Accupril and Pregnancy

Until recently, problems with Accupril and pregnancy were believed to generally occur during the second and third trimesters. However, a new study suggests that Accupril may also possibly cause problems to a fetus during the first trimester. Among the complications sometimes seen with fetuses or newborns exposed to Accupril during pregnancy are kidney failure, developmental problems with the lungs, and deformities of the head and face. Despite these warnings, a healthcare provider may still prescribe Accupril to a pregnant woman if its benefits outweigh the possible risks to her unborn child.

Is Accupril Safe During Pregnancy? -- An Overview

For people who are pregnant, Accupril® (quinapril hydrochloride) is usually not recommended. This is because during pregnancy, Accupril can cause temporary or permanent problems, including death, to the unborn child.
 

What Is the Risk of Using Accupril During Pregnancy?

Prior to 2006, there was a common belief among healthcare providers regarding the use of Accupril during pregnancy.
 The feeling was that problems with Accupril and pregnancy were generally seen when the drug was taken during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy. However, that changed when a study by researchers at Vanderbilt University was published in the June 2006 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. This study showed that there may in fact also be an increased risk to the fetus if it is exposed to Accupril during the first trimester. Whether the risk to the fetus is as great in the first trimester as in the second or third trimesters is not known.
 
Some of the complications seen with fetuses or newborns exposed to Accupril during pregnancy include:
 
  • Extremely low blood pressure (hypotension)
  • Developmental problems with the nervous system
  • Developmental problems with the cardiovascular system (this includes the heart and/or blood vessels)
  • Developmental problems with the lungs
  • Kidney failure
  • Deformities of the head and face
  • Loss of life.
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(Accupril and Pregnancy Continued: Page 2)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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