Use of labetalol in moderate to severe hypertension

An open study was undertaken in 31 patients with moderate to severe hypertension to compare labetalol (a competitive antagonist of both alpha-adrenoreceptors and beta-adrenoreceptors) alone and in combination with a thiazide diuretic, with a combination of thiazide, beta-adrenergic blocking agent and the alpha-adrenoreceptor blocker prazosin. After introduction of labetalol, six patients withdrew because of intolerable side effects. All 25 remaining patients were controlled on diuretic and labetalol. On labetalol alone, 14 patients were controlled, two withdrew because of side effects and nine had inadequate blood pressure control. Labetalol is an effective antihypertensive agent, but side effects are common and it has few advantages over drugs presently available.