What medication is often used to treat hypertension in pregnant patients?

Hydralazine is a medication frequently used to manage hypertension in pregnant patients, particularly for conditions such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. This medication is a vasodilator, which works by relaxing blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure. It can be administered intravenously in acute situations (like a hypertensive emergency) or orally for oral management of chronic hypertension. Its use is specifically supported in pregnancy due to its established safety profile and efficacy.

Other medications listed, such as aspirin, are typically used for different purposes in pregnancy, like preventing preeclampsia in at-risk patients, but not for treating active hypertension. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is generally avoided during pregnancy, especially in the later trimesters due to risks related to fetal development and potential complications during delivery. Prednisone is a corticosteroid used to treat a variety of conditions but is not a first-line treatment for hypertension in pregnancy.