Monopril-HCT and Pregnancy

There are some conditions where people should avoid taking Monopril-HCT, and pregnancy is one of them. During any trimester of pregnancy, Monopril-HCT can cause temporary or permanent fetal problems, such as developmental problems with the lungs. However, Monopril-HCT 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 Monopril-HCT Safe During Pregnancy?

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

What Is the Risk of Using Monopril-HCT During Pregnancy?

Prior to 2006, there was a common belief among healthcare providers that problems with Monopril-HCT and pregnancy were generally seen when the drug was taken during the
 second trimester 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 Monopril-HCT 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 Monopril-HCT 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
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
  • Deformities of the head and face
  • Loss of life.
(Monopril-HCT 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;