Lopressor and Pregnancy

Lopressor is classified as a pregnancy Category C medicine, meaning that it could potentially cause harm to an unborn child if taken during pregnancy. However, the exact risk is unknown. A pregnant women may take Lopressor if her healthcare provider decides that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to her unborn child. If you are taking Lopressor and pregnancy occurs, let your healthcare provider know.

 

Is Lopressor Safe During Pregnancy? -- An Overview

Lopressor® (metoprolol tartrate) is considered a pregnancy Category C medicine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning that the drug has not been studied in pregnant women. However, when Lopressor was studied in pregnant animals, problems were seen with the unborn fetus. This means there may be an increased risk to the fetus if Lopressor is used during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, your healthcare provider will consider a number of things before recommending Lopressor for your particular situation. Some of these considerations include the risk of Lopressor, the risk of not treating your condition, and alternative treatment options.
 

Lopressor and Pregnancy Category C

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 have not been studied in pregnant humans but show side effects to the fetus during animal studies. These side effects can either be temporary (such as a slowed heart rate at birth) or, in some cases, permanent (birth defects).
 
A pregnancy Category C medicine may still be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to her unborn child. For example, untreated high blood pressure during pregnancy carries its own set of significant risks to both the mother and the fetus (see Preeclampsia). In situations like this, a healthcare provider may prescribe a pregnancy Category C medicine if the benefit of treating high blood pressure during pregnancy outweighs the risk of the medicine.
 
(Lopressor and Pregnancy Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;