How safe for my baby is it for me to take atenolol? I am four months pregnant. I've been told to go off of it because it can cause growth retardation in the fetus, especially in the later months. But now I'm being told to take it again because I have tachycardia (which I had before pregnancy) and due to the higher blood volume I could be at risk for heart failure.
Atenolol is a type of antihypertensive drug called a beta blocker. Its use in pregnancy has been reportedly associated with bradycardia (low heart rate) in newborns, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), fetal growth restriction, and neonatal respiratory depression. But it is important to remember that most of these effects can be attributed to maternal disease as well. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that this drug is safe when used in pregnancy.
It is important to keep you healthy. That is the best way to get a healthy baby. If you have faith in your doctor's practice and counsel, I would go along with his or her advice.
