Drug of choice in chronically hypeensive pregnant women requiring long term antihypeensive therapy: September 2007

Ans. C: Methyldopa Methyldopa is a drug of first choice for control of mild to moderate hypeension in pregnancy and is the most widely prescribed antihypeensive for this indication. During long term use in pregnancy, methyldopa does not alter maternal cardiac output or blood flow to the uterus or kidneys, and for all these reasons it is generally considered the agent of choice for chronic blood pressure control in pregnancy. Because the safety record of labetalol in pregnancy is not as well established as that of methyldopa, labetalol should probably be considered a second-line agent for pregnant women with chronic hypeension requiring long term drug therapy