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How do you feel about taking medication for UC during pregnancy?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/7/2010 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
I am 23 weeks pregnant and currently taking Apriso (4 pills a day).  I was in remission at first (it just sporadically happened when I hit 6 weeks) and then went into a flare when I hit 20 weeks.  I have a doctors appt next week but but in the meantime do you ladies have any suggestion on how to get myself back into remission?  Also, has anyone ever had a uc flare until they delivered?  I am so worried about having this flare until I deliver-I just want it gone, I am so worried for my baby-sometimes I get sharp pains during bowel movements, see blood, and mucus in the toilet and I think to myself is my baby really ok in my tummy with all this UC turmoil going on. 

 

Posted 7/7/2010 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
use your rectal meds.....and although I've never been pregnant, I wouldn't give that a second thought.

q
Posted 7/7/2010 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
I had no problems taking meds while pregnant and breastfeeding. It was more important that I stayed as healthy as I could while pregnant and caring for my son. I was already sick enough with the meds. I wasn't going to risk having no meds and getting worse. Most meds for almost everything really are safe during pregnancy
Posted 7/7/2010 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with both Pam and Q. I haven't been pg with UC (yet, but I am hopeful it will happen!), but I would definitely keep up with the rectals. I'm on Remicade now too, and I will be staying on that-the OB has already reassured me about it. And the GI also wants me on 6mp and says it should be safe for pg. OB doesn't fully agree on that one, but regardless, I think like Pam said, it is most important to keep yourself healthy. The baby will take what s/he needs from you-you need to worry more about yourself.

Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy-I hope this flare turns around!!!
Posted 7/7/2010 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
I was on meds when pregnant with my son....i stayed on asacol, 6mp, and was on prednisone 20 weeks on due to a flare. My son was born 2 weeks early weighing 8 lb 3 oz. healthy as can be. He is now 9 mos old and doing great. 25lb. 2 oz. last dr visit. I was so scared to be on the meds but after being in the hosp for 2 weeks i knew it was safer for him if i stayed on them and believe me he took everything he needed from me and just left me the left overs. Good luck...and try to stay healthy. I also did do some rectal meds...had better luck with the suppositories. easier to hold when pregnant.
Posted 7/8/2010 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I am currently 11 weeks pregnant, taking Lialda (x3 a day), Rowasa (x1 a day) and prednisone (started at 40mg, tapering by 5mg per week and currently on 20mg). I was in remission when we conceived (my GI doc said "now is the time to do it", so we did :D), but unfortunately at four and a half weeks pregnant I started flaring. I just got worse and worse, and the mesalamine was doing *nothing* to control it. I went to my GI, who understand (and shares) my reluctance to take prednisone (I had never been on it before). He gave me a prescription for prednisone. He told me I could either fill it right away or try taking the Roawasa twice a day, but if that didn't help within a few days, to start taking the prednisone. I tried the Rowasa twice a day, it did nothing. I was eating and drinking next to nothing but still having bloody diarrhea 15+ times a day. I eventually became so weak that I needed to go to the ER for fluids. I started taking the prednisone that day. I had to get to that point in order for my mind to justify it.

Trust me, I don't like taking all these meds while I'm pregnant, especially the prednisone. But it's really my only choice - the risks to the fetus from being so sick from the colitis are probably worse than the risk from the meds. I told my husband the other day that if I ever get pregnant again and start to flare, I would start taking the prednisone right away rather than to allow myself to get so sick again.

I'm just crossing my fingers that I don't flare again when I taper off the prednisone. I intend to continue taking the Lialda/Rowasa combination because that is what had me in remission prior to conceiving.

The Rowasa has been great for me. Not the most pleasant way to take meds, but you know what? I happily take it, knowing the effect it has on my UC. I've been on it every day for over a year because every time I tried to taper off I flared again. My disease is best when I am taking it every day.

