Hyzaar and Pregnancy

There are a number of situations where you should avoid taking Hyzaar, and pregnancy is one of them. A fetus exposed to Hyzaar before birth could potentially experience kidney problems, developmental problems with the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and deformities of the head and face. Despite these warnings, Hyzaar may still be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to the unborn child. 

 

Is Hyzaar Safe During Pregnancy? -- An Overview

For people who are pregnant, Hyzaar® (losartan potassium-hydrochlorothiazide) is usually not recommended. This is because during pregnancy, Hyzaar can lead to temporary or permanent problems, including death, in the unborn child.
 

Hyzaar and Pregnancy Categories C and D

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes Hyzaar as a pregnancy Category C medication for the first trimester and a pregnancy Category D medication for the second trimester and third trimester.
 
The FDA uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that show side effects to the fetus in animal studies, but no human studies in pregnant women have been done. Pregnancy Category D is given to medicines that have shown clear evidence of risk to the fetus in the studies. Pregnancy Category D is a stronger warning than a pregnancy Category C classification. Despite these warnings, a pregnancy Category C or D medicine may still be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to the unborn child.
 

What Is the Risk of Using Hyzaar During Pregnancy?

Some of the complications seen with fetuses or newborns exposed to Hyzaar 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
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes)
  • Loss of life.
     
(Hyzaar 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;