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Possibly pregnant-on statin
I am 26 years old. I had 2 small strokes last august due to birth control. During all my testing, I was diagnosed with a patent foramen ovale and my right coronary artery is 50% occluded. My family has a high risk of hypertention and high cholesterol, and my cholesterol was ~240.
My cardiologist took me off the pill after my strokes and put me on vytorin, diovan, and atenolol. I also take xanax occasionally for anxiety and zoloft. I did not plan to get pregnant. My husband and I use condoms.
However, I am now 7 days late for my period (which is normally very regular-every 28 days exactly since I went off the pill). I started to worry about the possibility of being pregnant 2 days ago, and stopped taking vytorin and xanax. I am still taking the other meds.
Do I need to consider abortion if I am in fact pregnant? Is it likely that the fetus is already damaged from the drugs?
Of course, I plan to contact my physicians after I get a home pregnancy test-I just was hoping for a little advice before I do.
Thanks!
Answer:
Possibly pregnant-on statin
My advice is: take the home pregnancy test immediately and if it is positive, call your doctor right away and ask for instructions regarding your meds and the pregnancy, then follow your doctor's orders. Don't delay taking the test. After you take the test, talk to your OB/Gyn if the test is positive.
Vytorin is a cholesterol lowering product that contains simvastatin and ezetimibe. The effects of these drugs on fetal development has not been adequately studied. Animal studies have shown adverse effects on fetal development at high doses. However, in humans and at the prescribed dose, to my knowledge there is no direct evidence of adverse effects. The information that is available is not consistent, but to my knowledge, abortion is not recommended if these drugs are discontinued once pregnancy has been determined.
Don't rely on the information you find on the Internet. Always ask your own doctor for instructions!