Don't worry so much about taking the mesalamine during your pregnancy - it's a class B drug. Lots of pregnant women use it and have happy healthy babies. You need to take care of your baby by taking care of yourself first, even if that means taking drugs you'd rather not take (and I can understand feeling that way). Best of luck to you, I hope you go into remission soon.
Posted 7/8/2010 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
weevil,

Where do you have your UC? How long were you in remission before trying? We'd like to try but we are a bit scared. I haven't seen blood for about a week now... I started Rowasa about 4 weeks ago and I noticed improvement right away and I hope it continues. Best of Luck.
Posted 7/8/2010 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
I am going to try that Rowasa one more time even though I am not too fond of it-if that doesn't work, I will follow up with my doctor in regards to other options.
Posted 7/8/2010 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
Lynn27,

Instead of taking the rectal meds, can you give me some more details about the suppositories. I am going to call me doctor and ask about that. What is the name of the suppositories? does it really work? how do you use the suppositories?
Posted 7/8/2010 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
Quincy,

I am just wondering, are you in remission?
Posted 7/8/2010 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
yes....my flares are also very minimal and pretty much are controlled quickly when I increase back to nightly.The suppositories will just be a waste of time for you...my opinion, solely.The'll be good for either supplementing the enemas or while tapering if you're having problems.
q
Posted 7/8/2010 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
the suppositories are called canasa. They don't get as far up in the colon to treat but i have such a hard time holding the enemas in that it works best for me. especially when i was pregnant and uncomfortable to begin with. Feel free to ask anything else.
Posted 7/9/2010 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
UCISNOT MYFRIEND - Suppositories are also rectal meds and are administered by inserting into your rectum either once or twice daily. They only treat the rectum though and will not reach anything higher up than a few inches.
Posted 7/9/2010 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
My first pregnncy I was ignorant- I did not really know any better- no ones fault.  I flared from around 3mos til I gave birth at 29 weeks- my son was in the NICU for 3 mos.  The drs never really said what happened- but my uc was bad, i gained maybe 2lbs the whole 29wks, i was having contractions & didn't even know it.  I was so used to just dealing with my uc- as I always had done it the past- that I didn't realize how it was effecting the baby.   I would say do what you  have to do to stay healthy- & it if you have to take meds- then do so..  I was on prednisone with my 1st 2 kids & have already taking some with my 3rd.  I'm only 7 wks along- but have already been on & off prednisone & had remicade last wk.  I don't ever want another NICU baby, if I can help it. 
Posted 7/12/2010 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I took my meds while I was preggo..not too much though..I did not flare at all until after when I took way too much advil and anitibiotics.
Posted 7/12/2010 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
I had a minor flare throughout my pregnancy, starting at week 6. I delivered at 38.5 weeks- full term, healthy and happy!!
I did not change any of my meds during my pregnanct BUT I did stay on my salofalk (5ASA) throughout. I wish that I had sarted enemas during my pregnancy becuase I think | could have squashed this flare then. I am still having some mild to moderate inflammation on my left side (as seen at my May cscope) and and hoping to finally get back into my solid remission with the help of the enemas.
Anyways- my advice: stay on your meds, get some rectals, and try very hard not to worry so much.
Posted 7/12/2010 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hello!
Congrats on the pregnancy.

I have a current 25 month and 11 month old, and long story short, the only thing that put me into remission was getting pregnant.

I had made my appt. to have my colon removed in Oct. 2007, and found out the next week I was prego.
I was on 100 mg. of Prednisone and 2,400 mg. of Asacol when I got pregnant, as well as had just had a Remicade infusion.
I was able to taper off of Prednisone over a 3 month period, but stayed on the Asacol the entire pregnancy. Gave birth in June 2008, and immediately began Remicade 6 weeks after her birth to try and stay in remission.

Got prego again in Nov. 2008 and had another girl in Aug. of 09, but the last 2 months of her pregnancy I did have a flare up and had to go back on 20 mg. of Prednisone. I was on Asacol the entire pregnancy with this one as well.

Asacol is a class B drug, which is relativiely safe and can be taken if necessary during pregnancy. My doctor's even suggested Remicade if needed, but I opted out.

We want another baby as well, but not right this minute. I am going to have part 1 surgery sometime soon...I see the surgeon on the 28th, and we want to try again about a year after part 1 surgery.


I wish you luck the rest of your pregnancy....just remember, the end product is worth it!!

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