Imuran and Pregnancy

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Question:

At one point I practically begged my doctor to put me on immuran or 6-mp and he said that since I had no children but still planned on having some in the future that he didn’t want me taking either of these meds. I was arguing that I could always stop once I wanted to have kids but he was very adament about the whole thing. He was asking how I could avoid accidentally getting pregnant and I told him the same way I’ve managed to do it for the past seven years. He finally said if I really wanted to we could try it but he highly recommended against it. Once again he scared me and I’ve been surviving without because of his advice. I guess to him the benefits outweighed the future risks. -Kim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wondered if anyone out there has had some experience with falling pregnant on Imuran. I had a very traumatic first pregnancy (and thank heavens, despite all the adversity have a very healthy four year old). I now would like to have another child, but my gastrointerologist is adamant that I do not go off the Imuran. Now is the first time that I have some sort of "remission" and have gained enough weight so that I at least look healthy. I must say that I do feel much better than I have been for many years. Please help, my biological clock is ticking and any help or advice from you would be great. Melanie

Response:

I wondered if anyone out there has had some experience with falling pregnant on Imuran. I had a very traumatic first pregnancy (and thank heavens, despite all the adversity have a very healthy four year old). I now would like to have another child, but my gastrointerologist is adamant that I do not go off the Imuran. Now is the first time that I have some sort of "remission" and have gained enough weight so that I at least look healthy. I must say that I do feel much better than I have been for many years. Please help, my biological clock is ticking and any help or advice from you would be great. Melanie

Response:

I can only tell you what my gastroenterologist told me. He said that he would not recommend getting pregnant while on 6-MP (same as Imuran), but that if I did, he would not recommend termination. In other words, the danger of birth defects is much lower with the kind of dosages we take than with the kind of dosage leukemia patients, for whom it was originally designed, have to take. Maybe you can talk him into lowering the dosage. Be well, Hadass — National Research Council of Canada Phone: (204) 984 – 4535 Institute for Biodiagnostics Fax: (204) 984 – 7036 435 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg,MB,R3B 1Y6 http://www.ibd.nrc.ca/~eviatar Obligatory disclaimer: NRC wouldn’t dream of saying a thing like that.

Response:

I have had Crohn’s for 19 years and I am 29 years old. I have been on Imuran for the past three years. I was wondering if anyone stayed on Imuran while they were pregnant. This is my doctor’s recommendation to me, however, I am very nervous to stay on it. Please help to ease my mind, or convince me that my doctor is wrong. I really want to get pregnant and have a healthy baby!!!!!!

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Hi there

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Are you folks related? You have the same middle name.

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I just started on 6-MP yesterday. When I went to the doctor, he made me look him directly in the eye and tell him that I had no plans on becoming pregnant. I do want kids some day, but seeing as I am single and there are no current prospects, this was not difficult to do. From what I understand, it would be detrimental to the baby to be on 6- MP. I assume this would go for Imuran as well. My main concern was about fertility, as my doctor had told me about 6-MP about 5 years ago, but decided not to put me on it because I was young, and hadn’t had a family yet. Then, 5 years later, he tells me that he thinks it would be good for me to start taking it. Well, I started to question that because although I am now 30, I still haven’t had kids, and don’t want to do any perminant damage. He said there is no evidence of fertility problems, but that I would have to be off the drug for at least 3 months before planning to become pregnant. I am attaching a link to a website that I have found very informative for the medications I take (dosages, side effects, interactions, etc). Hope it is useful. http://www.gicare.com/pated/edr0001.htm#top Jill —Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.—

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Hello, I would like more information on this subject. My doctor said that it would be OK to take during the first 32 weeks. But other information suggests that it should not be taken at all and can in fact lead to infertility. Help Alison

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I would be very careful and be off Imuran for a few months before you even tried to get pregnant. Just wouldn’t want to take any chances. Charles

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You can see side effects, etc. of Imuran at this web site: http://www.rxmed.com/monographs/imuran.html

Thank you so much for that little tid-bit of information! I didn’t realize there was a site out there for Imuran. It was VERY informative. Again, thank you! Margie CD Class of 67 UC Class of 96

Response:

If I were you (and a woman), I wouldn’t take it at all during pregnancy. You can see side effects, etc. of Imuran at this web site: http://www.rxmed.com/monographs/imuran.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello, I would like more information on this subject. My doctor said that it would be OK to take during the first 32 weeks. But other information suggests that it should not be taken at all and can in fact lead to infertility. Help Alison

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