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Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
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Ace Inhibitors and Pregnancy
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.

Ace Inhibitors and Pregnancy

by D.Grimes, Jul 07, 2000 12:00AM
I'm 37 years old with a history of MVP, cardiomyopathy, and vintricular tachycardia.  My meds are Prinivil and Nadalol (beta blocker) (spell ?).  Over the past 3 years my EF has gone from 20% to 45% and finally to 60%.  I am still on meds for the VT.  I have recently asked my cardiologist about having a second child.  I was told that Prinivil can cause birth defects so I will not be able to have another child.  My question is:

1.  Is there an alternitive medication that I could take in place of Prinivil (I am not taking it for high blood pressure) that will not cause birth defects?

or

2.  I take 2.5mg once per day.  What harm would there be if I stopped taking it for the duration of my pregnancy?

Thank you for any input you can give me!

by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Jul 07, 2000 12:00AM
Yes, definitely, ACE inhibitors should not be taken during pregnancy.
1. No, not really.
2. This is a complex question best addressed by your own doctors. One strategy would be to stop the low dose of medication that you are currently taking and make sure that your heart does not decompensate in any way, and if everything is OK then go ahead with the pregnancy.
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