Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: Tenth Edition

AMYL NITRITE

Vasodilator

PREGNANCY RECOMMENDATION: Limited Human Data—No Relevant Animal Data

BREASTFEEDING RECOMMENDATION: No Human Data—Probably Compatible

PREGNANCY SUMMARY

The absence of specific human pregnancy experience prevents an assessment of the embryo–fetal risk. However, another vasodilator has limited data and does not appear to cause developmental toxicity (see Nitroglycerin). Transient decreases in maternal blood pressure may occur.

FETAL RISK SUMMARY

Amyl nitrite is a rapid-acting, short-duration vasodilator used primarily for the treatment of angina pectoris. Because of the nature of its indication, experience in pregnancy is limited. The Collaborative Perinatal Project recorded seven 1st trimester exposures to amyl nitrite and nitroglycerin, as well as eight other patients exposed to other vasodilators (1). From this small group of 15 patients, four malformed children were observed. It was not stated whether amyl nitrite was taken by any of the mothers of the affected infants. The number of cases is too small to assess the risk of amyl nitrite in pregnancy.

BREASTFEEDING SUMMARY

No reports describing the use of amyl nitrite during lactation have been located. It is doubtful if maternal use would represent any risk to a nursing infant.

Reference

1.Heinonen OP, Slone D, Shapiro S. Birth Defects and Drugs in Pregnancy. Littleton, MA: Publishing Sciences Group, 1977:371–3.



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