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Avonex and Pregnancy?

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    #1

    Avonex and Pregnancy?

    So my Neuro still isn't 100% sure I have MS, but he's 99% sure and is just waiting for the LP results.

    Last time I saw him we talked about the dmds. He really likes Avonex. I brought up the fact that my husband and I are planning on starting a family sooner than later and he said I can still be on Avonex (or another dmd) while pregnant. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that.

    Anyone have any advice/experience with dmd's and pregnancy?
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    #2
    That doesn't sound right to me. I always thought you needed to go off the drugs for the pregnancy and maybe a little longer if you plan on breastfeeding. I would get a second opinion.

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      #3
      No. I believe generally women are told to go off the interferon when pregnant (or even trying to get pregnant). That is what my friend was told to do when she conceived.

      Copaxone may be different.

      I would definitely get another opinion on this.

      Comment

        #4
        There are some recent articles in the medical literature about pregnancy and MS DMDs.

        The effects of long-term exposure to disease-modifying drugs during pregnancy in multiple sclerosis.
        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22633835
        "RESULTS: From the total group of patients, 89 pregnancies occurred without any exposure to MS drugs, while 61 pregnancies occurred with at least eight weeks of exposure to MS immunomodulatory drugs. The rate of obstetric and neonatal complications was similar in both groups, except for the newborn weight and height which was smaller for mothers receiving medications. Mothers' post-delivery relapse rate and EDSS scores in the follow-up period were significantly higher in the absence of treatment."

        Perinatal outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis exposed to disease-modifying drugs.
        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21914689
        "RESULTS: In all, 311 women with relapsing-remitting MS delivered 418 singleton babies between April 1998 and March 2009. 21/101 (21%) of births to MS women treated with DMD prior to pregnancy were exposed to a DMD. In all cases, exposure was documented as unintentional and DMD treatment was stopped within 2 months of gestation. The overall incidence of exposure was 21/418 (5%). DMD exposure was associated with a trend towards a greater risk of assisted vaginal delivery compared to the DMD naïve groups (OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.0-9.2). All other comparisons of perinatal outcomes were unremarkable."

        Delivery of healthy babies after natalizumab use for multiple sclerosis: a report of two cases.
        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21492099
        "RESULTS: The antenatal course of the first patient was complicated by an exacerbation of MS. The second patient did not experience MS relapses during pregnancy, while still using natalizumab. The newborns did not show any abnormalities postnatal and at 6 weeks' follow-up."

        Comment

          #5
          If you choose a DMD, you might try copaxone

          According to http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/news/A...Pregnancy.html

          Interferon is a Category C and Copaxone a Category B for pregnancy which may make it a more comfortable choice for you.

          Comment

            #6
            Women with MS often go into remission while pregnant due to the protective effect of estrogen.

            I suggest you google: estrogen multiple sclerosis

            I wouldn't take Avonex or any other MS drug while pregnant as this is only nine months of your life with MS but possibly the most important nine months of your baby's.

            As an aside, if you are trying to get pregnant, many fertility specialists use Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) with significant success. LDN is used off-label for MS and would not interfere with pregnancy because it is non-toxic.

            Comment

              #7
              Tell the Dr NO!

              Stop the Avonex and everything else you may be taking. Pregnancy is the only time in your childs life that you can protect them from everything in life. As soon as they are born they are exposed to bad air, germs, etc.

              Congratulations and good luck with your pregnancy!
              Be the kind of WOMAN that when your feet hit the floor each morning
              the DEVIL says "OH CRAP, SHES UP."

              Comment

                #8
                I was taking avonex and my neuro said i needed to be off of it for at least a month before trying to conceive. the shorter the time in between being off your meds and getting pregnant the better!

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