Oral drugs for the management of hypertension in pregnancy - McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine

Table 15.3-2. Oral drugs for the management of hypertension in pregnancy
Drug	Starting dose	Maximum dose	Onset of action	Adverse effects	Special indications and notes
Labetalol	100 mg bid	400 mg qid	20‑40 min	Headache; avoid in uncontrolled asthma	Often requires tid dosing in pregnancy; safe for breastfeeding
Nifedipine (slow release)	20 mg bid	60 mg bid	20‑40 min	Peripheral edema	Safe for breastfeeding
Methyldopa	250 mg bid	1 g qid	1‑3 h	Fatigue; avoid in uncontrolled depression	Safe for breastfeeding
bid, 2 times a day; qid, 4 times a day; tid, 3 times a day.