Diovan During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Summary
According to the FDA, Diovan (Valsartan) is a pregnancy category D drug . Women who use Diovan should use a consistent and reliable birth control method while they are taking the medication and should immediately stop the treatment if they learn that they are pregnant. Taking Diovan during the second and third trimester can cause serious injury or even death to an unborn child. At least one stillbirth is associated with the use of Diovan.
Taking Diovan while breastfeeding may pose dangers as well, but the effects are unknown. It is best to avoid this medication if you are pregnant, nursing, or plan to become pregnant.
Can Diovan Be Used By Pregnant Women?
The FDA recognizes Diovan as a category D medication relating to pregnancy, which has been studied extensively by scientists. Diovan regulates the blood pressure of the body through certain chemicals that inhibit the constriction of blood vessels throughout the body. This angiotensin II antagonist has been known to cause neonatal morbidity because of how it influences the organ systems of the body, which makes it unsafe to use due to the simultaneous effects on fetal development and nursing young babies.
For this reason, it is not safe for women to use Diovan while they are pregnant. The FDA recognizes the many health risks and possibility for neonatal death if this medication is used during pregnancy. Subsequently, the use of Diovan is more dangerous to the baby later in pregnancy than in the beginning, which is why Doctors encourage pregnant women to get off this medication as soon as possible.
Diovan is a blood pressure medication that contains active ingredients that damage the body of a pregnant woman. It is not recommended that women use Diovan if they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This blood pressure medication may pose dangerous health risks to the fetus imparting healthy development.
Possible Side Effects
Diovan (Valsartan) has known side effects that impair fertility in females. Furthermore, Doctors do not recommend the use of this drug while breastfeeding because the effects of this medication on a baby’s body are unknown. Clinical evidence states that traces of this medication can cause low blood pressure in a baby, which can drastically reduce the rate of healthy growth and development in the baby’s body.
Scientists have observed that any activity on the renin-angiotensin system can harm the baby of a pregnant woman. Diovan should not be used during the second or third trimester due to the amount of damage caused to fetus. For this reason, as soon as a woman figures out she is pregnant, she should stop taking this medication immediately to prevent fetal damage.
Evidence shows that Diovan can cause unhealthy development of the body of a baby. Diovan also lowers blood pressure that influences the kidney and urinary system of the mother and the baby. Accordingly, if this medication is taken while pregnant the risk of damage to the structure of the bones and development of essential organs in the baby’s body becomes inhibited.
