blood pressure and pregnancy

Hello I'm 42yr's old and trying to have anyother baby,  but i feel that my blood pressure is stoping me and of course my age.  I'm on Methyldopa 250mg and 4 times a day and my pressure is still running 170/103 . I'm scared but it does run in the family, my Dr. just said to keep taking the med's 4times a day . Will i ever get pregant again with this HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

Your high blood pressure is not keeping you from becoming pregnant, but is of great concern because it could lead to significant complications if you were to become pregnant.  You have severe range blood pressures and are clearly not responding to Methyldopa.  Other anti-hypertensives compatible with pregnancy include Labetalol, Nifedipine and possibly HCTZ.  Your doctor may want to consider these alternatives.  

That said, you should not try to conceive until your blood pressure is under much (much) better control.

Best regards,

Dr. Downing