pregnancy and meds

jenzie06

Hey all,
Just wanted to ask what drugs people were on whilst pregnant. I've been told that the amitrip and hydrox aren't suitable for pregnant ladies. The only thing the hospital can suggest is steroids, which will make the baby huge won't it?!
I've taken amitrip for the past ten years and I've tried not taking for the past few days and I'm completely exhausted! I don't sleep very well at all.
Does anyone know what pain meds you can take when pregnant? I'm not seeing the consultant until September at least and I've just moved house so I've changed GP's (I'm seeing them on Fri and I'm a bit nervous).

Any suggestions?

suzster

ok, i'm not an expert but before i decided 2 children were enough i had discussed this with my rheumy, she told me i could take sulphasalazine but not much else. is it worth talking to your rheumy nurse if you have one? or do you have a rheumatology helpline number?

how have you found stopping the amitriptyline? i know when i tried to stop it once i became really moody, i mean REALLY moody lol, my gp said that the moods were caused by stopping the amit to quick!
sue

c4thyg

jenzie06 wrote:

Hey all,
Just wanted to ask what drugs people were on whilst pregnant. I've been told that the amitrip and hydrox aren't suitable for pregnant ladies. The only thing the hospital can suggest is steroids, which will make the baby huge won't it?!

Any suggestions?

Jen, yes you can take steroids but of course they're not perfect. Codiene type drugs are supposed to ok. My daughter had a LOT of morphine while I was pregnant (for other reasons). Some people like pain patches but I'm not sure if they're suitable in pregnancy. They are a constant lower dose of buprenorphine so they MIGHT be ok. Your rhuemy nurse would be a good person to ask.

Of course if you have the inflammatory type of arthritis around 33% of women see an improvement while pregnant!!

suzster

i to had to take morphine whilst pregnant, again not for RA as i didn't have it at the time but for a hip problem, i can't remember what i took, but i know i did lower the dose so i was taking less whilst pregnant, if i remember what it was i'll post!!!

joyful164

Hi Jenzie06

When I was pregant for the first time, in 1968 withmy first born in early 69. During the first 3 months, which is the worst time, I was extremely ill with Bronchitis. I was put on antibiotics. I just assumed they were ok, but was dreadfully worried. Lost so much weight during that 3 months. Made up for it later.

My daughter wouldn't touch anything to help her spondylitis. She went to a herbalist or something. And she had lots of massaging to help her pain.

Perhaps this is a question for the Helpline. They could help you here. There is such a fine balance to take into consideration.

joyful

ldouglas

Hi Jen,
Sulfasalazine, Hydroxychloroquine and Azathioprine are all Dmards that are safe during pregnancy, although it depends whether your consultant is happy for you to be on them.

I just had a wee boy in May, was on Prednisolone all through the pregnancy (and while TTC), only managed to come off completely the month before I was due, and he weighed 7lb7oz, so steroids dont necessarily mean a big baby. Was 12.5 - 7.5 mg for most of the time.

I also took Ibuprofen while TTC but the jurys out on whether its completely safe or not. I stopped it when I found out I was pregnant and just took full dose paracetamol religiously, sometimes with dihydrocodeine if I was really bad (was told this was also perfectly safe, so long as I wasnt taking regularly when it came to delivery).

Was on Azathioprine also (started this 2 months before becoming pregnant as sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine were not helping to prevent a flare). Its safe enough to breastfeed while on this also, at normal doses (lots of evidence of its use in renal transplant patients).


Speak to your GP about it, as they often have more experience of prescribing drugs during pregnancy than rheumatologists. They may even refer to the obstetrics team to see what they would be happy for you to be taking ( once you become pregnant you will probably see them a lot more than the rheumy anyway).

Hope this helps

Lesley

jenzie06

Cheers to the replies.
Coming off the drugs has been pretty tricky. I've been mega grumpy and really exhausted. Can't decide if my aching legs are due to change in drugs or a flare starting. By the end of the day (about 3pm - I'm such a lightweight!) I'm really struggling. I'm having to rest an awful lot but it doesn't seem to help.
Seeing my new GP tomorrow so perhaps he'll work it out.

suziev

jenzie06 wrote:

Cheers to the replies.
Coming off the drugs has been pretty tricky. I've been mega grumpy and really exhausted. Can't decide if my aching legs are due to change in drugs or a flare starting. By the end of the day (about 3pm - I'm such a lightweight!) I'm really struggling. I'm having to rest an awful lot but it doesn't seem to help.
Seeing my new GP tomorrow so perhaps he'll work it out.

hi

just thought it was worth a mention but from struggling to get pregnant (without ra) i would advise anyone coming of drugs to get pregnant who has arthritis to get a blood test done, ovulation tests is a good gauge on if your body is working well and don't just have it done once get it done twice. you can then pick up any problems at the start also not very romantic but an ovulation kits as well, since the quicker you get pregant the better.
good luck
suzie

sabreena

Hi

Through all of my pregnancies i have been on 5mg of prednisolone and the only thing that they are concerned about with that is the growth of the baby, small not big so i would have 4 weekly scans from 20 weeks (which is nice anyway) to make sure he/she was growing fine and to be honest they all weighed different weights but all fine and healthy.

I wouldn't take anything else apart from paracetamol and only when i really needed it.

If your not seeing your consultant till september cannot you not call his secetary and leave a message and ask for his advice, or contact your specialist nurse, don't just wait and suffer!

Sabreena

claireml

Hi All

I am 38 weeks pregnant and have been taking 1500mg of Sulfasalazine and 5mg of prednisolone as well as daily folic acid throughout TTC and pregnancy. I have been under an Obstetrian from early in the pregnancy and he has been more concerned with the prednisolone than the sulfasalazine. Prednisolone can mean a small baby but at my scan last Wed the baby is already 7lb 14oz so this is not the case for me... looks like I may have a 9lb if I go to 40 weeks or beyond !!

The hardest decision for me was coming off MTX to TTC and I did get my GP to check both myself and hubbie's fertility prior to doing this.

C x

frogmorton

Bumped up for Merylmax

Toni xxx