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Pregnant 3 months after hep c treatment
I was told to wait 6 months after hep c treatment to get pregnant because of fetal harm and birth defects. Long story short I got pregnant 3 months after treatment. I am going to talk with my doctor on Monday, but wanted to know if anyone has or has known of anyone actually deliver a healthy baby after taking Ribavirin? I did some research and they were all done back in 2011 when the treatment was almost a year long. I did the new treatment that was only 12 weeks long. So since it was only 12 weeks rather than a year maybe the Ribavirin can get out of your system faster?
I am very very sorry to hear you are both pregnant after taking riba, It is very sad. Another member on here once said that the baby could have severe birth defects.
I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am.
There are no judgements, believe me.
I had bronchitis when I got pregnant, I had been on codeine cough syrup, prescription antihistamines. I was very afraid. Back then the only person I could ask was my doctor.
Take care of yourselves
Dee
I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am.
There are no judgements, believe me.
I had bronchitis when I got pregnant, I had been on codeine cough syrup, prescription antihistamines. I was very afraid. Back then the only person I could ask was my doctor.
Take care of yourselves
Dee
It looks like you've been given the information you need to make a decision. I can see how it might be a difficult one. Of course, see what your doctor thinks. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. I hope you were able to reach SVR though. Take care.
Hi
Unfortunately jondyalec has not posted since her original posting.
My recommendation would be to contact your hep c treating physician as soon as possible.
http://www.drugs.com/pregnancy/ribavirin.html
Best of luck to you
Lynn
Unfortunately jondyalec has not posted since her original posting.
My recommendation would be to contact your hep c treating physician as soon as possible.
http://www.drugs.com/pregnancy/ribavirin.html
Best of luck to you
Lynn
Hi, I am in a similar situation. Do you mind sharing your current status with your pregnancy? I'm a little freaked out and yes, I already feel very guilty so please spare me the lectures.
Thinking of you, I hope you have been able to discuss with your doctor
Take Care
Dee
Take Care
Dee
Hope you were able to get in touch with your doctor this morning. May I advice you also speak with genetic counselor.I found them very helpful back in 1984 when I found myself pregnant ,after having oral surgery and pain meds . Good Luck
I am sorry to hear of your problem. Another member asked this question a while back and another member found some additional information.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Clearing-your-body-of-Riba/show/1419084
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Clearing-your-body-of-Riba/show/1419084
As far as I know there is no change to the warning about ribavirin and pregnancy.
"So since it was only 12 weeks rather than a year maybe the Ribavirin can get out of your system faster?"
The ribavirin still stays in your system up to 6 months after treatment unfortunately.
"Patients should be advised to notify the healthcare provider immediately in the event of a pregnancy"
Here are the warnings from the Copegus (ribavirin) label.
WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS DISORDERS AND RIBAVIRIN ASSOCIATED EFFECTS
"Significant teratogenic and embryocidal effects have been demonstrated in all animal species exposed to ribavirin. Therefore, COPEGUS is contraindicated in women who are pregnant and in the male partners of women who are pregnant. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy during therapy and for 6 months after completion of treatment in both female patients and in female partners of male patients who are taking COPEGUS therapy (4, 5.1, 8.1)."
"Significant teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects have been demonstrated in all animal species exposed to ribavirin. In addition, ribavirin has a multiple dose half-life of 12 days, and it may persist in non-plasma compartments for as long as 6 months. Therefore, ribavirin, including COPEGUS, is contraindicated in women who are pregnant and in the male partners of women who are pregnant. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy during therapy and for 6 months after completion of therapy in both female patients and in female partners of male patients who are taking ribavirin therapy. At least two reliable forms of effective contraception must be utilized during treatment and during the 6 month post treatment follow-up period."
"5.1 Pregnancy COPEGUS may cause birth defects and/or death of the exposed fetus. Ribavirin has demonstrated significant teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects in all animal species in which adequate studies have been conducted. These effects occurred at doses as low as one twentieth of the recommended human dose of ribavirin."
"COPEGUS therapy should not be started unless a report of a negative pregnancy test has been obtained immediately prior to planned initiation of therapy. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients. Patients should be instructed to use at least two forms of effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months after treatment has been stopped. Pregnancy testing should occur monthly during COPEGUS therapy and for 6 months after therapy has stopped."
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1 Pregnancy
Pregnancy: Category X [see Contraindications (4)].
Ribavirin produced significant embryocidal and/or teratogenic effects in all animal species in which adequate studies have been conducted. Malformations of the skull, palate, eye, jaw, limbs, skeleton, and gastrointestinal tract were noted. The incidence and severity of teratogenic effects increased with escalation of the drug dose.
Survival of fetuses and offspring was reduced [see Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
"In conventional embryotoxicity/teratogenicity studies in rats and rabbits, observed no-effect dose levels were well below those for proposed clinical use (0.3 mg/kg/day for both the rat and rabbit; approximately 0.06 times the recommended daily human dose of ribavirin). No maternal toxicity or effects on offspring were observed in a peri/postnatal toxicity study in rats dosed orally at up to 1 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.01 times the maximum recommended daily human dose of ribavirin)."
