Labetalol for hypertension

elphie754
elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone taken this medication? If so, how did you feel on it? Doctor told me it can cause orthostatic hypotension which I'm a bit worried about (since I have had a few hypotensive episodes).

I am 11 weeks pregnant and had high bp in the office today (162/100). It was weird because up until now I've been having issues with low blood pressure since pregnant. Before pregnancy I've always had normal or low blood pressure. Doctor is concerned about preeclampsia. Part of me thinks that one episode of high bp shouldn't cause this much panic, but I guess it is.

Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Do you have a blood pressure cuff for home use?
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Do you have a blood pressure cuff for home use?

    I do which is how I know it's been low.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Checking your BP at home is a good idea. How long before your doctor insists you take this drug?

    I have historically low blood pressure too and had a bout of tendonitis which made my blood pressure soar. I think my body was stressed out from all the pain. The tendonitis is gone now, thank god. Blood pressure is back to normal.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I took it immediately postpartum for 6 weeks. It helped me and made me feel better than without it. I forget what my BP was but I was induced due to it.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    Checking your BP at home is a good idea. How long before your doctor insists you take this drug?

    I have historically low blood pressure too and had a bout of tendonitis which made my blood pressure soar. I think my body was stressed out from all the pain. The tendonitis is gone now, thank god. Blood pressure is back to normal.

    Doctor wants me to start it as soon as I pick it up.
  • mama2redhead
    mama2redhead Posts: 132 Member
    I took it after pregnancy due to late onset pre eclampsia (39 weeks). I actually had to eventually take 2 meds to get my BP down.

    Before and since that episode, my BP is always low, often 100/60s.

    If the doc says take the meds, TAKE THEM.

    I also recommend purchasing a low cost BP cuff and track your BP at home 3 or 4 times daily.

    My BP got high enough that I was a stroke risk without meds and had to curb my activity until my numbers decreased. Don't mess around with this, please.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    This wasn't the actual Doctor I saw, it was the PA, whom I usually refuse to see encase of previous issues with her.

    I am going to take it, but only once my fiancé gets home so he can monitor my b/p. Neither one of us are convinced that it is needed and are concerned it could actually end up being dangerous (we both work in medicine).
  • mama2redhead
    mama2redhead Posts: 132 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    This wasn't the actual Doctor I saw, it was the PA, whom I usually refuse to see encase of previous issues with her.

    I am going to take it, but only once my fiancé gets home so he can monitor my b/p. Neither one of us are convinced that it is needed and are concerned it could actually end up being dangerous (we both work in medicine).

    I agree with monitoring for sure. I am in Healthcare as well as is my hubby. I have treated women who stroked. During or after pregnancy at least 4x.

    Definitely monitor though. Perhaps you were nervous during your exam?
  • JennB629
    JennB629 Posts: 54 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    This wasn't the actual Doctor I saw, it was the PA, whom I usually refuse to see encase of previous issues with her.

    I am going to take it, but only once my fiancé gets home so he can monitor my b/p. Neither one of us are convinced that it is needed and are concerned it could actually end up being dangerous (we both work in medicine).

    It came be dangerous taking it if you don't need it. Your BP could dip too low. I was on this one with my first pregnancy. I ended up having a super rare kidney disease, but I didn't know until my daughter was 5 months old. My other two pregnancies afterwards were healthy and normal.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    mama2redhead wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    This wasn't the actual Doctor I saw, it was the PA, whom I usually refuse to see encase of previous issues with her.

    I am going to take it, but only once my fiancé gets home so he can monitor my b/p. Neither one of us are convinced that it is needed and are concerned it could actually end up being dangerous (we both work in medicine).

    I agree with monitoring for sure. I am in Healthcare as well as is my hubby. I have treated women who stroked. During or after pregnancy at least 4x.

    Definitely monitor though. Perhaps you were nervous during your exam?

    I definitely was nervous (seeing as I was there because I was bleeding), but she seemed convinced that my Bp couldn't go that high from being nervous. She doesn't exactly listen (which is why I am asking they I longer schedule an appointment with her for any reason).
  • mama2redhead
    mama2redhead Posts: 132 Member
    Glad you are avoiding her from now on. I certainly think bleeding can make anyone's BP go up. Exactly how high, who knows.

    To answer your initial queation, when I needed labetalol, I had no orthostatic hypotension. When I had a normal BP and my doctor tried a beta blocker for my migraines, I could barely climb out of bed because I was so sluggish. Even at a low dose.

    Sounds like you got this under control :) good luck!

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