Labetalol oral tablet side effects: A detailed guide

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Overview

This article describes possible side effects of labetalol oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about labetalol, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.

Labetalol oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Trandate. Labetalol also comes in injectable forms, but those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about those forms, talk with your doctor.

More common side effects of labetalol

Labetalol oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of labetalol oral tablet include:

• dizziness
• nausea
• fatigue (low energy)
• upset stomach
• headache

Mild side effects of labetalol

Labetalol may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of labetalol oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• bloating due to fluid retention
• dizziness
• fatigue (low energy)
• feeling short of breath
• headache
• increased sweating
• nausea
• upset stomach
• stuffy nose
• tingling sensation, most commonly felt on the scalp
• vertigo
• weakness
• mild allergic reaction*

Labetalol oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of labetalol in detail” section below.

Serious side effects of labetalol

Labetalol may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from labetalol oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with labetalol.

Serious side effects of labetalol oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

• liver damage
• low blood pressure
• orthostatic hypotension (sudden drop in blood pressure when standing or sitting up, which can lead to fainting)
• heart rhythm problems*
• new or worsening heart failure*
• withdrawal effects*
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of labetalol in detail” section below.

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Common questions about side effects of labetalol

Here are answers to some common questions about the side effects of labetalol oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do side effects of labetalol go away?

Yes, in most cases. Side effects of labetalol go away after a short time for most people. This is particularly true for mild side effects. For example, it’s not unusual to experience a tingling sensation, usually on the scalp, after starting treatment with labetalol. This sensation goes away on its own in most cases after a few days as you continue taking the medication.

In rare cases, labetalol may cause long-term side effects. See the “Does labetalol cause long-term side effects” question in this section to learn more. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is anxiety a side effect of labetalol?

No, it’s not thought so. Anxiety wasn’t a side effect reported in studies of labetalol.

There have rarely been reports of mental health side effects with other beta-blockers. Labetalol is a beta-blocker drug. Symptoms of these effects can include anxiety. But mental health side effects weren’t specifically reported with labetalol.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to know whether a medication you take could cause anxiety.

Does labetalol cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases labetalol oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. Some can occur if you take the drug for a long time, and some may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with labetalol oral tablet include:

• liver damage (this has happened with both short- and long-term labetalol treatment)
• heart rhythm problems*
• new or worsening heart failure*
• withdrawal effects*

Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of labetalol may last.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of labetalol in detail” section below.

Side effects of labetalol in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of labetalol oral tablet.

New or worsening heart failure

In studies, new or worsening heart failure was rare in people taking labetalol oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.

With heart failure, your heart has difficulty pumping enough blood to meet your body’s needs. This can cause parts of your body to not receive enough nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood to function as they should. Heart failure also can cause blood to back up and pool in your lungs, neck, arms, or abdomen.

Taking labetalol can lead to heart failure in people without a history of the condition. Labetalol can also worsen heart failure in certain people who already have this condition.

Symptoms of heart failure include:

• fatigue (low energy)
• sudden weight gain, typically due to fluid retention
• feeling short of breath, especially when lying down
• exercise intolerance

Ways to manage

If you experience new or worsening symptoms of heart failure, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely recommend making an appointment so they can evaluate your symptoms in person.

Depending on what they find, your doctor will recommend an appropriate treatment plan. This may include prescribing new medications, having you slowly lower your labetalol dose until it’s safe to stop taking it, or both.

Withdrawal effects

In studies, withdrawal effects were rare in people taking labetalol oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.

With withdrawal effects, you experience adverse symptoms after stopping treatment with labetalol.

Withdrawal effects reported with labetalol include:

• angina (a type of chest pain)
• fast heart rate
• heart palpitations (feeling of skipped or extra heartbeats)
• dangerously high blood pressure
• heart attack*

Suddenly stopping treatment with labetalol increases the risk of withdrawal effects.

* This has been reported only after suddenly stopping treatment with labetalol.

Ways to manage

The best way to avoid withdrawal effects is to not stop taking labetalol without speaking with your doctor first. It’s very important that you do not suddenly stop taking the drug. Doing so greatly increases your risk for withdrawal effects.

If you have concerns about withdrawal effects, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend a plan to slowly lower your labetalol dose over time. This is known as a drug taper, and following this plan helps lower your risk for withdrawal effects if you stop taking labetalol.

A drug taper to stop taking labetalol typically lasts up to 2 weeks, but may take longer for some people. Always follow the plan prescribed by your doctor when stopping treatment with labetalol.

Heart rhythm problems

Heart rhythm problems were rare in studies of people taking labetalol oral tablet. These side effects may be serious.

Heart rhythm problems reported with labetalol include:

• bradycardia (slow heart rate)
• heart block (a type of atypical electrical activity in your heart)

Symptoms of heart rhythm problems labetalol may cause include:

• heart palpitations (feeling of skipped or extra heartbeats)
• shallow or rapid breathing
• discomfort or pain in your chest

If you have an existing heart rhythm problem, taking labetalol may worsen your condition. Due to this risk, doctors typically won’t prescribe labetalol if you have certain heart rhythm problems. Examples of these problems include existing severe bradycardia or heart block.

Ways to manage

If you experience symptoms of heart rhythm problems, immediately tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend making an appointment so they can evaluate your symptoms in person. This will dictate what happens next. For example, if your doctor discovers you’ve developed heart block, they’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with labetalol. They’ll also discuss whether or not your heart block requires treatment.

Allergic reaction

For some people, labetalol oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and may include:

• itchiness
• skin rash
• swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to labetalol oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for labetalol

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking labetalol oral tablet.

Warnings

It may not be safe for you to take labetalol oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether labetalol oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking labetalol oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• bradycardia (slow heart rate)
• breathing or lung condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• heart block (a type of atypical electrical activity in your heart)
• heart failure
• liver conditions, such as cirrhosis
• low blood pressure
• pheochromocytoma (a rare tumor of the adrenal glands)
• type 1 or 2 diabetes
• planned cataract surgery
• past allergic reaction to labetalol

Labetalol and pregnancy

It’s not known whether labetalol oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Labetalol and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether labetalol oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Labetalol and alcohol

Labetalol oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with labetalol oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of labetalol oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Does labetalol have similar side effects as other beta-blocker drugs?
• Does my risk of side effects increase or decrease as I continue taking labetalol?
• Can you prescribe a lower labetalol dose for me to try if I have side effects?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.