Atenolol
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Atenolol can be used in pregnancy if recommended by a doctor.
What is it?
Atenolol (Tenormin®) is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and some heart problems.
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking atenolol in pregnancy?
Atenolol reduces the risk from high blood pressure and heart problems. This is important as these conditions can get worse during pregnancy and may lead to complications.
Some women will be taking atenolol before pregnancy. If so, it can be continued but should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity by your GP, cardiologist or obstetrician.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking atenolol during pregnancy?
Atenolol belongs to a family of medicines called beta blockers. There are no concerns that beta blockers cause birth defects, stillbirth or preterm birth. Women taking atenolol may be more likely to have a smaller baby. We don’t know whether this is because atenolol directly affects the baby’s growth or if the slower growth is caused by the health conditions that atenolol is used to treat, like high blood pressure.
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 atenolol?
Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems. Let your GP and/or specialist know that you are taking atenolol so that they can make sure it is still right for you. If you have any questions you can speak to your doctor or midwife.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines to treat hypertension or heart problems?
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 atenolol without speaking to your midwife, GP, cardiologist or obstetrician.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
Most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to check their baby’s wellbeing as part of their routine antenatal care. If you continue atenolol you may be offered extra scans at around 32 and 36 weeks to check the growth of your baby.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken atenolol?
We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes atenolol.
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.