Key Facts
- Drug Class
- Combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocker
- Prescription
- Required
- NAFDAC Status
- NAFDAC Registered
- Forms
- Tablet, Injection
- Online price
- ~₦14,200see prices
- WHO Essential
- Yes
What is Labetalol?
Labetalol is a blood-pressure medicine best known for one especially important role: it is one of the safest and most widely used drugs for high blood pressure in pregnancy. In Nigeria, where hypertensive disorders of pregnancy — including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia — are a leading cause of maternal death, labetalol is a first-line treatment recommended in national and international guidelines. It is sold as brands such as Presdate and Trandate, and as generics, usually in 100mg and 200mg tablets, with an injectable form used in hospitals for emergencies.
Labetalol is unusual among blood-pressure drugs because it blocks two types of receptor at once: it is both an alpha-blocker and a beta-blocker. The alpha-blocking action relaxes and widens blood vessels, while the beta-blocking action steadies the heart. Together these lower blood pressure smoothly, which makes labetalol useful both for everyday blood-pressure control and, as an injection, for bringing dangerously high blood pressure down in a controlled way during a hypertensive emergency.
Its standout advantage is a strong safety record in pregnancy — many common blood-pressure drugs, including ACE inhibitors like lisinopril and ARBs like losartan, must be stopped in pregnancy because they can harm the baby, whereas labetalol (along with methyldopa and nifedipine) can be continued or started. Because beta-blockers can trigger asthma, labetalol is avoided in people with asthma. Genuine labetalol packs carry a NAFDAC registration number — the Presdate brand, for example, is NAFDAC-registered as B4-5903.
What is Labetalol used for?
In Nigeria, Labetalol is commonly used for:
- High blood pressure during pregnancy — a first-line, pregnancy-safe option
- Pre-eclampsia and severe pregnancy hypertension, to protect mother and baby
- Hypertensive emergencies and urgencies (the injection is used in hospital for rapid, controlled lowering)
- General (non-pregnancy) hypertension, on its own or combined with other drugs
- Blood-pressure control where a combined alpha/beta blocker is preferred
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
For tablets, a common starting dose is 100mg twice a day with food, increased gradually as needed — often to 200mg twice a day, and higher if required. The total daily dose can range widely, up to about 2,400mg a day in divided doses under medical guidance. In pregnancy, the dose is tailored to keep blood pressure in a safe range. The injectable form is used only in hospital, given by trained staff for hypertensive emergencies with close monitoring. Take tablets with food to reduce dizziness.
Children
Labetalol is used in children only under specialist supervision, for specific situations; the dose is set by the treating doctor.
Elderly
Older adults can use labetalol but may be more prone to dizziness on standing (postural hypotension); doses are usually increased gradually and blood pressure checked sitting and standing.
Do not stop labetalol suddenly, especially if you have heart disease, as abruptly stopping a beta-blocker can cause a rebound rise in blood pressure or heart symptoms — reduce it only under medical advice. Take it regularly even when you feel well, because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Stand up slowly, particularly at first, as labetalol can cause dizziness. In pregnancy, keep every antenatal appointment so your blood pressure and the baby can be monitored.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Dizziness or light-headedness, especially on standing up (postural hypotension)
- •Tiredness or fatigue
- •A tingling sensation of the scalp, particularly in the first days (characteristic of labetalol and usually temporary)
- •Nausea
- •Stuffy nose or a slower heart rate
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Wheezing or breathlessness — labetalol can trigger asthma; stop and seek care urgently
- A very slow or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or marked breathlessness (possible heart effects)
- Signs of liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, persistent nausea, or upper-abdominal pain — stop the drug and seek care
- Severe dizziness or fainting from blood pressure dropping too low
When to see a doctor
Seek urgent care for wheezing or breathlessness, a very slow or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or signs of liver trouble such as yellow eyes or skin. In pregnancy, report severe headache, visual disturbance, upper-abdominal pain, or sudden swelling promptly, as these can be warning signs of worsening pre-eclampsia. See your doctor before stopping labetalol, and if dizziness on standing is troublesome so the dose can be reviewed.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Labetalol if you have:
- Do not use if you have asthma or a history of significant wheezing — as a beta-blocker, labetalol can trigger a severe attack
- Do not use with certain heart conditions: a very slow heart rate, some heart-rhythm/conduction problems (heart block), or uncontrolled heart failure
- Do not use if you are allergic to labetalol
- Use with caution in liver disease (rare liver injury has been reported) and in poorly controlled diabetes, as beta-blockers can mask low-blood-sugar warning signs
Drug interactions
- •Other blood-pressure-lowering drugs add to the effect — dose adjustment may be needed to avoid blood pressure dropping too low
- •Calcium-channel blockers such as verapamil or diltiazem can add to effects on the heart rate and rhythm
- •Some diabetes medicines: beta-blockers can hide the early warning signs of low blood sugar
- •Certain asthma inhalers (beta-agonists) may work less well, and NSAID painkillers can reduce blood-pressure control
- •Do not stop suddenly if also on other heart medicines — coordinate any changes with your doctor
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
This is where labetalol shines: it is considered safe and is a first-line choice for high blood pressure in pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, and is widely used across Nigeria for exactly this purpose. It can also be used while breastfeeding, as only small amounts pass into breast milk. If you are pregnant and your blood pressure is high, do not self-treat — labetalol should be used under antenatal care so the dose is right and both you and the baby are monitored. If you are on an ACE inhibitor or ARB and become pregnant, tell your doctor at once, as those must be switched to a pregnancy-safe drug like labetalol.
Brands of Labetalol in Nigeria
The NAFDAC registry holds 3 Labetalol products from 2 manufacturers, including combination products and older listings whose status you can check in the full list. Below are some of the most common brands — see the full, searchable list for all of them.
How to Verify Your Labetalol is Genuine
- 1Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — genuine labetalol brands in Nigeria carry a valid NAFDAC number (for example, Presdate is registered as B4-5903)
- 2Verify the NAFDAC number using the NAFDAC Green Book or the NAFDAC mobile app before you buy
- 3Buy from licensed pharmacies rather than informal sellers, especially as this is a prescription blood-pressure medicine
- 4Check the expiry date and that the blister and carton are sealed, intact, and untampered
- 5Genuine tablets should be uniform in size, shape, and colour; discard any that look irregular or discoloured
- 6Confirm the manufacturer and marketing company details on the pack match a recognised, registered source
Labetalol Price in Nigeria
As of July 2026, Labetalol sells for about ₦14,200 online in Nigeria (₦8,250–₦25,500) across MedPlus. The online price is roughly unchanged since July 2026. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
MedPlus₦8,250 – ₦25,500median ₦14,200
From 3 listings across MedPlus — brands and pack sizes vary · updated July 2026.
Price trend since July 2026
Median online price ₦14,200 → ₦14,200 (+0.0%) over 2 monthly checks.
Sampled monthly from Nigerian online pharmacies. Full market picture: Nigerian Medicine Price Index.
Where to Buy
Purchase Labetalol only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors. Avoid buying medicines from unverified sources, roadside vendors, or unregistered market stalls.
Before you buy, verify the product's NAFDAC registration and check the current online prices above so you know a fair price before you pay.
Buying Labetalol in bulk or for resale? Our guide on how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely covers verifying a supplier and spotting fakes before a large order.
Need Labetalol in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
Related Resources for Labetalol
Guides, articles, and tools related to Labetalol and other hypertension medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Labetalol on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •WHO Model List of Essential Medicines — Labetalol is included in the WHO's list of essential medicines, meaning it is considered essential for basic healthcare needs.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Labetalol.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).