What Is Trandate?

Trandate (labetalol) is an oral prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Trandate belongs to a class of medications called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers reduce the workload on the heart by causing it to beat more slowly and with less force. This helps to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.

Trandate is available in tablet form to be taken by mouth.

What Is Trandate Used For?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Trandate for managing and treating high blood pressure. It might be used as a single therapy or in combination with other blood pressure-lowering agents, like thiazides or loop diuretics.

Drug Facts

Generic Name: Labetalol

How to Take Trandate

Take Trandate by mouth as prescribed, usually twice a day. You can separate the doses by taking them with morning and evening meals.

Storage

Store the tablets at room temperature (68 F to 77 F) and away from excess heat and moisture. Keep your medication out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental consumption.

Off-Label Uses 

Healthcare providers may prescribe Trandate for off-label uses, meaning for conditions not specifically indicated by the FDA.

Trandate can be used as an off-label medication for the following:

  • Hypertension during pregnancy
  • Hypertension due to ischemic stroke (a type of stroke where a clot blocks an artery leading to the brain)
  • Blood pressure control in patients with intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding inside the skull) as an infusion

What Are the Side Effects of Trandate?

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 800-FDA-1088.

How Long Does Trandate Take to Work?

Upon taking Trandate, it should take between 24 and 72 hours to see the maximum benefit and notice steady, consistent blood pressure measurements.

Common Side Effects 

Common side effects associated with taking Trandate include:

  • Nausea Dizziness Fatigue

Severe Side Effects

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects can include the following:

  • Low blood pressure (hypotension), which can cause fatigue, lightheadedness, confusion, and weakness
  • Liver injury, with signs such as jaundice (the yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), dark urine, itchy skin, anorexia, upper right abdominal tenderness, or flu-like symptoms
  • Shortness of breath or wheezing
  • Swelling of the feet and lower legs (edema)

Long-Term Side Effects

There are no long-term effects reported with this drug.

Dosage: How Much Trandate Should I Take?

Modifications 

Trandate can affect certain populations differently, so treatment adjustments are sometimes necessary:

Report Side Effects

Trandate may cause other side effects. Call your healthcare provider if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your healthcare provider may send a report to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (tablets):

  • For high blood pressure:

  • Adults—At first, 100 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.

  • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .

  • For high blood pressure:

  • Adults—At first, 100 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.

  • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .

  • Adults—At first, 100 milligrams (mg) two times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.

  • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .

  • Adults 65 and older: Your healthcare provider may limit your dosage of Trandate due to the increased risk of side effects in older individuals.Liver disease: You’ll need to be more cautious while taking Trandate if you have liver problems. A lower dosage may be required.Pregnancy: There is no adequate data on labetalol’s use during pregnancy. Therefore, your healthcare provider may only prescribe this medication if the benefit outweighs the potential risk.Breastfeeding: Use caution if breastfeeding while taking this medication. Small amounts may be passed through breast milk.

Always follow the instructions given by your healthcare provider.

Missed Dose

If you missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular schedule. You should not take a double dose to make up for missed doses, as this may result in an overdose. 

Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Trandate?

An overdose may result in decreased heart rate and low blood pressure.

More significant overdoses can cause heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), heart failure, and severely low blood pressure and heart rate, potentially leading to coma and cardiac arrest. Severe breathing difficulties may also occur, especially in people with asthma.

Medical treatment may be necessary to remove the drug after an overdose and treat your symptoms.

Precautions

What Are Reasons I Shouldn’t Take Trandate?

Trandate is not recommended if you have the following conditions:

What Happens If I Take Too Much Trandate?

If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on Trandate call a healthcare provider or the Poison Control Center (800-222-1222).

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects .

Check with your doctor right away if you start having itchy skin, dark urine, loss of appetite, yellow eyes or skin, flu-like symptoms, or stomach pain or tenderness. These could be symptoms of a liver injury .

Labetalol may cause heart failure in some patients. Check with your doctor right away if you are having chest pain or discomfort; dilated neck veins; extreme fatigue; irregular breathing; an irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath; swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs; weight gain; or wheezing .

This medicine may cause changes in your blood sugar levels. Also, this medicine may cover up signs of low blood sugar, such as a rapid pulse rate. Check with your doctor if you have these problems or if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests .

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before having surgery or medical tests .

  • Severe and prolonged low blood pressure
  • Severe slow heart rate (bradycardia)
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Liver disease
  • Heart failure
  • Hypersensitivity to the medication

You should consult your healthcare provider before taking Trandate to determine whether or not it is the right medication for you.

What Other Medications Interact With Trandate?

Trandate can interact with other medications. Before starting treatment, tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you take or plan to take, including over-the-counter (OTC) nonprescription products, vitamins, herbs, supplements, and plant-based medicines.

Avoid the following medications when taking Trandate:

  • Medications that increase the risk of blood pressure, such as phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine
  • Medications such as albuterol that cause the lung’s airways to enlarge, reducing the benefits of both medications
  • Medications that will lower your blood pressure and heart rate, such as clonidine, which may result in dizziness or fainting

This is not a complete list of interactions. Talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more detailed information about medication interactions with Trandate.

What Medications Are Similar?

Other beta-blocker drugs also used to treat hypertension include:

  • Inderal LA (propranolol): Propranolol is a beta-blocker that works similarly to Trandate. It lowers blood pressure and reduces heart rate.
  • Zestril (lisinopril): Lisinopril is used to treat high blood pressure and increase survival rates following heart attacks.
  • Norvasc (amlodipine): Amlodipine treats high blood pressure by opening the blood vessels.

How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Trandate?

Taking Trandate according to your healthcare provider’s instructions is important for staying healthy. High blood pressure is often symptomless. Therefore, even if you feel fine, you should continue taking your prescribed therapies consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If I miss a dose, what should I do?
  • It is important to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is closer to the time of the next scheduled dose than the missed dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to catch up.
  • When is the latest time to take the last dose?
  • It is preferable to take the last dose with an evening meal.
  • Can I take the medication whenever I need to?
  • The medication must be taken as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not take less or more.
  • Can I take Trandate with food or on an empty stomach?
  • Make sure to take Trandate with food to prevent an upset stomach.

It is important to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is closer to the time of the next scheduled dose than the missed dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double the dose to catch up.

It is preferable to take the last dose with an evening meal.

The medication must be taken as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not take less or more.

Make sure to take Trandate with food to prevent an upset stomach.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your doses, use a reminder tool, such as a medication app or alarms on your smartphone. Inform your healthcare provider about all medications you plan to take to prevent potential interactions. Notify them if you experience any side effects. Additionally, monitor your blood pressure at home and share your readings with your healthcare provider at follow-up visits.

The author would like to recognize and thank Leen Alyaseen for contributing to this article.

Medical Disclaimer

Verywell Health’s drug information is meant for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a healthcare provider. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medication(s). IBM Watson Micromedex provides some of the drug content, as indicated on the page.