Verelan and Pregnancy

There are several situations in which it is not recommended to take Verelan, and pregnancy may be one of them. This is because when Verelan was given to pregnant rabbits, it increased the risk of miscarriages and decreased fetal growth. However, Verelan may still be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to the unborn child.

 

An Overview of Verelan and Pregnancy

For people who are pregnant, Verelan® (verapamil hydrochloride) may not be safe. This is based on animal studies that looked at the effects of Verelan during pregnancy.
 

Verelan and Pregnancy Category C

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. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans, but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.
 
Verelan was given a pregnancy Category C rating because of potential problems in animal studies. When given to pregnant rabbits, Verelan caused an increased risk of miscarriages and decreased fetal growth.
 
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines in the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category C medicine may be given to pregnant women if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
 

Verelan and Pregnancy: Summary

If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Verelan, let your healthcare provider know.
 Your healthcare provider will consider both the benefits and risks of taking Verelan during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;