Atacand and Pregnancy

There are some conditions where people should avoid using Atacand, and pregnancy is one of them. During all three trimesters of pregnancy, Atacand can cause temporary or permanent problems to the fetus, such as kidney failure, deformities of the head and face, developmental problems with the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and loss of life. A woman who is pregnant or plans to become pregnant should consult a healthcare provider for other options that may be used instead of Atacand.

 

Is Atacand Safe in Pregnancy? -- An Overview

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

What Is the Risk of Using Atacand During Pregnancy?

Prior to 2006, there was a common belief among healthcare providers regarding the use of Atacand during pregnancy.
 The feeling was that problems with Atacand and pregnancy were generally seen when the drug was taken during the second or third trimester 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 drugs like Atacand 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 Atacand during pregnancy include:
 
  • 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.

 

(Atacand and Pregnancy Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;