Levatol

Levatol is licensed for the treatment of high blood pressure. It comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth, typically once a day. This prescription drug belongs to a class of medications known as beta blockers, which help to lower blood pressure by blocking beta receptors throughout the body. Potential side effects include dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.

Levatol Drug Information

What Is Levatol?

Levatol^® (penbutolol sulfate) is a prescription medication approved to treat high blood pressure (known medically as hypertension). It can be used alone or in combination with other high blood pressure medications. It is especially useful when taken in combination with certain diuretics.

(Click Levatol Uses for more information on what the medication is used for, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes This Medication?

Levatol is made by Schwarz Pharma.

How Does It Work?

Levatol belongs to a group of drugs called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, known as

beta blockers for short. As you might guess, these medications block beta receptors in the body. In addition to blocking beta receptors, however, Levatol also slightly stimulates them. Only a few beta blockers do this; this slight stimulatory action is known as "intrinsic sympathomimetic activity" or ISA.

Beta receptors are located in a number of places within the body, including the heart and blood vessels. Stress hormones (such as adrenaline) bind to these receptors and cause certain reactions in the body, such as:

Increased force with which the heart pumps blood
Increased heart rate
Higher blood pressure (both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure)
Constricted blood vessels.

By blocking beta receptors, Levatol causes the reverse effect of stress hormones and reduces blood pressure. It may have less effect on heart rate and the workload of the heart compared to most other beta blockers, due to the fact that it slightly stimulates the beta receptors.

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