The safest medication for reducing heart rate in pregnant women
Recently, I have been feeling that my heart rate is somewhat too fast. I would like to ask the doctor, what are the safest medications for reducing heart rate in pregnant women?
Doctor's answer (1)
During pregnancy, if a pregnant woman's heart rate is too high, a condition known as tachycardia, careful management is required. Drug therapy usually is not the first choice because many medications may pose hidden risks to the fetus.
Adjustments to lifestyle and diet are recommended, such as reducing caffeine intake, maintaining appropriate physical activity, ensuring adequate rest, reducing sodium intake, increasing dietary intake of minerals such as magnesium and potassium, and engaging in suitable aerobic exercise.
If non-pharmacological approaches are ineffective and the pregnant woman's tachycardia symptoms are severe enough to require medication, doctors may consider using drugs that are relatively safe for the fetus. Labetalol hydrochloride tablets are currently more commonly used; it is both an alpha receptor and beta receptor blocker that can dilate blood vessels to lower blood pressure while slowing cardiac conduction and reducing myocardial contractility, thereby lowering heart rate. However, special attention must be paid to the dosage to avoid excessive bradycardia or hypotension.
In addition, beta-adrenergic receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, atrial fibrillation inhibitors, and other medications may also be used under a doctor's guidance, but their potential risks and side effects should be carefully considered.
