Nadolol
What is it?
Nadolol is mainly prescribed to treat some heart conditions and high blood pressure.
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking nadolol in pregnancy?
Nadolol reduces the risks of harm from high blood pressure and some heart conditions. This is important as these conditions can get worse during pregnancy and may lead to complications.
Some women will be taking nadolol before pregnancy. If so, it can be continued but should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity by your midwife, GP cardiologist, or obstetrician.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking nadolol during pregnancy?
Nadolol belongs to a family of medicines called beta blockers. Studies have not shown that beta blockers cause birth defects, stillbirth or preterm birth. Women taking beta blockers may be more likely to have a small baby. However a small baby can be due to underlying health conditions that beta blockers are commonly used to treat, like high blood pressure. It is therefore difficult to know if a beta blocker has also contributed to the baby being small.
Occasionally, beta blockers used in late pregnancy can affect the baby for a short while after birth (for example, causing low blood sugar). The baby may require an extra day or two in hospital following birth to look out for any problems. If these occur, they can be easily treated and usually settle quickly.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to taking nadolol?
Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems. You should let your midwife, GP and/or obstetrician know that you are taking nadolol so that it can be reviewed as soon as possible. If you have any questions about a medicine that you are offered in pregnancy you can discuss them with your doctor or midwife.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?
It is very important to take any medicines prescribed for high blood pressure or heart problems. High blood pressure can lead to a potentially serious condition called pre-eclampsia. Heart problems can also be dangerous to both mother and baby and must be as well-controlled as possible.
Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when absolutely necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns that you might have.
Please do not stop nadolol without speaking to your midwife, GP, cardiologist or obstetrician.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
You will be offered a detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of your routine antenatal care. If you continue nadolol then you may be offered additional scans at around 32 and 36 weeks to check that your baby is growing normally.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken nadolol?
We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes nadolol.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions about the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.