Medications Page Welcome to the Medications page! We are trying to create a list of medications that patients with RA may be taking. I’m sure there are many people who have questions about whether their medications are safe during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding. This list was designed to facilitate discussion with your doctor on what your options might be during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding (should you choose to do so). This is not a comprehensive list. Links to other websites are for your information only. You still need to consult your doctor. Also, as we all know, new information comes out all the time. Although we try to stay current and accurate, only your physician can advise you. This list is not guaranteed for accuracy! Consult your doctor on all medication matters for yourself or your child. Disease Modifying Drugs, Immunosuppressants, Other Meds Drug/s Category Cavan's Mom Says                                                                                                       Hydroxychloroquine C I took this medication for about three years, but hadn’t taken it for about 6 years before becoming pregnant. Information I’ve seen indicates that it does get into breast milk. I have no information about safety during pregnancy. I’ve only seen information that indicates caution, but who knows what that means? Consult your doctor!! Methotrexate D I took this medication for 14 months, but hadn’t taken it for about 6 years prior to getting pregnant. This medication is a DON’T during pregnancy. It causes severe birth defects. In addition, I think you need to stop this medication for a long time (months/years?) to get it out of your system before trying to conceive. CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR! Sulfasalazine I have never taken this medication. This medication does get into breast milk. Consult your doctor! Penicillamine I’ve have never taken this medication. It may cause harm to baby during pregnancy. I have no information on breastfeeding. Consult your doctor! Azathioprine http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-13983-Imuran+Oral.aspx?drugid=13983&drugname=Imuran+Oral D I have never taken this medication. It is immunosuppressant. It can cause harm to baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Consult your doctor! Cyclophosphamide http://www.medicinenet.com/cyclophosphamide/article.htm D I have never taken this medication. It is immunosuppressant. This medication can decrease fertility in men and women. This drug may cause harm to baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Consult your doctor! Leflunomide http://www.arava.com/hcp/default.aspx X I have never taken this medication. This medication suppresses your immune system. This medication is a DON’T when having children. It is unsafe for babies during pregnancy and breastfeeding. You must stop taking the medication for 2 years before trying to conceive. There is a washout procedure to decrease that amount of time, however, I’ve also read about a watchdog group stating that the washout procedure may be ineffective for some people. Consult your doctor! Etanercept http://www.enbrel.com/?channel=GOSEA&subchannel=SENC B I have been on this medication for 9+ years and took it both during my pregnancy and breastfeeding for about 4-5 months. That is no guarantee that it is safe, and I do not recommend one way or the other about its safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding. There is a small study published from the University of California, San Diego with 32 Enbrel and Remicade users that I highly recommend reading if you and/or your doctor are considering this during pregnancy. You can obtain more information by visiting www.raandpregnancy.org. There is also an article about FDA adverse reports on TNF drugs that can be found at : Review of FDA report on TNF drugs I did flare about 5 weeks after delivery even with the Enbrel. Publications indicate that it is unknown if Enbrel is in the breast milk, however, other information indicates that it does get into your breast milk. Consult your doctor! http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/ask-the-expert/treatment-020003/enbrel-and-potential-birth-def-1122.html Infliximab http://www.remicade.com/remicade/global/index.html C I have never taken this medication. It is unknown if this medication gets into breast milk. There is now an article about FDA adverse reports on TNF drugs that can be found at : Review of FDA report on TNF drugs Discuss risks of this medication during pregnancy/breastfeeding with your doctor! Anakinra http://www.kineretrx.com/ B I have never taken this medication. I have not found any pregnancy related information about this medication. It is unknown if it passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor! Adalimumab http://www.humira.com I have never taken this medication. It has not been found to be safe nor unsafe during pregnancy to the best of my research. It is similar to both Enbrel and Remicade in that it is a TNF inhibitor. There is a registry (1-877-311-8972) for women who have taken it during pregnancy so that they can be monitored. There is now an article about FDA adverse reports on TNF drugs that can be found at : Review of FDA report on TNF drugs Consult your doctor! Abatacept http://www.orencia.com Tramadol http://www.ultram-er.com/ultram-er/index.html I have never taken this medication. It is excreted in breast milk. It is not known if this harms the baby. This medication should only be used when clearly needed during pregnancy. Consult your doctor about all risks! Nabumetone I have never taken this medication. It should not be taken during the last 3 months of pregnancy and “only when clearly needed” during the first 6 months of pregnancy. It is not known if this medication gets into breast milk. Consult your doctor!

I found some neat sites about pregnancy, breastfeeding and different medications.  Check out the links below! http://66.230.33.248/lact/ Drugs in Pregnancy : SafeFetus.com eMedicine - Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy : Article by Mohammed Mubashir Ahmed The Hospital for Sick Children - Motherisk http://www.jrheum.com/abstracts/abstracts08/13/1224.html http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/arthritis-info/rheumatoid-arthritis/rheum_treat.html#preg#preg

Disclaimer: This site is designed to inform and support those with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is not a comprehensive medical guide to the disease. This information is taken from many different resources. The writings on this site are not intended to diagnose nor treat. People write from their own personal experience and knowledge.  Their ideas are not to be substituted for the medical advice of a practicing physician.