Mercaptopurine and pregnancy????

I am a women how was diagnosed with crohns 5 years ago, but only now I am settling on a medication which is called “mercaptopurine”  or 6-mp,

but my question is if I can get pregnant on this medication? My GI says yes there is no problem….. But my OB says that it’s dangers…..

so I would like to know, has someone become pregnant while on this medication? And what was your experience with it? I know what the FDA says but I whane know what your experience was..

 

Thank you

We have a member Stef17 who has some awesome links about this very subject. Hopefully she will see this post and respond soon. We have had mom's take meds such as Pred, Imuran/6mp, Remicade and Humira and all have delivered heathly babies. The thought is a healthy mom produces a healthy baby. Good luck!

Depends on what the GI means by safe. A pregnant woman in a flare is a higher risk pregnancy than one on 6MP, IMHO.

I don't know, sounds like legal liability management to me. I've never seen a study paper that recommends females stop taking 6MP at our dosages during pregnancy. If someone finds one I'll gladly admit I'm wrong!

Hello there.  I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in 1996.  In September of 2009 I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy.  In the words of the nurses in the maternity ward - "He is exquisite".  I already had two beautiful healthy children (boy 3yrs and girl 2yrs) and was not planning another pregnancy, but these things do tend to happen.  During my first two pregnancies I was taking an approved medication called Mesasal to treat my Crohn's disease (which is classified as a safe medication to take during pregnancy).  I had no problems with either pregnancy and both children were delivered without any problems.  In 2008 I had a severe Crohn's attack and my specialist decided to change my medication to Mercaptopurine (as I was not planning to have anymore children, and he did not think that the Mesasal would be effective anymore).  Therefore, I fell pregnant whith my 3rd child WHILST taking mercaptopurine.  To say that I was alarmed was an understatement.  Me, my husband, and both of our families were incredibly concerned about the foetal development of our child.  My specialist explained to me that you have to weigh up the situation individually - How bad the flared Crohn's is, and whether 'no medication' vs taking mercaptopurine is more of a risk to the developing baby.  It was a massive relief to all when our son was born normal and healthy.  He is now 15 months old, is totally gorgeous, and has no physical abnormalities (apart from a couple of slightly webbed toes, which runs in my mothers family line anyway LOL).  He is also demonstrating normal development.  He does have retractile testes, which there is a small chance of happening in any regualr pregnancy, and we have been told by his urologist that this will rectify itself.  I'm not a doctor, and I definitely do not claim to know more about this drug and these circumstances than anyone else.  All that I can relay to you is my own experience with Crohn's Disease, mercaptopurine and pregnancy.  I did have some adverse affects from mercaptopurine personally (extreme lethargy, white pastey skin, generally feeling OFF, fevers & chills, and flu like symptoms, loss of motivation and feeling like a zombie), which resulted in my being hospitalised for 3 days toward the end of the pregnancy.  I was closely monitored by the maternity ward staff and although I was displaying symptoms that align with a reaction to the drug, my unborn baby showed no signs of distress.  In the end my obstetrician and gastroenterologist decided to take me off the mercaptopurine with only 6 weeks before my due date.  I have made a personal decision not to take it again because of the affects I suffered myself, but all I can tell you is that my baby is happy, normal & gorgeous.  If anything, I hope this information gives you some hope and food for thought.  I wish you all the best for the future and your decision to start a family of your own.