Beta Blockers can be prescribed and used for a few different problems. They have been shown to prevent the occurrence of migraine headaches, to lessen anxiety or stage fright, to lower blood pressure, correct a variety of arrhythmias and to lower heart rate. Basically the different types of beta blockers all work in about the same way in that they block adrenaline to the heart which is typically the main reason doctors find for involuntary reactions of the heart. This in turn relieves the stress on the heart, slows the heart rate, lessens the force with which the heart beats and reduces the blood vessel contractions in the heart, brain and throughout the rest of the body. They have very few known side effects in healthy individuals and can provide great relief from medical conditions, and show no real long term effects on the body.
If considering becoming pregnant or are already pregnant, evaluating the medication you are currently on is important because certain beta blockers are more frequently approved than others. You may want to find out the possible risk factors of continuing the medication. Never take yourself off of the medication without consulting your doctor first. It’s usually recommended that you slowly reduce the dosage of a beta blocker rather than stopping its use completely all at once. Your doctor might even feel there is a different medication you could take that would be safer for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy and you wouldn’t have to remove yourself from the medication. These are all important factors to take into consideration.
The main side effects of a beta blocker during pregnancy are slowed heart rate, low blood sugar and low blood pressure in the baby. While some beta blockers have shown more side effects than others it is recommended in general to not take them during the first trimester if at all possible. The first trimester is the point in the pregnancy where the most important growth and formation occurs, and taking certain drugs during this crucial time could cause deformations or slower growth than normal. If it’s possible, holding out on taking the medication until as late in the pregnancy as a woman can is the best option especially if you make it until the third trimester. There have been instances when women have postponed use of beta blockers and have been put on them at the very end of their pregnancy to prepare themselves for a safe labor symptom and risk free. Obviously there are instances when the benefits of taking the beta blocker far outweigh the side effects but these should all be considered along with the help of your doctor. Never make a decision on your own- consult your primary physician as well as your OBGYN not to mention your cardiologist if you have one.
Once the baby is born, beta blockers can affect the child if it is passed on through breast milk. It can cause slowed heart rate in the child and may slow the flow of the breast milk making it difficult to feed the baby properly. It might be wise to consider other feeding options once the baby is born if beta blocker use will occur or continue from previously. There are many different varieties of formula available on the market right now that aid in your child’s growth and development just as well as breast milk would. If breast milk is not an option, there are plenty of acceptable alternative methods to consider. Consult your doctor about this as well as a lactation consultant if one is available to you. You may be advised to breast feed and monitor your child for a slower than normal heart rate, and if everything seems to progress as normal you may be able to breast feed as normal for as long as you would like. Each situation really is a unique one and should be assessed by medical professionals who can reasonably weigh the risks for you and give you the best advice that will work not only for you but for your child as well.
