Intravenous labetalol in the management of resistant hypertensive emergency

A case of intravenous labetalol in the treatment of a resistant hypertensive emergency is reported. Although there have been several reports of the use of oral labetalol in resistant hypertension, no intravenous administration in hypertensive emergency resistant to other drugs has been reported to date. A 36-year-old black female with BP of 270/160 mm Hg with complaints greater than one month's duration of dizziness, severe headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, vomiting, palpitations, flushing, agitation, diarrhea, weakness, and weight loss, was treated successfully with intravenous labetalol after she failed to respond to other established parenteral antihypertensive drugs. The patient received labetalol 20 mg iv bolus, and then 20 mg every ten minutes until a cumulative dose of 200 mg was attained. Labetalol produced a prompt but smooth reduction in BP without any reflex tachycardia or other adverse effects. Intravenous labetalol may be safe and effective for the management of rapid BP control in hypertensive emergencies resistant to other parenteral antihypertensive agents.