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. 1982;13(Suppl 1):41S–47S. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1982.tb01888.x

Comparison of labetalol with other anti-hypertensive drugs

B N C Prichard, D A Richards
PMCID: PMC1401845  PMID: 6124265

Abstract

1 The anti-hypertensive effects of labetalol have been compared and contrasted with other groups of anti-hypertensive drugs in this review of the published literature.

2 The data show that the pharmacological and haemodynamic profile of labetalol in man is distinctly different from that of other specific anti-hypertensive agents; namely the properties of competitive α- and β-adrenoceptor blockade leading to haemodynamic effects of reduced blood pressure and peripheral vascular resistance with little accompanying changes in resting heart rate or cardiac output.

3 The anti-hypertensive effects of labetalol are dose related. In fixed dose comparative studies equivalent anti-hypertensive effects to those of labetalol have been shown for individual drugs of the β-adrenoceptor-blocking and diuretic groups. In dose titration studies, equivalent anti-hypertensive effects at given doses of labetalol have been demonstrated for drugs of the following types: β-adrenoceptor blockers, β-blockers plus diuretics, methyldopa, adrenergic neurone blockers and the combination of β-blockers plus a peripheral vasodilator.

4 Comparing side-effect liabilities, it is clear that quantitatively labetalol produces no greater burden of side-effects than drugs of the β-adrenoceptor-blocking group. Qualitative differences, however, do exist; in particular, symptomatic postural hypotension is dose related and is more likely to occur when excessive doses (> 2 g daily) are used.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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