Does Epinephrine Interact with Labetalol?
CDI records a major classification for Epinephrine and Labetalol. The stored summary is: Patients taking labetalol may be unresponsive to usual epinephrine doses for treating allergic reactions, particularly those with history of severe anaphylactic reactions. The mechanism involves beta-blocker interference with epinephrine response. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Major
- Epinephrine Class
- alpha-Adrenergic Agonist
- Labetalol Class
- beta-Adrenergic Blocker
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Beta-blocker interference with epinephrine response
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Epinephrine and your doctor is considering prescribing Labetalol (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider