Atenolol in Pregnancy

Atenolol has been shown to cause temporary or permanent problems to unborn children when taken during pregnancy. For this reason, taking atenolol during pregnancy is generally not recommended. However, a healthcare provider may prescribe atenolol to a pregnant woman if he or she believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to her unborn child. A few of the complications sometimes seen with fetuses or newborns exposed to atenolol during pregnancy include small birth weight, low blood sugar, and slowed heart rate.

 

Atenolol in Pregnancy: An Overview

For women who are pregnant, taking atenolol (Tenormin®) is generally not recommended. This is because during pregnancy, atenolol can cause temporary or permanent problems to the unborn child.
 

Atenolol and Pregnancy Category D

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Atenolol is considered a pregnancy Category D medicine by the FDA. Pregnancy Category D is given to medicines that have shown clear evidence of risk to the fetus in studies. A pregnancy Category D medicine may still be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that the benefits outweigh the possible risks to the unborn child.
 

What Is the Risk of Using Atenolol During Pregnancy?

A few of the complications seen with some fetuses or newborns exposed to atenolol during pregnancy include:
 
  • Small birth weight
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Slowed heart rate (bradycardia).
     

Atenolol and Pregnancy: Recommendations

Because of the possible risk that atenolol poses to an unborn child even during the
 first trimester of pregnancy, you should be sure to let your healthcare provider know (prior to taking atenolol) if you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. Your healthcare provider will consider both the benefits and risks of using atenolol during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation. Besides atenolol, there are other treatment options for women who are pregnant or could become pregnant.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;