Metoprolol vs Labetalol: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Metoprolol | Labetalol | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | – | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| Brand names | Metoprolol Tartrate | Labetalol Hydrochloride |
| FAERS reports | 271,764 | 13,242 |
| Serious | 70% | 76% |
| Death outcome | 30,898 | 1,362 |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Metoprolol | Labetalol | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| End stage renal disease | 2,145 · PRR 10.0 | 381 · PRR 33.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Nephrogenic anaemia | 1,014 · PRR 21.2 | 189 · PRR 66.7 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Hyperparathyroidism secondary | 532 · PRR 20.3 | 90 · PRR 58.3 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder | 223 · PRR 20.0 | 48 · PRR 73.9 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
Labeled signals distinctive to Metoprolol
- Bradycardia — n=3,427, PRR 5.3 Labeled adverse reaction
- Coronary artery disease — n=2,442, PRR 6.6 Labeled adverse reaction
- Sinus bradycardia — n=625, PRR 5.3 Labeled (related wording)
- Angina unstable — n=543, PRR 6.9 Labeled (related wording)
- Coronary arterial stent insertion — n=352, PRR 5.7 Labeled (related wording)
- Rhinitis allergic — n=337, PRR 6.3 Labeled (related wording)
- Hypertensive emergency — n=168, PRR 12.8 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Labetalol
- Withdrawal hypertension — n=16, PRR 136.5 Labeled (related wording)
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Metoprolol or Labetalol?
Metoprolol has 271,764 FAERS reports and Labetalol 13,242. More reports does not mean more dangerous: volume follows how widely and how long a drug has been used, prescription vs over-the-counter status, and publicity. The seriousness share (70% vs 76%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Metoprolol and Labetalol share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for end stage renal disease, nephrogenic anaemia, hyperparathyroidism secondary, chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Metoprolol or Labetalol safer?
FAERS cannot answer that: it has no denominator and no comparator. Use this page to see which risks are already on each label and which signals are unlabeled, then check the prescribing information and your clinician for your situation.
Sources: openFDA FAERS pair statistics (OpenPV build 2026-09-14), FDA labels via openFDA, openFDA count queries for seriousness and deaths. Pair chosen because it is a commonly searched comparison. Generated 2026-10-08.