Labetalol (Normodyne)
Labetalol (pronunciation: luh·bay·tuh·laal)—brand names: Normodyne, Trandate—is used for treating high blood pressure. It is the drug of choice when treating high blood pressure in pregnancy. It may also be used to prevent chest pain from angina.
How Labetalol Works
Labetalol belongs to the drug class of beta blockers. This means it works by blocking certain natural substances' effects on the heart and blood vessels. This slows the heart rate and relaxes blood vessels, allowing blood to flow easier.
Dose
Typically, your healthcare provider will prescribe you a starting dose of labetalol 100 mg twice daily. This may gradually increase depending on your responsiveness to the medication. You may take up to 2,400 mg of labetalol per day, split over multiple doses.
A child’s dose is calculated by the healthcare provider based on age and weight. Doses for children will most likely be split into 3 or 4 separate doses.
Labetalol should be taken with food to avoid potentially upsetting the stomach.
Be sure to follow all directions given by your healthcare provider. Do not increase your dose or stop your medication suddenly without first consulting your healthcare provider.
How Much Labetalol is Safe to Take During Pregnancy?
Having high blood pressure while pregnant can be harmful to both you and your baby. Therefore, it is important to manage your blood pressure through lifestyle adjustments and medication.
Taking labetalol while pregnant is considered safe. However, there is some risk associated with the drug. It can affect fetal development; therefore, you may have an increased number of scans to ensure your baby is growing as it should. Labetalol may also affect a baby’s blood sugar levels after birth so they may be monitored in the hospital for 24 hours to make sure their levels are healthy.
Overall, your healthcare provider will weigh the risks of your heightened blood pressure against the risks associated with medication and treatment to determine the safest and most effective course of treatment for both you and your baby.
Side Effects
Common Side Effects
These side effects are usually only temporary as your body adjusts to the medication. However, if any of these symptoms persist longer than a few days or bother you speak to your pharmacist or healthcare provider:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Cold fingers/toes
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
Serious Side Effects
If you experience any of these symptoms, it could indicate a serious health condition. Speak to your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you experience any of the following:
- Swollen ankles/legs. irregular heartbeat, cough that gets worse with exercise
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, and tight chest
- Yellowing of eyes and/or skin
- Easy bruising
Labetalol Withdrawal
Do not suddenly stop taking labetalol as this causes your blood pressure to spike, increasing your risk for chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and even a heart attack. If you would like to discontinue labetalol for whatever reason, speak to your healthcare provider first.
Cost
The average labetalol price is $41.55 for one month of two daily doses of 200 mg.
Get Labetalol Online for Less at Marley Drug
Labetalol is on Marley Drug's Wholesale Price List. This means you can get labetalol for $70/year or $37 for 6 months. We try very hard to deliver as many medications as possible at low cost to all Americans. Currently we have over 100 commonly prescribed medications on the list and we continue to add more each month.