetalol

• 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.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember (unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose). Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Få ut det mesta av din behandling

• Försök att hålla dina regelbundna möten med din läkare. Detta är så att din läkare kan följa upp din utveckling.

• 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.

• Om du ska genomgå en operation eller tandbehandling är det viktigt att informera den som utför behandlingen att du tar en betablockerare. Detta är särskilt viktigt om du sannolikt kommer att få en bedövning.

• 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).

• Din läkare kan ge dig kost- och livsstilsråd om att äta en hälsosam kost, inte röka och motionera regelbundet. Om så är fallet är det viktigt att du följer de råd du får.

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

How to store labetalol

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.

Viktig information om alla läkemedel

Vanliga frågor

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.