Labetalol - An Emerging First-line Drug for Pregnancy-induced Hypertension.

Research questions: To study labetalol as a first-line drug for hypertension in pregnancy and endorse its superiority over alpha-methyldopa. Settings: Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital, Pune. Study design and methodology: Patients with diastolic blood pressure recorded above 100 mmHg have been admitted and administered labetalol 100 mg twice-daily orally, the dose escalating to 1.2 g/day. The control of pressures and side effects have been noted. Results: Labetalol is instrumental in causing a sustained and smooth fall in blood pressure and is free of the side effects of alpha-methyldopa. Conclusion: Thus, labetalol supercedes alpha-methyldopa as a first-line drug for hypertension in pregnancy.