Can you take methotrexate while pregnant

People using methotrexate who are planning on becoming pregnant should speak with their doctor first. A doctor can advise people on their best alternatives for treating RA during pregnancy. Many women with rheumatoid arthritis experience a reduction in symptoms during pregnancy. However, this is not always the case, and some women may…. While researchers do not know exactly what causes rheumatoid arthritis RA , they do know that heredity plays a role.

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Learn more about these and other home…. Chemotherapy drugs, such as methotrexate, are one of the first-line treatments for people with rheumatoid arthritis. These drugs can help relieve…. How does methotrexate affect pregnancy? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. Methotrexate and pregnancy Methotrexate and men When is it safe to get pregnant?

Ectopic pregnancy What to do Summary Methotrexate is a first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. What happens if you take methotrexate during pregnancy?

Share on Pinterest Taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis can cause birth abnormalities. Effects of the father taking methotrexate. When is it safe to get pregnant after stopping methotrexate?

Methotrexate and ectopic pregnancy. What to do if you become pregnant while taking methotrexate. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Methotrexate is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug DMARD used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain other rheumatic diseases.

The dose used for rheumatoid arthritis is considered low. Comparatively, methotrexate is also used as a high-dose cancer therapy and at high doses to terminate an ectopic pregnancy. Technically-speaking, methotrexate is a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor that impairs purine metabolism. That said, it can lead to abnormalities in ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. Methotrexate is contraindicated in pregnancy category X and is a known teratogen, which is defined as any substance, organism, or process that causes malformations in a fetus.

Methotrexate can cause dysmorphic facial features, abnormalities of the skull and limbs, growth deficiency, developmental delays, and mental retardation. The potential for fetal complications makes the drug a serious concern for those of childbearing age, those planning to become pregnant, and especially those who become pregnant while being treated with methotrexate. Women must be made aware of the risk of fetal anomalies and pregnancy loss associated with methotrexate, even though the rate of fetal anomalies is considered low.

In a French study , women with chronic inflammatory disorders who were treated with low-dose methotrexate during the first trimester were assessed. Of the 28 cases analyzed, methotrexate exposure ended prior to 8 weeks gestation in 26 women.

Four women had miscarriages, while five opted for termination of the pregnancy. There were 19 live births, of which three were premature. Researchers concluded that their results support the idea that there is not a strong teratogenic risk with low-dose methotrexate, providing the drug is stopped as early in pregnancy as possible.

Another study looked at 8 methotrexate-exposed pregnancies. There was one case of typical methotrexate embryopathy identified.

It is the first such case found among people taking the lower once-weekly dose of methotrexate the usual dose for rheumatic diseases. Even though it was only one case, researchers concluded that the assumption of methotrexate safety at low doses is premature. According to Drugs. Men should wait at least three months after stopping treatment, and women for at least one ovulatory cycle after treatment. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy.

I take methotrexate. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant? One study on infertility patients treated with methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy suggested a lower number of eggs available for fertilization. This finding was temporary. Other studies have not shown an increased chance of problems with fertility with the use of methotrexate. The product label for methotrexate recommends people who are pregnant or breastfeeding not use this medication.

But, the benefit of using methotrexate may outweigh possible risks. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about using methotrexate and what treatment is best for you. I am taking methotrexate , but I would like to stop taking it before becoming pregnant. How long does the drug stay in my body? People eliminate medication at different rates. In healthy adults, it takes up to 1 week, on average, for most of the methotrexate to be gone from the body.

Certain medications and people who have reduced kidney function or a condition that leads to extra body fluid may also clear methotrexate more slowly. During pregnancy, folic acid is important for development of the baby. If you have recently stopped taking methotrexate and are planning to get pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider about taking folic acid and what dose you should take.

How long do I need to wait to become pregnant after I stop taking methotrexate? Some healthcare providers suggest waiting 1 to 3 months after stopping methotrexate to ensure the medication has been cleared from the body. However, there are no reports of babies being born with methotrexate-related birth defects when a female stops taking this medication before conception.

Does taking methotrexate increase the chance for miscarriage?