hey everyone! i have been diagnosed with heart problems during my pregnancy and the doctors perscribed me this medicine . I of course am nervous about taking anything. Its a beta blocker ( normally used for high blood pressure). I was wondering if anyone else had to be on this during this or a past pregnancy? Or any other type of bp med really.! thanks for the input
Nikki

I have had beta blockers before but never in pregnancy. It thins your blood I think which I guess it depends on the risks of your heart, Might outweigh the risks to your baby. Normally I don't think blood thinners are allowed but I am not sure. I am no doctor. I should go read up on it online. I bet though they would not give it to you unless you needed it.

Hmm wait or does it thicken the blood? Helps it clot? i forget since I had both hyperactive thyroid and hypo after I took the beta's... This was years ago though

Hey sweetie....I am actually on this. I've been taking it for 3years now. and I took it with my last pregnancy. Do you have super ventricular tachycardia? That's what i have.

Toprol is a Class D in pregnancy....which isn't considered safe and should ONLY be used if benifits outweighs the risks!!! They should try a different medication first before putting you on toprol b/c its one of the worser drugs.

I took it with my second baby...and well due to the drug i lost ALL my fluid at 29weeks! I had baby at 30weeks pregnant. I went from 20cm of fluid to NONE in a week!

They did biophysical profiles once a week, checked weight once a month, and in 3rd trimester I had NST's twice week. I'm telling you this drug isnt good for pregnant women and i would recommend trying Labatetolol first. I had to stay on toprol b/c its the only beta blocker that worked for me.

I take 50mg twice a day. What's your dosage?

Look up Toprol on Safefetus.com you will see there what the effects are potentially. I know first hand its not good. And my doctor doesnt think i will make it past 34weeks for sure!

It had deteroited my placenta to the point it stopped working!!!!

Not trying to scare you but i would talk to your doctor more, look it up and have you seen a cardiologist?

toprol is considered a category c drug from what i read online? hmmmm... i was on atenolol first but they switched to this one because the cardiologist thinks its safer?

I would ask for a 2nd opinion after reading Gabrielles post, wont do no harm

i have been to 3 different cardiologists and they all say its relativly safe during pregnancy. but they also say so is atenolol. hmph. the only other option is one called digoxin. have you ever heard of that? yea i have SVTs ... i have has 3 since i became pregnant. it seems like every couple of months. hmmm im so confused, im going crazy... i dont know what to do! im about to just not take anything. tear. how often were your SVTS?

It's a class C in first trimester but a Class D in 2nd and 3rd trimester.........

Generic Name Metoprolol
Trade Name Toprol-XL
Manufacturer
Risk Category
C*

Studies on animals show adverse effect and toxicity on fetus.
No adequate and well controlled studies done on pregnant women.
Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus.
The risk category is D only if used in second and third trimester.



FDA Pregnancy Risk Categories




Place (not click) your mouse cursor over the bold words in the text below to receive description Indication

Sympatholytic, beta-adrenergic blocker, anti-hypertensive.

Fetal Risk

Not teratogenic in animals but toxic at high doses causing fetal loss and decreased neonatal survival.
Crosses human placenta.
No well controlled data in first trimester exposure but no link with malformations had been reported.
Use of some beta-blockers including metoprolol in the second and third trimesters is associated with intrauterine growth ******ation and neonatal beta-blockade.

Breast Feeding

Excreted into milk.
Compatible with breast feeding.
Infants should be observed for beta-blockade.

Atenolol is a class D as well. The only other one that they consider is Labetalol which is a class C drug throughout pregnancy.

Please go to safefetus.com and you can see for yourself.

My cardiologist and ob doctor tried different beta blockers because they didnt feel comfortable with using toprol.....and as you can see what i went through and having a baby born at 10weeks early and almost lost him b/c of the medication.....i would look more into it hun.

I am using it a second time b/c i dont have a choice. My heart rate goes up in the 200's if i don't take it. They are extremly nervous and thats why i get u/s every week.

I'm a cardiac nurse and work with lots of cardiologists and they say that i should go ahead and have an ablation even while pregnant!!! B/c they say i shouldnt be on Toprol and the benifits of going through the minor surgery would be better. My ob doctor doesnt want to go this route...

I was diagnosed with SVT after my first son. I would get it all the time, it would wake me up and I acutally passed out on the ambulance that i work in..!!! So they put me on toprol. It's worked wonders but when i fell pregnant with our second they tried to switch me to labetalol, but no matter how high the dosage was it just wouldnt get rid of the SVT. I have been told to get an ablation but i've seen so many of them go unsuccessful that i've put it off.
If i don't take my medication and SPECAILLY while pregnant my SVT would come at least 3times a day! When your pregnant your heart beat already increases due to the extra amount of work the heart does b/c of the increased blood flow, so then it increases your amount of SVT's.

So has your ob doctor said ANYTHING about checking babies weight once a month, doing NST's , or Biophysical profiles? What dosage are you on?
I would talk to her and your cadiologist and maybe mention my story and also ask about trying labetalol..its the safest one out there. Digoxin is also used but its a cardiac glyoside..not an actual beta blocker, but its also a Class C . So i'd try that or labetalol.