Verapamil during pregnancy

[LittleMissBeatz]

I am pregnant and have tachycardia and my dr just prescribed Verapamil is this safe during pregnancy?  There aren't really any studies that I can find that says that they are or aren't, does anyone out there know??

[andrea1223]

I took verapimal during the last month of my pregnancy, 15 years ago. I had never had any concern as i took the doc at his word that it was safe to take during pg. I t wasn't until last week that the juvenile pyschiatrist that my now 15 year old son is seeing did the concern pop up when we were doing a family history for evaluation. I am very interested in others who have watched their children grow to see if there has been any developemental or any other issues that might lead back to verapimil. thanks, andrea

[MRSDELAUGHTER]

I have SVT and MVP.  This is my 4th child.  Verapamil is safe during pregnancy, but has some side effects.  You have to weight the pros and cons.  It can bottom out your blood pressure and cause issues with the baby.  Nothing serious, though.  My cardiologist prefers beta-blockers, but I can't tolerate them.  I take Verapamil when I am not pregnant and then switch to Nifedipine.  It is a calcium channel blocker, not AS good as controlling the SVT, but has less side effects.  I am currently 26w and have worn a monitor for the past 3 weeks to monitor it.  Depending on your doc, they do care differently.  My cardiologist wants me to call him as soon as I go into labor so he can go to the hospital.  He is also doing an ECHO next month to see how my heart is functioning at 30w.  My blood pressure has also been going up, so they want to monitor that.  I have had 3 vaginal deliveries without any problems.  I did need oxygen with my first and have had antibiotics with all three.  I do recommend the epidural.  The less stress you are in, the lower your heart rate.  We just moved, so I have a new OB and Cardiologist.  My previous cardiologist just told me to tell them when I checked in at the hospital that I was his patient so that he would be called if needed.  Each pregnancy seems to have made it worse, though.  Good Luck!

[LittleMissBeatz]

Oh no you didn't cause me any concern!! I just wanted to see if that had anything to do with the SVT you know different people go through different things so I figured asking wouldn't hurt.

[ireneo]

Sorry to cause you concern. My first delivery was induced because my water had broken at home and my contractions weren't starting. So they gave me Pitocin to rev things up. It was nothing to do with my heart.

[LittleMissBeatz]

I'm hoping that I am because I'm already at 23 weeks and I've only taken two doses of the meds, now did your labor not progress because of the SVT or because of the meds you were on or just because?  I'm just trying to get a general idea so I won't have too many suprises when that time comes.  I guess my first thing would be to find out why my cervix is open 5mm and then go from there huh...

[ireneo]

I had 3 pregnancies with my SVT (had episodes almost daily back then). The arrhythmias increased a bit during the pregnancies but stayed quiet during the deliveries. My first one was tough, had to have meds to induce labor. The other two progressed normally. All my labors lasted at least 8 hours or more (hospital time, not counting home time). But all came out vaginally.

Perhaps you're far enough along in your pregnancy now that the meds won't have a significant impact on the baby.

[banglamom]

I had both of my kids without having the rhythm problems become more problematic.  The pregnancies were certainly complicated by the heart problems, but the deliveries went quick and easy.  That was God's gift to me.  My longest labor was 45 minutes.  No kidding.  Both of the kids were born early and were small from the beta blockade affecting them, but they were healthy.  My OB was demanding that the cardiologist be there for the delivery, but she came too quick for the cardiologist to even get there.  I was glad to be able to deliver them both vaginally, so there was less to have to recover from.  I was however, prepared for anything.  The goal was just healthy mom and healthy baby at the end, no matter how it had to be to get there.  Don't expect to go in with a firm demand of this is what you want.  You have to be more flexible so that you won't be disappointed.  The firm birth plan is for people who don't have special needs.

[LittleMissBeatz]

Yes it is my first thanks and Happy Holidays to you as well!!

[Brooke_38]

There is a chance that you could develop SVT during labor...I don't think that they would consider that a reason to do a C-section.

C-sections are considered major abdominal surgery. If it can be avoided it is better to go through a vaginal birth. I delivered both my children this way, with SVT. I was fortunate not to have it kick in during either delivery.

You will be closely monitored during your labor and if there are any problems the appropriate interventions will be taken. You will be lying down, so the chance of you loosing conciousness is slim. This usually happens when you're in an upright (standing) position, related to a rapid HR and a sharp drop in BP.

I'm glad that you talked to your Dr regarding the Verapamil. Now you can just take your medication without the worry of it harming your unborn baby:)

I wish you luck (is this your 1st) Happy Holidays!

[LittleMissBeatz]

Hey Brooke I called my OB/GYN or whatever that doctor is called LOL and he says it's okay for me to be taking the 120mg daily of verapamil, now my next question ofcourse would be for you if you have any idea.... Do you think that me going into labor would cause my tachycardia to act up?  I mean do you think that I'll have to end up having a c-section versus vaginal birth so that there are no complications or chances of me passing out or blacking out during labor?

[LittleMissBeatz]

Yeah I have that is actually who prescribed the meds to me... He was really caring and understanding and was looking out for my best interest as far as how to control the "episodes".  I have just never heard of this med before and I know that they say some of the beta blockers are better during pregnancy than the other treatments are.  He also suggested ablation again after I have the baby to see if maybe they can find something this time..

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

It's always better to be safer now, make the call an go from there...than to be sorry later wishing you had investigated further:)

Have you gotten the new cardiologist yet? I think the last time you posted, you had mentioned that your Dr was not being too aggressive treating your SVT.

Well, best of luck with this.

[LittleMissBeatz]

No I haven't the prescription was just filled yesturday I told my mother that I had only taken 1 and was not taking anymore until I find out what is what.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Verapamil is a Class C drug , these are drugs that by definition, during pregnancy, should be taken only if the benefit outweighs the potential risks. It is unknown what the potential risks are to the fetus. There really are no reports on what the effects are.

Have you spoken to your OB Dr about this? Maybe there is another medication that can be prescribed, one that will not pose a risk to your developing fetus:) Best of luck to you.