Cardiac Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation

Most cardiovascular agents (like all other drugs) must be avoided in the first trimester of pregnancy because they may produce congenital malformations, especially from the 3rd to the 12th week of pregnancy. When used during the second and third trimesters, several cardiac drugs may affect growth and functional development of the fetus or cause toxic effects on fetal tissues. Also, some agents must be avoided just before parturition as they may have adverse effects on labor or in the newborn.