Intravenous labetalol in the treatment of severe hypertension and hypertensive emergencies

Postoperative Hypertension: Novel Opportunities in the Treatment of a Common Complication

“…Therefore, also thanks to an effect of coronary arteries dilatation, it is recommended for patients affected by hypertension associated with acute coronary insuficiency and it is not recommended for use in volume-depleted patients, or in those in whom cardiac output is preload dependent. It is also very useful in case of acute pulmonary oedema, but, in other conditions it is not recommended as a single primary blood pressure control agent due to its unpredictability to reduce blood pressure, the induction of a reflex tachycardia exacerbated by volume depletion, the early onset of tachyphylaxis (about 4 hours) and the formation of methemoglobinaemia after a prolonged use [6,16]. …”

Advances in pharmacotherapy: Treatment of hypertensive crisis

“…Labetalol has been evaluated for use in both hypertensive emergencies and urgencies with intravenous (64)(65)(66)(67) and oral (61,62,(68)(69)(70) preparations, respectively. Trials investigating intravenous labetalol have studied various dosage regimens which include: (I) a bolus dose followed by a continuous infusion (60); (2) a constant infusion without a bolus dose (66,71); (3) a single large bolus dose (71); and (4) repeated bolus injections (64,65,71,72).…”

“…Trials investigating intravenous labetalol have studied various dosage regimens which include: (I) a bolus dose followed by a continuous infusion (60); (2) a constant infusion without a bolus dose (66,71); (3) a single large bolus dose (71); and (4) repeated bolus injections (64,65,71,72). Overall, each of the regimens provides effective BP control.…”

“…Some authsrs favour using a bolus dose followed by a continuous infusion since this method provides a rapid and stable haemodynamic effect (60,66). Repeated bolus injections of 20-80mg every 10 min provided decreases in the diastolic BP of at least 30 m H g (64,65). Dal Palu et al (66) used a bolus injection of 100 mg followed by an infusion of 2 4 mg/min which proved to be effective in most patients treated for severe hypertension.…”

“…Labetalol administered by the intravenous route has been shown to be effective at rapidly reducing BP during various types of hypertensive emergencies (64,65) and had been touted as a suitable alternative to the direct vasodilating agents (64). The oral preparation is ideal €or controlling BP in patients with hypertensive urgency (61,62) and is considered a first-line agent for this condition.…”