Labetalol Hydrochloride

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Exacerbation of heart failure: Avoid use. ( 5.3 ) Acute exacerbation of coronary artery disease upon cessation of therapy: Do not abruptly discontinue. ( 5.4 ) Non-allergic bronchospasm (e.g., chronic bronchitis and emphysema): Avoid since it has not been studied. ( 5.5 ) Diabetes: May mask symptoms of hypoglycemia and alter glucose levels; monitor ( 5.6 ) Exacerbation of pheochromocytoma: Paradoxical increases in blood pressure may occur. ( 5.7 ) Severe hepatocellular injury: Discontinue permanently for liver injury or jaundice ( 5.8 ) 5.1 Hypotension Symptomatic postural hypotension (incidence, 58%) is likely to occur if patients are tilted or allowed to assume the upright position within 3 hours of receiving labetalol HCl injection. Before permitting any ambulation, establish patient’s ability to tolerate an upright position and observe the patient at the time of first ambulation. 5.2 Bradycardia Bradycardia, including sinus pause, heart block, severe bradycardia, and cardiac arrest have occurred with the use of beta blockers. Monitor heart rate and rhythm in patients receiving labetalol hydrochloride injection. 5.3 Cardiac Failure Sympathetic stimulation is a vital component supporting circulatory function in congestive heart failure. Beta-blockade carries a potential hazard of further depressing myocardial contractility and precipitating more severe failure. Avoid labetalol HCl injection in patients with overt congestive heart failure. If patients develop signs or symptoms of heart failure during administration, discontinue labetalol and treat appropriately. 5.4 Ischemic Heart Disease Abrupt cessation of therapy with beta blocking agents in patients with coronary artery disease, can cause exacerbations of angina pectoris and, in some cases, myocardial infarction has been reported. Therefore, even in the absence of overt angina pectoris, after the discontinuation of labetalol HCl injection observe patients for development or worsening of angina. If patient experiences angina or angina markedly worsens or if acute coronary insufficiency develops, promptly reinstitute labetalol HCl injection and manage as unstable angina. 5.5 Reactive Airway Disease and Nonallergic Bronchospasm Patients with reactive airways disease should, in general, not receive beta blockers. Labetalol HCl at the usual intravenous therapeutic doses has not been studied in patients with nonallergic bronchospastic disease. In the event of bronchospasm, stop the infusion immediately, and treat as appropriate. 5.6 Hypoglycemia Beta-blockers may prevent early warning signs of hypoglycemia, such as tachycardia, and increase the risk for severe or prolonged hypoglycemia at any time during treatment, especially in patients with diabetes mellitus or children and patients who are fasting (i.e., surgery, not eating regularly, or are vomiting). If severe hypoglycemia occurs, patients should be instructed to see medical treatment. 5.7 Use in Patients with Pheochromocytoma Intravenous labetalol has been shown to lower blood pressure and relieve symptoms in patients with pheochromocytoma; higher than usual doses may be required. However, paradoxical hypertensive responses have been reported in a few patients with this tumor; therefore, monitor blood pressure when administering intravenous labetalol HCl to patients with pheochromocytoma. 5.8 Hepatic Injury Severe hepatocellular injury occurs rarely with labetalol therapy. The hepatic injury is usually reversible, but hepatic necrosis and death have been reported. If the patient develops signs or symptoms of liver injury, institute appropriate treatment and investigate the probable cause. Do not restart labetalol in patients without another explanation for the observed liver injury. 5.9 Use in Patients at Risk of Severe Acute Hypersensitivity Reactions Patients at risk of anaphylactic reactions may be more reactive to allergen exposure (accidental, diagnostic, or therapeutic). Patients using beta-blockers may be unresponsive to the usual doses of epinephrine used to treat anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions. Avoid labetalol HCl injection in patients at high risk of anaphylactic reactions. 5.10 Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS) IFIS has been observed during cataract surgery in some patients treated with alpha-1 blockers (labetalol is an alpha/beta blocker). This variant of small pupil syndrome is characterized by the combination of flaccid iris that billows in response to intraoperative irrigation currents, progressive intraoperative miosis despite preoperative dilation with standard mydriatic drugs, and potential prolapse of the iris toward the phacoemulsification incisions. Inform the patient’s ophthalmologist to be prepared for possible modifications to the surgical technique, such as the utilization of iris hooks, iris dilator rings, or viscoelastic substances.

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Bradycardia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Depression of myocardial contractility in patients with overt congestive heart failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Aggravation of angina [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Significant decline in cardiac output following coronary bypass [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Bronchospasm in patients with reactive airway disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Paradoxical hypertensive responses in patients with pheochromocytoma [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Hepatic injury [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Acute hypersensitivity reaction [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Most common adverse events: Symptomatic postural hypotension. ( 6 ) Nausea13%, dizziness 9% ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. at 1-877-845-0689, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. For product Inquiry call 1-877-845-0689. 6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Most adverse effects have been mild and transient and, in controlled trials involving 92 patients, did not require labetalol withdrawal. Symptomatic postural hypotension (incidence, 58%) is likely to occur if patients are tilted or allowed to assume the upright position within 3 hours of receiving labetalol HCl. Moderate hypotension occurred in 1 of 100 patients while supine. Increased sweating was noted in 4 of 100 patients, and flushing occurred in 1 of 100 patients. The following also were reported with labetalol HCl with the incidence as noted: Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems Dizziness in 9% Paresthesia, most frequently described as tingling of the scalp/skin in 7% Gastrointestinal System Nausea in 13% Vomiting in 4% Metabolic Disorders Transient increases in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels occurred in 8%; these were associated with drops in blood pressure, generally in patients with prior renal insufficiency. Respiratory System Bronchospasm In addition, a number of other less common adverse events have been reported: Cardiovascular: Hypotension, and rarely, syncope, bradycardia, heart block. Liver and Biliary System Hepatic necrosis, hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, elevated liver function tests. Hypersensitivity Rare reports of hypersensitivity (e.g., rash, urticaria, pruritus, angioedema, dyspnea) and anaphylactoid reactions. The oculomucocutaneous syndrome associated with the beta blocker practolol has not been reported with labetalol HCl during investigational use and extensive foreign marketing experience. Clinical Laboratory Tests Among patients dosed with labetalol tablets, there have been reversible increases of serum transaminases in 4% of patients tested and, more rarely, reversible increases in blood urea.