Community Forum

I am 34 and was diagnosed with UC in December. I have 3 little boys and have always dreamed of having a fourth child. My husband was on board prior to being diagnosed, but now is very concerned with my health and the fetus. I am currently on Asacol and Mercaptopurine (6MP) and am feeling wonderful, no flare ups. Everything I read about MP does not recommend being used during pregency because it is a level D drug. Has anyone stopped taking the drug (per their doctor) and then went back on it right about the birth of the baby? Any help is appreciated. Thanks-

 Reply posted for kcole.

Hey kcole,
Here is a copy of some of the things I had read that I posted on this topic in the archives.  I had to go back to find it as it was back in March I think!

Read on:

I did find some information on CCFA regarding pregnancy and IBD.  According to this pamphlet, it says the following:

"Aminosalicylates: Sulfasalzine and other 5ASA compounds such as mesalamine (Asacol, Pentasa, Rowasa, Canasa, Lialda), balsalazide (Colazal), and olsalazine (Dipentum) do not increase complications or harm the fetus.  Sulfasalazine may cause nausea and heartburn.  Women can breastfeed while taking a 5 ASA compound."

"Immunomodulators (Immunospressives) Immunosuppresive drugs such as Azathioprine (Imuran) 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP, Purinethol), and cyclosporine A (Sandimmune, Neoral) appear safe during pregnancy in standard dosages.  Both men and women should avoid methotrexate."

I also want to include which I forgot to say on my other post that breastfeeding I think is out.  My doctor told me this back in March as well when he said he wanted me to stay on 6MP.  I am not sure what they mean by "standard dosages" but this is a starting point to talk with your doctor.  Hope this help!

~rax10

 Reply posted for kcole.

Hi ladies,
I put this in discussion a long time back so it is probably in the archives by now, but I had this similar issue.  I am 30 now and have had colitis for about 10 years.  My husband and I are hoping to start trying this month or next so I have done A LOT of talking with doctors and reading in regards to mercaptopurine.  My OB and GI docs both agree to stay on the 6MP during pregnancy.  Like you, I am very hesitant to do so however they both agree that the benefits outweigh the risks.  The only relating story that I have with this just because I am not pregnant nor have I had children yet comes from my OB doctor.  He had another woman in his clinic that were on the same meds as me including Sulfasalzine and 6MP for colitis (I am on a whole list of others, but these were the most concerning to me) and she got pregnant on the drugs and stayed on them throughout.  She ended up having healthy twin boys!  As the other poster remarked low birth weight and preterm births are possibilities but I don't know that this has anything to do with the medications more so the disease itself.
Although it frightens me just knowing 6MP is a class D drug, I have to go with my doctors on this.  The results of going off medications can be so much worse if you are pregnant including miscarriages among others.  I do know from my other posts that some doctors feel differently.  It really is a hard call!  Good luck and let me know if you find out any more information regarding this topic!  I am hopeful to be able to have a child someday soon!

 Reply posted for kcole.

Hi, 

I am out of the range for having children now, but a news cast caught my ear a couple of weeks ago as it had to do with Crohns. Anyway they showed a study of women on Remicaide while pregnant and it does not show any adverse effects.  Maybe you can look into that with your Dr.  I have been on Remicaide for a few years now and it works well for me.

Good luck,

Karen

 Reply posted for kcole.

I was just diagnosed with UC last month & was recently started on 6MP while being tapered off prednisone.  I am 24 yrs old & definitely want kids someday (after I start feeling better & make sure this med is going to work for me).  So I looked up some research done, which is scarce, through my schools web site.  I found a study done in Denmark where they looked up info on pregnancies where the women were on AZA (Imuran) or 6MP- since they're in the same class of drugs.  It's really wordy but their conclusion was that while they did have a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes (low birth weight, preterm birth, & congenital abnormalities), these were caused more by the underlying disease than by the use of the drugs. 

I know this doesn't promise zero complications but I felt that it was reassuring because I was scared that I wouldn't have the chance to have a normal pregnancy on 6MP.  Some women are able to be off all meds during pregnancy because the high levels of hormones keeps flare-ups down.  That would be between you & your GI, of course. If you'd like a copy of this research article, you can email me.  I don't think you'd be able to find it on the internet since I got it logged into my school's database.

Hopefully I gave you some helpful information. My email is sld0630@westminstercollege.edu.