Betablockers

[Raejay411]

Hi ladies

I wondered if any of you take beta blockers for anxiety and what you did when you were pregnant?

My clinic has said it’s safe but to speak to GP as they prescribe them.

The thought of not having them if I need them if I get pregnant is giving me panic attacks!!

Many thanks

[EmGLA]

Hello

I think if the clinic has said it is ok, and they are the specialists then the GP will hopefully prescribe it. I suffer from anxiety and I am also on propranolol for when my anxiety gets difficult to manage. I'm starting my first IVF cycle in less than a week and my clinic said the same as yours, that it should be safe so I am planning on taking it if I need. There are really few medications that have been tested during pregnancy because of the risks but betablockers have been around for decades, so if there was a real worry the doctor would just have said an outright no.

The risk seems to be that the baby may grow slower or be smaller, or have a slower heart rate if you are taking a really big dose consistently. As we only take it when we feel anxiety coming on rather than one or two tabs twice a day for high blood pressure, I think this also reduces the risk.

I've started listening to the mindfull IVF app on my phone the last few months and it has really helped when I feel my anxiety rising, and most of the time I've managed to avoid taking a tablet recently. Like you said the thought of not taking a tablet would stress me out too, even if I've forgotten to put them in my bag I worry and I'd rather not have something else to worry about either when we've got an IV cycle going on.

Hope your doctor can give you some support.

Good luck

xxxx

[Raejay411]

Thankyou so much for your reply.

Yes you would think the fertility specialists would know best?

It’s just my doctor in the past said no and if you google it, it says no. I’ve been really good lately and cut down thinking that when I’m pregnant I’d have to stop.

But 2 panic attack sand in stressing that I can’t do it without them. Hopefully I won’t need it much if I know I can have them.

I’m due to start injections in a couple of weeks.

Have you spoken to your clinic or GP about it.

I wish you the best of luck with everything xx 🤞

[EmGLA in reply to Raejay411]

I looked on the BNF rather than googling which is like an index for drugs that pharmacists and doctors use. That is where I got the info of the issues they expect if taken during pregnancy and from the doctors themselves. Obviously it’s best to take nothing during pregnancy but the risks are small if it’s not being taken regularly. Obviously listen to your doctor and you have to be happy and comfortable with any decision. Xx

[bms12]

I did take propranolol for migraines as I was getting them for days on end. However i had to stop them for treatment as i already have low blood pressure, which was then further lowered by the beta blockers and they didn't want to risk it getting even lower with pregnancy (I am now 11 weeks pregnant, and my BP has dropped in the past few weeks to the point of nearly fainting 2/3 times a day). But as long as you BP is fine then they shouldn't be an issue at all. Good luck!

[nikki85xx]

I had to take them as 36 weeks as I had preeclampsia To bring down blood pressure. Dr told me it was self as there is a couple u can take when pregnant. The only thing was that when my little one was born he had to stay in hospital for extra 24hrs for test as I was taking them. He was fine no issues with him what so ever but I was induced early at 38 weeks as I was worried taking them when pregnant and my blood pressure was still high. I think it’s just standard policy to keep baby in after birth when on this medication. But I had no problems at all with him when being on them . Hope that helps xx