In animal studies on metolazone and pregnancy, the medication did not appear to cause harm to the fetus. Therefore, the FDA has classified metolazone as a pregnancy Category B medication. However, since there may be risks that are unknown, if you are taking metolazone and pregnancy occurs, tell your healthcare provider right away.
Metolazone and Pregnancy: An Overview
Metolazone (
Zaroxolyn®) is a pregnancy Category B medicine, meaning that the drug is probably safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not known.
Metolazone and Pregnancy Category B
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but that do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines in the same way that humans do. Therefore, the full risks to the fetus are not known, and a pregnancy Category B medicine should be given to pregnant women only if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child. In general, diuretics (including metolazone) should not be used to treat
high blood pressure during pregnancy (
gestational hypertension).
Metolazone and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts
If you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant while taking metolazone, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider both the benefits and risks of taking the drug during pregnancy before making a recommendation in your particular situation.
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