Trandate

Trandate is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure. It works by blocking the action of certain natural chemicals in your body, such as epinephrine, on the heart and blood vessels. This effect lowers the heart rate, blood pressure, and strain on the heart. Trandate is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It is also used to treat or prevent heart attack, and to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.

Trandate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important Information

You should not use Trandate if you are allergic to labetalol, or if you have asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker), or if you are pregnant.

To make sure Trandate is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• coronary artery disease;
• a heart rhythm disorder;
• a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
• a history of slow heartbeats that caused you to faint;
• pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland);
• thyroid disorder; or
• if you are a man and have diabetes.

Trandate can affect your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Trandate will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

It is not known whether labetalol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Trandate.

How should I take Trandate?

Take Trandate exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Trandate can be taken with or without food. Take the medicine at the same time each day.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your heart rate may also be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG). Your blood pressure and heart rate will need to be checked often. Visit your doctor regularly.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Trandate. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Do not skip doses or stop using Trandate suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. If you have a heart condition, do not stop using Trandate without first talking to your doctor.

Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take Trandate. Any medical care provider who treats you should know that you take this medicine.

Trandate side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• wheezing, choking, or other breathing problems after using this medicine;
• slow or uneven heartbeats;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• swelling in your ankles or feet;
• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion; or
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling.

Common Trandate side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;
• tired feeling;
• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• headache, muscle pain;
• mild skin rash; or
• sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Trandate?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
• insulin or oral diabetes medicine;
• heart or blood pressure medicine; or
• an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect Trandate. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Trandate.