17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
• “See FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide)”
Reference ID: 3004561 23
Pregnancy
"Patients must be informed that ribavirin may cause birth defects and/or death of the exposed fetus. COPEGUS therapy must not be used by women who are pregnant or by men whose female partners are pregnant. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients taking COPEGUS therapy and for 6 months post therapy. Patients should use two reliable methods of birth control while taking COPEGUS therapy and for 6 months post therapy. COPEGUS therapy should not be initiated until a report of a negative pregnancy test has been obtained immediately prior to initiation of therapy. Patients must perform a pregnancy test monthly during therapy and for 6 months post therapy."
"Female patients of childbearing potential and male patients with female partners of childbearing potential must be advised of the teratogenic/embryocidal risks and must be instructed to practice effective contraception during COPEGUS therapy and for 6 months post therapy. Patients should be advised to notify the healthcare provider immediately in the event of a pregnancy."
Please call your provider on Monday.
Best of luck to you.
Hector
"So since it was only 12 weeks rather than a year maybe the Ribavirin can get out of your system faster?"
The ribavirin still stays in your system up to 6 months after treatment unfortunately.
"Patients should be advised to notify the healthcare provider immediately in the event of a pregnancy"
Here are the warnings from the Copegus (ribavirin) label.
WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS DISORDERS AND RIBAVIRIN ASSOCIATED EFFECTS
"Significant teratogenic and embryocidal effects have been demonstrated in all animal species exposed to ribavirin. Therefore, COPEGUS is contraindicated in women who are pregnant and in the male partners of women who are pregnant. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy during therapy and for 6 months after completion of treatment in both female patients and in female partners of male patients who are taking COPEGUS therapy (4, 5.1, 8.1)."
"Significant teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects have been demonstrated in all animal species exposed to ribavirin. In addition, ribavirin has a multiple dose half-life of 12 days, and it may persist in non-plasma compartments for as long as 6 months. Therefore, ribavirin, including COPEGUS, is contraindicated in women who are pregnant and in the male partners of women who are pregnant. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy during therapy and for 6 months after completion of therapy in both female patients and in female partners of male patients who are taking ribavirin therapy. At least two reliable forms of effective contraception must be utilized during treatment and during the 6 month post treatment follow-up period."
"5.1 Pregnancy COPEGUS may cause birth defects and/or death of the exposed fetus. Ribavirin has demonstrated significant teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects in all animal species in which adequate studies have been conducted. These effects occurred at doses as low as one twentieth of the recommended human dose of ribavirin."
"COPEGUS therapy should not be started unless a report of a negative pregnancy test has been obtained immediately prior to planned initiation of therapy. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients. Patients should be instructed to use at least two forms of effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months after treatment has been stopped. Pregnancy testing should occur monthly during COPEGUS therapy and for 6 months after therapy has stopped."
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1 Pregnancy
Pregnancy: Category X [see Contraindications (4)].
Ribavirin produced significant embryocidal and/or teratogenic effects in all animal species in which adequate studies have been conducted. Malformations of the skull, palate, eye, jaw, limbs, skeleton, and gastrointestinal tract were noted. The incidence and severity of teratogenic effects increased with escalation of the drug dose.
Survival of fetuses and offspring was reduced [see Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
"In conventional embryotoxicity/teratogenicity studies in rats and rabbits, observed no-effect dose levels were well below those for proposed clinical use (0.3 mg/kg/day for both the rat and rabbit; approximately 0.06 times the recommended daily human dose of ribavirin). No maternal toxicity or effects on offspring were observed in a peri/postnatal toxicity study in rats dosed orally at up to 1 mg/kg/day (approximately 0.01 times the maximum recommended daily human dose of ribavirin)."
17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
• “See FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide)”
Reference ID: 3004561 23
Pregnancy
"Patients must be informed that ribavirin may cause birth defects and/or death of the exposed fetus. COPEGUS therapy must not be used by women who are pregnant or by men whose female partners are pregnant. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients taking COPEGUS therapy and for 6 months post therapy. Patients should use two reliable methods of birth control while taking COPEGUS therapy and for 6 months post therapy. COPEGUS therapy should not be initiated until a report of a negative pregnancy test has been obtained immediately prior to initiation of therapy. Patients must perform a pregnancy test monthly during therapy and for 6 months post therapy."
"Female patients of childbearing potential and male patients with female partners of childbearing potential must be advised of the teratogenic/embryocidal risks and must be instructed to practice effective contraception during COPEGUS therapy and for 6 months post therapy. Patients should be advised to notify the healthcare provider immediately in the event of a pregnancy."
Please call your provider on Monday.
Best of luck to you.
Hector
Welcome to the forum. Ribavirin stays in your system for 6 months after treatment. If it were me......I wouldn't even think of having a baby right now.
Warnings are very clear to NOT get pregnant. You have a very good chance you baby will have problems due to the fact you didn't wait 6 months.
Warnings are very clear to NOT get pregnant. You have a very good chance you baby will have problems due to the fact you didn't wait 6 months.
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