Bisoprolol
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Bisoprolol can be used in pregnancy if recommended by a doctor.
What is it?
Bisoprolol is mainly prescribed to treat heart failure and high blood pressure (hypertension).
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking bisoprolol in pregnancy?
Bisoprolol reduces the risk from high blood pressure and some heart problems. This is important as these conditions can get worse during pregnancy and may lead to complications.
Some women will be taking bisoprolol before pregnancy. If so, it can be continued but should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity by your GP or specialist.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking bisoprolol during pregnancy?
A small number of pregnant women taking bisoprolol have been studied, with no concerns raised that its use causes miscarriage or birth defects.
Bisoprolol belongs to a family of medicines called beta blockers. Studies have also 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 can also affect a baby’s weight.
Occasionally, beta blockers used in late pregnancy can affect your baby for a short while after birth (for example, causing low blood sugar). Your baby may require an extra day or two in hospital following birth to look out for any problems. If these occur, they can be treated and usually settle quickly.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to taking bisoprolol?
Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. You should let your GP and/or obstetrician know that you are taking bisoprolol so that they can make sure it is still right for you. 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 to treat heart failure or hypertension?
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 bisoprolol 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 bisoprolol 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 bisoprolol?
We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes bisoprolol.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding 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.