Imuran and pregnancy

The only reason I am answering is that I just got my first script for this and it has warnings all over it that it will effect a fetus and is translated through breast milk.  It sounds like a definite NO-NO to be pregnant while on this pill.  I read my handout pretty thoroughly.

 

Hi Camy1098

Where I live. They don´t recomend Remicade during pregnancy because it affects the featus immunsystem as well and there aren´t so many studies on the longterm effects of medicationg with it during pregnancy. They recomend you being of it for 6months prior to being pregnant. In the case of Imuran it´s not recomended either but It´s like Nanners is saying- there are those who absolutly needs these meds so one have to weigh in the risk for the mother as well.

Hope it turns out for the best and good luck!

Hi Camy1098,

Ok - here's the little bit of info I can tell you. It USED TO BE believed that Imuran/6mp/Mercaptopurine/Purinethol was dangerous to take during pregnancy. I even had a GI tell me that if I wanted to have a "duck" then I should stay on 6mp while pregnant. (Nice, huh?) ANYWAY... back in 2006 when I was expecting my 2nd child, my GI was a part of a HUGE research team in Miami. I was taking 6MP and he insisted that I stay on it while pregnant. He said that all of the most recent research/studies had shown that women taking that medication while pregnant had the SAME amount of birth defects/anomolies etc as women NOT taking 6mp. Therefore, there was actual scientific proof that the medication was not showing to cause any harm to the fetus. I did conceive my 2nd while while taking 6mp and subsequently stopped the medicine during the pregnancy because I went into remission and felt like I didn't need it. That being said, if I felt like I needed it, I would have stayed on it. I am now TTC again (baby #4) and I am on 6mp again. My current GI has no reservations about me taking the medication. I think it depends on how much education/information your GI has and whether or not (s)he has dealth with pregnant patients or not. Also - some doctors are just ultra conservative when it comes to medications during pregnancy. You will have to see what your doctor's philosophy is.

I know that it is not recommended to breastfeed while taking that medication, but I do know of two women who have done so - one of them is a consultant for La Leche League. I personally might not breastfeed while on it, but I haven't been in those shoes yet, so I don't know what decision I am going to make.

As for remicade - I have 2 healthy, happy remicade babies (one humira baby). I also breastfed while taking remicade. The molecule is too large to pass through to the milk so IF the baby gets any at all, the amount is negligible. I did take remicade throughout my pregnancies and would do it again in a heart beat.

http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi?pg=topics&access=guest

This link is to Dr Hale's website on medications and mother's milk. You can look up any med you're taking and see what he says regarding it's safety while breastfeeding.

I don't have any links on imuran, but I will dig around and see what I can come up with. Hope this helps a little.

Stef

Also -- Dr. Hale has a hotline that's really helpful. A mom on another Crohn's forum called and he was actually in the room to help answer her question. Check the site. It's really useful. wonderful.

Stef -- Congrats on trying for #4! That was originally my plan, but I'm nervous about handling 3 when this one arrives.

Up towards the top of the forum you will find a search feature. Just type Pregnancy and Imuran in there, and it will bring up some posts for you to read. Good luck!

Hi I haven't really posted before but was lurking when I saw your post. I remembered how worried I was to get pregnant and continue taking the imuran 150mg but was told that it was more important to keep the crohns under control than from the minimal risks from the imuran. My OB/GYN was great and followed both of my pregnancies. I just had more ultra sounds to for proper growth and such and more non-stress tests towards the end. She also was more worried about my crohns vs the medication. Most important is to be as close to remission and as healthy as you can be before getting pregnant. With my daughter I was in a flare the entire pregnancy and on imuran and she was perfectly healthy. With my son my crohns was much better and he was not effected my the imuran. Per Dr. Hales guide for breastfeeding mothers and lactation consultants I breast feed both of my children while on imuran and anti-TNF drugs with no problems on their part. I hope this helps.