Does Labetalol Cause Weight Gain?
There are a number of possible side effects with
labetalol hydrochloride (sold under the brand name
Trandate® and available as a generic). Gradual weight gain, however, does not appear to be one of them. Rapid weight gain, on the other hand, is a reported side effect with many
beta blockers.
Understanding Clinical Trials
Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies, where thousands of people are given a particular medicine and compared to a group of people who were not given the medicine. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
Side effects are then usually separated into those that occur in more than 1 percent of people (considered common) and those that occur in less than 1 percent of people (considered rare).
For people taking labetalol, gradual weight gain was not reported as either a common or rare side effect.
Rapid Weight Gain With Labetalol
One important point to keep in mind related to labetalol and weight gain is that all beta blockers may worsen
congestive heart failure or, in some cases, even cause the condition. One of the main symptoms of
heart failure is unexplained weight gain. In fact, people with
symptoms of congestive heart failure can often have rapid weight gain (three to five pounds) over several days. This weight gain is often combined with other symptoms, such as a cough and swelling in the ankles, feet, or legs.
Make sure to contact your healthcare provider if you notice unexplained weight gain or swelling while taking labetalol.
