I am on prednisone for my RA. | Arthritis Information

Hello,

I am a new member to this message board and I am so happy that I found it!

I am on 20mg of prednisone for my RA because I am trying to get pregnant. My rheumatologist says this is the only safe drug I can take during this time in order to have no harm to the fetus. Any one have any thoughts on this?
Thanks!

First off, congratulations on trying to get pregnant! Best of luck to you and your partner.

Secondly, i am veyr new to this, but my rheumy put me on azulfidine. She says it is very safe for pregnancy and my gyno confirmed this. Just food for though.

Be well, and good luck!

Ali

Hello,

Just wanted to reply...my Husband and I were trying some time ago. My OB/GYN , kept me on everything EXCEPT mtx. She said that a couple of meds were okay until I became pregnant then she would wing me off the others. I went to a high risk specialist OG/GYN to help me conceive and throughout my pregnancy. So maybe look into a Doctor that deals with high risk Patients. You may not have to be just on Prednisone alone.

Roblyn

Hi - i have a 16 week old newborn and i started on pred when i was 7 months pregnant. It worked brilliantly with the swelling and pain and my baby turned out perfect - though big!!! Think it was the steroids!!! I too was on 20mg and still am - though 6 weeks after the birth i had a horrific flare which lasted 3 weeks in every joint in body which they had warned me would happen. Now im back to pain but the bad flare died down.

Il be happy to help you with my experience if you want to email me!

willwin2,

Thank you for your response. I will ask my RA doctor but he isn't very responsive. I have asked him more than once about other meds besides prednisone while trying to get pregnant. He basically has told me there is nothing else I can take while trying to get pregnant. I am thinking of changing doctors.

Thanks again.

Hi!

I just wanted to mention that I'm in my first trimester of pregnancy and am taking 5mg of prednisone daily along with the occasional tylenol. I'm in quite a bit of pain though, but am trying to keep the prednisone dose as low as possible because there is a very slight increase in the risk of cleft palate for children who are exposed to corticosteriods in the first trimester (the risk basically goes from 1/1000 to 3/1000; so really not a big deal).

It took me three months to conceive and what I did was go off everything except Enbrel and prednisone and I'd stay on both meds up until my ovulation day. After ovulation, I'd just be on prednisone until I got my period, then I'd go back on Enbrel. This worked for me and made the months trying to conceive less painful.

P.S. My rheumy was just like yours. Didn't want me on anything except prednisone for the pregnancy. I wonder if these doctors are really giving out sound medical advice or are just trying to cover their butts by not recommending anything.

Good luck to you!