After taking Labetalol, my blood pressure fell, and I felt dizzy, sick, and confused. Why?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 31-year-old female with a weight of 76 kilograms and a height of five feet. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure before five years when I was pregnant. The doctor told me that the only cause in my case is my genetics as my biological father had high blood pressure. I am taking Labetalol 50 mg every morning for two years now. I check my blood pressure regularly at home. Currently, I am not pregnant as per my cycle. Suddenly, I had dizziness after 45 minutes of taking Labetalol. I was sick and confused.

My husband thought it was high blood pressure and so he checked it. I had a blood pressure of 106/62 mmHg. I checked it again after two minutes intervals for around ten to fifteen minutes and after that, I had a reading of 118/70 mmHg. I have a regular blood pressure of 132/84 mmHg on medication with random spikes. I have a white coat syndrome and my blood pressure reaches around 153/108 mmHg. I am planning to see my doctor soon. Can I have a sudden drop in blood pressure due to my medication?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You can have fluctuations in your blood pressure due to medications. Your blood pressure may be normal and after taking Labetalol, it has dropped down. This is the reason for having these symptoms. After some time, you had some relief and your body has compensated for it and everything became normal. In these situations, you should check your blood pressure before taking tablets. You can take tablets when it is high. You can visit your doctor and check your blood pressure. You can tell your history and you can reduce the dose of Labetalol. Do not be feared regarding a white coat. Everything will be normal and they run blood tests to check for anemia or infection.