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Women taking Remicade without 6mp/Imuran?

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Posted 10/26/2007 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi (I normally post in the Ulcerative Colitis section, but I thought I'd try here too),

I have a bit of a dilemma: whether to take Remicade in combination with 6mp or whether to take it alone.  My GI told me that most GIs in Canada recommend taking both together in the believe that 6mp reduces the chances that you'll develop anti-bodies to Remicade, rendering it ineffective.  However, he told me that one major hospital in Canada holds the opposite and that they prescribe Remicade on its own.

My dilemma presents itself because I'm thinking of trying to conceive and I want the fetus to be exposed to as few drugs as possible (although my GI feels comfortable with me taking both 6mp and Remicade while pregnant).  I'm also more comfortable with the thought of breastfeeding (something that is really important to me) if I'm only taking Remicade.

Does anyone have any experience with this?  Is anyone, especially any women out there, successfully taking Remicade without taking 6mp? 

Thanks for you help.

Posted 10/26/2007 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
I was on 75 mg of Imuran throughout my pregnancy. The doctor said I had a better chance of delivering a healthy child if I stayed on it. I've only had a few flares, but a couple were really bad. I was blessed with a very healthy baby.

I'm glad you posted this. I think I'm about to switch meds and would like more information on pregnancy and Remicade/Humira.
Posted 10/26/2007 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
I only take Remicade and have had no problems.
Posted 10/26/2007 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!  I was taking 6 MP, and I flared, so my GI started me on Remicade.  Once she started me on Remicade, she stopped my 6 MP.  Her reasoning for this was that the doctors are now finding that people that have been on both Remicade and either 6 MP or azathiopurine at the same time are developing lymphoma.  She didn't want me taking the chance (even if it is rare) of me developing lymphoma, and I completely agree.  Take care.


Posted 10/26/2007 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I take Humira now, but when I was on Remicade I took 6MP as well. I wanted off when the report came out about the increased risk of certain cancers etc. but waited until I switched to Humira. He, too, said that it helped reduce the chance of building up antibodies to the Remicade. I seemed to have done so regardless because after about a year it no longer worked.
Posted 10/26/2007 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Remicade without the Imuran because my first GI didn't prescribe it. My last GI wanted me on it to reduce chances of building antibodies but I never took it regularly.

For the record, I did build antibodies to it 2.5 years after starting and sent myself into a huge flare, complete with a few hospitalizations and 65 pound weight loss.

Who knows if the Imuran would have avoided that.

I'm on Humira now. I hope to get pregnant soon as well and have fears about the Humira and pregnancy...
Posted 10/26/2007 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on remicade (7 infusions to date) without Imuran. My GI does not recommend Imuran in addition. So far I have had no bad reaction and feel better.
Posted 10/26/2007 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
We had 2 Remicade babies on here. I wish I could remember who the ladies were. But both delivered w/o problems 2 healthy babies. Susie
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