Remicade and Pregnancy...what does the drug do to the baby?

I am 27, had Crohn's since I was 16, and I've been on remicade every 8 weeks since November of 2006, with no side effects and it's been a great drug for me.  It's the only drug I've had to be on (aside from prednisone right after I was hospitalized Oct. 2006--hate that stuff!:) A month ago I found out that I was pregnant with my first.  It wasn't exactly planned, but none of my doctors are worried about me and me being on remicade while pregnant.  My GI, my ob/gyn, and the parinatal specialist all say that it's fine for me to continue on remicade while pregnant and I'll be having my first treatment while pregnant at 9 weeks.  The tests that I've found seem to give positive (but limited) info about tests done with pregnant women on remicade, but I can't seem to find info on what the drug will/could do to the fetus?  Does the baby get the medicine too??  I've found some helpful information about what the drug could do while breatfeeding, but I can't seem to find much info about what the drug will do now.  If anyone knows anything or has experience being pregnant on remicade, I'd love to hear it!

jen

I wasn't on Remicade when pregnant, but I was on Humira when pregnant with my 2nd baby. I'm almost positive that Remicade doesn't cross the placenta until later in the third trimester so the baby isn't exposed to it.

Congrats on your pregnancy! 

Roni said...
Most of us mothers with CD have had to be on meds while preg. My advice to you is if you "can" go on a milder drug like prednisone or pentasa than do that, but if you cannot, then try not to worry about it. There have been quite a few moms who had healthy babies while on remicade.

No one can say for sure what the long term effects are of remicade while preggo. Pred. has been studied and used for over 50 years, so they know that it is safe. But you must weigh the positives and negatives very carefully.

Of course, if you have faith in God, pray for the health of your baby and chances are your baby will be just fine. Take good care of yourself and the precious little one growing inside!

I just had a healthy baby girl myself! I was on pred., pentasa, beta blockers, probiotics, tylenol, etc.

Roni

Where did you hear that prednisone is safe during pregnancy??? That is so untrue! Those are steroids and steroids are dangerous for both you and especially for your baby when you're pregnant. Taking steroids while your pregnant leads to all sorts of deformations, etc. Steroids have always been the drugs that are dangerous especially when taken more than 3 months but necessary because sometimes there's just no other way. The latest studies here in Europe show that steroids shouldn't even be given to the people with CD because they cause damage in the inner layers of intestines (my vocabulary is probably wrong) but sometimes you just have to take them because there is no other solution. But pregnancy and steroids are a BIG NO-NO! I can't believe you took it while you were pregnant :-o I am truly in shock!

jl115:

about Remicade...in America doctors have no problem tellling their patients that it's ok to be on it while pregnant. In Europe the doctors are a bit more worried about it and most of them will say that you have to quit Remicade/Humira if you get pregnant. The thing is that in 30 years from now we will probably now all the consequences of taking Remicade while being pregnant. Right now, no one can really be certain about anything. That's all I can tell you about it. All I know. I would never stay on Remicade if I was pregnant, my doctor would be very much against staying on Remicade but even if that wasn't the case I still wouldn't be ok with continuing Remicade.

In the end this is your choice. It would be safer to be on Imuran while pregnant. I don't think Pentasa would help you all that much. Whatever you decide make sure you get all the info about it both from the US and Europe.

Good luck :)

 

Interesting that Caroline caught the steriods being dangerous for expectant mothers, but suggested Imuran.  Imuran is listed as a class D drug that could be harmful.  I have been told by my OB and GI that I will remain on Remicade (if I become pregnant).  Each dr. has a differing opionion on Imuran, one says during conception it is ok the other would want me off during conception.  Either way, studies now are leaning towards Remicade being safe.  The way my GI explained it to me is Crohns out of control during pregancy could cause more problems for the baby then the Remicade.

Best of luck to you and Congratulations!

 

Caroline, my information about pred. comes from one of the top Obstetricians in Canada, two GIs, and my cardiologist. For my last pregnancy, I was seen at one of the top 6 hospitals for women and infant health IN THE WORLD.

I have NEVER heard a doctor suggest that predninsone was "dangerous" for a pregnant woman or her baby. Untrue.

I also spoke with motherisk.org at Toronto Sick Kids Hospital (again a world famous hospital for children's health), and they assured me according to all the studies that prednisone is considered fairly safe during pregnancy.

Prednisone has been studied for over 50 YEARS in pregnant women, so the effects are well noted. The most noted effect from my memory is that it might (and very rarely) cause a cleft lip.


Jen, you can always contact motherisk.org for the most up to date information about nearly every drug for pregnancy and breastfeeding concerns.
Here's what the website says about Remicade: http://www.motherisk.org/prof/updatesDetail.jsp?content_id=726

Again, mother risk has thorough and up-to-date information.

I wish you the best for your pregnancy!

Roni

Back in October I asked my daughter's GI about Remicade.  He said he really didn't want to start it now when she is in her childbearing years.

However, last week in the hospital she had a young GI fellow who told her the whole history of remicade and how wonderful it is - no mention of her "childbearing" years. 

Definitely a personal decision.  Good luck!