Most drugs used to treat various cardiovascular conditions are safe to use in pregnancy, according to a new analysis.
Researchers examined study data, guidelines and recommendations regarding the use of cardiovascular drugs during pregnancy. These include medications for irregular heartbeat (antiarrhythmics), hypertension drugs, heart failure drugs, statins and blood thinners (anticoagulants).
In their review, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the researchers note that precautions should be taken if a pregnant mother is on one of the medications.
“The lowest effective dose should be used. The woman should be counseled on risks and benefits, and provided current data, acknowledging limitations…. Maternal fetal medicine specialists should be consulted to assist in medication management during pregnancy, and the
pediatrician postpartum during lactation.”
Although the majority of the drugs are safe, the researchers caution that most of the drugs will enter breast milk, which could impact a newborn baby.
Some of the drugs that should not be used during pregnancy, according to the review, include the following: amiodarone, atenolol, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, statins, and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as Eliquis (apixaban), Pradaxa (dabigatran) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban).
