Table 6.

Antihypertensive drugs used in pregnancy

Women with pre-existing hypertension are advised to continue their current antihypertensive medication except for ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists. For treatment of mild-to moderate hypertension the following agents are suggested:
Central alfa agonists	Methyldopa used to be the drug of choice, having an excellent safety profile and being the only drug with longitudinal follow-up of children whose mothers were treated with it during pregnancy
Alfa-/beta-blockers	Labetalol has comparable efficacy with methyldopa; in the case of severe hypertension, it could be given intravenously
Calcium-channel blockers	Oral nifedipine or i.v. isradipine could be given in hypertensive emergencies. Potential synergism with magnesium sulfate may induce hypotension