Can you take heart meds while pregnant?

Can you take heart meds while pregnant?

Q: Is it safe to take heart medication during my pregnancy? A: “Most cardiac medications are okay in pregnancy,” says Stephanie Martin, D.O., medical director for labor and delivery and the obstetric intensive care unit at the Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women in Houston.

Can a heart patient be pregnant?

By preparing for pregnancy and following up regularly with your cardiologist during pregnancy, most women with a heart condition can safely become pregnant and have a healthy baby.

What cardiac meds are safe during pregnancy?

The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension guidelines recommend transitioning pregnant patients to methyldopa, nifedipine, or labetalol. Heart failure medications, including beta-blockers, furosemide, and digoxin, are relatively safe and can be used effectively.

What medications should be stopped during pregnancy?

What medicines should you avoid during pregnancy?

• Bismuth subsalicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol).
• Phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine, which are decongestants.
• Cough and cold medicines that contain guaifenesin.
• Pain medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen (such as Advil and Motrin) and naproxen (such as Aleve).

How does heart disease affect pregnancy?

As blood volume increases, congestive heart failure can worsen. Congenital heart defect If you were born with a heart problem, your baby has a greater risk of developing some type of heart defect, too. You might also be at risk for heart problems occurring during pregnancy and of premature birth.

Can heart palpitations affect my baby?

Most of the time, heart palpitations do not lead to any complications during pregnancy. A healthy heart can deal with the extra blood and faster heartbeat that comes along with pregnancy, but if you had a heart condition before becoming pregnant, pregnancy can make it worse.

How common is heart failure in pregnancy?

According to the American Heart Association, this heart condition affects about 1,000 to 1,300 women in the United States each year. Women usually receive a diagnosis during the last month of their pregnancies or within five months of delivery.

When should you see a cardiologist when pregnant?

If it falls into the low-risk category, you may only see your cardiologist once or twice during your entire pregnancy. If your condition is more serious, you’ll need to see the cardiologist more frequently, probably about every two to four weeks.

How is tachycardia treated in pregnancy?

Adenosine is generally safe to use in pregnancy, and is the drug of choice for acute termination of maternal supraventricular tachycardia. Digoxin has a long track record of treating both maternal and fetal arrhythmias, and is one of the safest antiarrhythmics to use during pregnancy.

Why is atenolol not safe in pregnancy?

One study did find that atenolol can directly affect blood flow through the placenta, which might be associated with poor growth of the baby. Can taking atenolol near delivery cause problems for the baby? Atenolol use in late pregnancy may cause the newborn baby to have a slowed heart rate and low blood sugar.

How long should you stop taking medication before getting pregnant?

If you are on the pill If your pregnancy is planned and you are on the pill, it’s best to wait three months after stopping before trying to conceive to reduce the risk of miscarriage. Your doctor can advise on other forms of contraception.

Is it safe to take heart medication during pregnancy?

Medication you take during pregnancy can affect your baby. Often the benefits outweigh the risks, however. If you need medication to control your heart condition, your health care provider will prescribe the safest medication at the most appropriate dose. Take the medication exactly as prescribed.

Are there any medications that should not be taken while pregnant?

Such medications should be avoided by all women who are or might become pregnant. While some medications are known to be harmful when taken during pregnancy, the safety of most medications taken by pregnant women has been difficult to determine. Here’s a list of medications you should avoid while pregnant: Accutane for acne.

Can you stop taking over the counter meds when pregnant?

Any over-the-counter medications you’re taking when you become pregnant can be stopped until you meet with your Ob/Gyn. These kinds of medications (for allergies or acid reflux, for example) are frequently used for symptoms rather than conditions.

Where to find out if your medication is safe during pregnancy?

If you have a question about the safety of any medication during pregnancy, talk with your healthcare provider. An excellent online resource for evidence-based information on medication safety is the MotherToBaby website, a service of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists.