HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Trying to conceive with UC...

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/26/2010 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

This is my first post on here- though I have been lurking for quite awhile. I was diagnosed this past January 2010. I was doing very well on Asacol HD- pretty much symptom free and quite happy. My husband and I recently decided to start trying to have a baby and I found out from my doctor that Asacol is not to be taken even while trying to conceive. They did find 1 med. I could be on while pregnant/trying- Sulfazine (something like that) but I was allergic to it. So now I'm back to square one. I was fine for about 2 months but now that the meds are totally out of my system I am starting to have symptoms again. Nothing to bad yet but I know its only the beginning of it.

Any recommendations? Have you found anything that works that is "allowed" while pregnant/trying?
Posted 10/26/2010 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
I am almost positive that Asacol is totally safe to take while TTC, being pregnant and even breastfeeding. I took salofalk which is the same thing basically (5ASA) throghout and all was fine.
I am sure others will chime in but check with another doctor. who told you this your GI? OBGYN? GP?

Also go to babycenter.com and search for the UC/Crohn's mommies group. They have lots of info about meds etc while TTCand being pregnant.
Like I said I though and think that all 5 ASA's are completely safe while pregnant.
Posted 10/26/2010 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
why did my siggy show up all weird like that? hmmm?
Posted 10/26/2010 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Asacol and all of the ASA meds are safe during pregnancy. I was on Lialda through most of my pregnancy; I was also on prednisone.

Both are category B meds, which is to say that they can be used if needed but shouldn't be taken "just cause". Your doctor is misinformed. You are much better off on the meds than flaring during pregnancy.
Posted 10/26/2010 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I would see a different doctor. It is terrible for a doctor to risk you having a flare when these drugs are safer than flaring up during pregnancy. I don't think sulfasalazine is any safer than Asacol. I am not sure but I've heard of a lot of people having healthy babies on Asacol. My doctor never mentioned anything about it being a problem and she is very understanding towards these issues. Now that I am on 6mp she is much more concerned, fortunately I don't want children now, probably never...

You could also inquire as to using rectal meds. They may be even safer and they may be able to manage your UC if it is mild.

goodluck to you. I am sorry you're not feeling great.
Posted 10/26/2010 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone!! I was able to read these before my dr. appt and able to ask better questions because of it! So I just came back from my dr. and he prescribed Lialda- and I am soo happy to hear that someone was on that during their pregnancy! Hopefully it works for me!

As for Asacol- it was actually a new update this May or June that they changed the casing on the pills making it now a class c and unsafe during pregnancy.

Thanks everyone! :) I like these forums- ...
and Tweeks- thank you for the babycenter suggestion- that's my next stop!
Posted 10/26/2010 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
that's interesting about Asacol. I was on it and Pred during TTC, pregnancy, and breast feeding. I wonder what about the new casing causes that, or is it just b/c it's not been studied.
Posted 10/26/2010 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I can't find any information online about Asacol being a class C drug. It's interesting that your doctor is telling you this. I'm about 26 weeks pregnant, and have been on Asacol HD my entire pregnancy, with no worries from my OBGYN or GI doctor. Hmmm...I did have a nasty flare up and had to be put on prednisone at the beginning of my second trimester, which both doctors said was safe (considering how bad the flare up was) during pregnancy as well. Baby dust your way! :)
Posted 10/26/2010 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, I take back what I just said! I did find info on Asacol's website in their prescribing information that it is a class C. This is really interesting, because I remember asking my pharmacist before I got pregnant if it was safe, and he said yes as well. Well, if it makes you feel any better (in case the Lialda doesn't work for you) there are plenty of Asacol momma's on these boards that have given birth to healthy babies. At my 20 week ultra sound, everything looked great, so hopefully it stays that way!
Posted 10/27/2010 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I had my baby boy 16 months ago and I was on Asacol through TTC, pregnancy and breastfeeding. My GI, GP and midwifes were totally happy for me to stay on it and as a result I have a healthy toddler :)

Lots of luck on your journey !

Posted 10/27/2010 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
I had my daughter while being on Asacol and she was born healthy, happy and whole.

I was not aware that they changed the classification. Can someone please give me a link the website that says that it is now a class C and what the potential risks are?
Posted 10/27/2010 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherry,
I just went to asacol.com and looked under their prescribing information; http://www.asacol.com/pdf/asacol-info.pdf and http://www.asacol.com/pdf/asacolhd-info.pdf.
Sorry! I don't know how to do an actual link!

From reading the information on both Asacol and Asacol HD, it looks like the coating has been shown in rat experiments to cause some facial abnormalities, like cleft palate, and some skeletal abnormalities. There is also some risk with male rat offspring that showed some reproductive aberrations. Female offspring were unaffected. We all should note that these experiments were done at high levels, we're talking 17, 84, 106 and 127 times the human dose.

I guess what we can take away from this is that there are risks every time you take any sort of medication. You have to weigh the risks against the benefits, and hope for the best.
Posted 10/27/2010 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
How about trying Lialda or Apriso?
Posted 10/28/2010 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Oh this is very interesting. I used to be on Asacol and asked to be switched to Lialda prior to TTC because Asacol has phthalates in the coating. I wonder if that is the issue here?

FWIW, lots of women seem to have very healthy babies while on mesalamine. It's definitely better for you (and the baby) to be on the meds than to flare during pregnancy, IMHO.

Statistically you're better off waiting to conceive until you're in remission, so going off the meds and risking a flare would not be a good thing! I'm glad to hear you've started Lialda. I'm hoping it's as effective for you as it has been for me. Good luck with TTC! :
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply