How Does Infliximab Affect A Baby During Pregnancy?
I currently take Infliximab every 8 weeks for Crohn’s Disease. My partner and I are planning to get pregnant while I am feeling well and I was wondering if anyone knows any current facts about the effects of infliximab during pregnancy or can someone give me a link to an updated, genuine site please?!
February 28th, 2010 at 2:24 AM
It’s classed as ‘category C’ which means that there isn’t enough data to give you a proper answer. From what they know how infliximab works, it could harm the baby, they aren’t 100% sure.
Category C =
“Drugs that, owing to their pharmacological effects, have caused or may be suspected of causing harmful effects on the human fetus or neonate without causing malformations. These effects may be reversible. ”
Basically, you will need to discuss this with the doc. Maybe you can change to a different treatment for the pregnancy or if your Crohns is mild they might get you to drop it altogether.
February 28th, 2010 at 3:20 AM
Bianca Z,
Infliximab is classed as a ‘biological treatment’ because it has been designed in such a way that it mimics normal human molecules. This drug is used mainly to treat psoriasis, and occasionally to treat rare skin diseases such as pyoderma gangrenosum. It is also widely used in other specialties, for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. You should have been informed of the possible side effects of this drug. However, with regard to your question about the effects of infliximab on pregnancy, you should be aware that giving infliximab is not recommended during pregnancy. Women who may become pregnant must use adequate contraception and continue to use it for at least 6 months after the last infliximab treatment. It is not known whether infliximab comes out in human milk or is absorbed after ingestion. Because special proteins called human immunoglobulins are excreted in the milk, women must not breast feed for at least 6 months after an infliximab treatment. You would be advised to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Similarly, if you become pregnant while taking infliximab, tell your doctor. For obvious reasons, males who are trying to father a child, generally should not receive this drug.
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I add a link with some details of this subjecthttp://www.otispregnancy.org/
pdf/infliximab.pdf
Hope this helps
matador 89