Enalapril and Pregnancy Categories C and D
Because the results of the study explained above have not been confirmed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes
enalapril as a Pregnancy Category C medication for the
first trimester and a Pregnancy Category D drug for the second and
third trimester.
The FDA uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a woman takes a specific medicine during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C refers to medicines that cause side effects affecting the fetus in animal studies, but on which no human studies with pregnant women have been performed. Pregnancy Category D refers to medicines that have shown clear evidence of risk to the fetus in studies. It is a stronger warning than for Pregnancy Category C medicines. Despite these warnings, a healthcare provider may give a Pregnancy Category C or D medicine to a pregnant woman if he or she believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to the unborn child.
Enalapril and Pregnancy: Recommendations
Because of the possible risk that enalapril poses to an unborn child even during the first trimester of pregnancy, let your healthcare provider know if you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. Your healthcare provider will consider both the benefits and risks of enalapril during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation. In all but the rarest of situations, there are other options for women who are pregnant or could become pregnant.
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