15 hypertensive patients presenting with diastolic blood pressures (DBP) of 130 mmHg or higher were hospitalised and treated with oral labetolol. They all received a diuretic and 400 mg of labetolol orally initially and subsequent doses at 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours depending on the level of diastolic pressure. The mean of systolic/diastolic blood pressure dropped from 241/130 mmHg to 191/125 mmHg 30 minutes after the initial dose, and to 157/103 mmHg after six hours. Of the patients 73% had DBP of 115 mmHg or less six hours after the initial dose. Oral labetolol is recommended in hypertensive emergencies when sodium nitroprusside, diazoxide or trimethaphan cannot be used as an alternative to other agents.