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Women taking Remicade without 6mp?

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Posted 10/26/2007 9:14 AM (GMT -8)
Hi,

I have a bit of a dilemma: whether to take Remicade in combination with 6mp or whether to take it alone.  My GI told me that most GIs in Canada recommend taking both together in the believe that 6mp reduces the chances that you'll develop anti-bodies to Remicade, rendering it ineffective.  However, he told me that one major hospital in Canada holds the opposite and that they prescribe Remicade on its own.

My dilemma presents itself because I'm thinking of trying to conceive and I want the fetus to be exposed to as few drugs as possible (although my GI feels comfortable with me taking both 6mp and Remicade while pregnant).  I'm also more comfortable with the thought of breastfeeding (something that is really important to me) if I'm only taking Remicade.

Does anyone have any experience with this?  Is anyone, especially any women out there, successfully taking Remicade without taking 6mp? 

Thanks for you help.

Posted 10/26/2007 9:59 AM (GMT -8)
I have had three Remicade infusions without taking 6mp...So far I have been successful with it...My GI only plans on me having the three infusions that I have already had...I'm still on pred but tapering at the time...Down to 10mg and so far so good...I do remember my GI telling me that if I planned on trying to concieve that it wasn't a good idea being on Remicade...He told me that we would definatley need to talk about it before trying...I'm curious to see how I do when I'm finally off the pred...I've been on it for 7 months...Seems I'm steroid dependant, thats why we had to go with remicade...Hopefully three infusions will do it for me, but I've read conflicting reports on that...So, I'm not sure if I even answered your question other than I have had remicade without 6mp, but with pred...Not sure if it's going to work until I get off the pred completely...
Posted 10/26/2007 12:31 PM (GMT -8)
My GI definitely wanted me off azathioprine before I started Remicade. However, some people on this board take Remicade with Immuran so obviously doctor's advise varies. I think the reasoning behind getting off them is that some Crohn's patients who took both together developed a lymphoma that was often fatal. You might check out remicade's website for more info on that.

A year ago I had our third and final child but I personally would be a little nervous about being pregnant while on Remicade. I was on prednisone throughout my last preganancy and my photos from that time remind me how puffed up and borderline scary I looked but at least it kept me from having to use some of the hardcore drugs.

Posted 10/27/2007 7:07 AM (GMT -8)
my doc won't allow being pregnant or nursing while on it. i started it after my last child was born and had to quit nursing. i'm not on 6mp or imuran. i worked for me.
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