can I be on interferon while trying to conceive a baby?

[Ab_ms]

I am on interferon and considering trying to conceive a baby w my husband...but I am worried about medication ,relapses, baby's health and in general nervous! Any advice?

[supermum_ms]

Hi, it's totally normal to have a lot of questions and be anxious when trying to conceive but for someone with MS who's on a DMD, i think it can totally throw your anxiety levels through the roof....deep breath!

"Most disease modifying therapies used to treat MS are not recommended for use during pregnancy or in those who are planning a pregnancy and clinical studies for pregnant women are generally not undertaken. As such, when pregnancies do occur in people under treatment for their MS, pregnancy outcomes for the baby and mother are of great interest to patients and their doctors to guide treatment decisions for future families. For this reason ‘pregnancy registries’ are often set up to record this data. Several recent papers have reported on pregnancy outcomes for interferon-beta 1b (Betaferon), teriflunomide (Aubagio) and natalizumab (Tysabri). " http://www.msra.org.au/new-reports-use-ms-medications-during-pregnancy

Personally, with our family history of Autism I wouldn't be take anything,  I wouldn't recommend anyone continue taking most types of medications (regardless of if it was a DMD or not) IF they actually have that choice though but i'm not you and not in your situation (!) so i honestly feel you really need the support and guidance of both your neurologist and your OBGYN to help you work out what is the right thing for you!

Cheers.......JJ

[Ab_ms]

thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my message . I am seeing the gyno and the neurologist in a few weeks and will discuss all options. I have been lucky that since my diagnosis in september 2013 have only had 1 relapse with cortizone treatment. Hopefully i can come off meds and conceive without harming myself or the baby.
Thanks again for your advice
xx

[4happygnomes]

There is a great group on Facebook "Just A Mom with MS"...plenty of women who have been pregnant or currently pregnant with MS that could give you their personal experience/perspective.  

[HVAC]

I think you need to discuss this with your neurologist. Or obstetrician.

[Ab_ms]

i am seeing the neurologist on tuesday, but last time i spoke to him he said it was ok to start trying while on interferon, but i have read that you should stop for 3 months prior to trying to conceive? just wondered if anyone has any more info or experiences. I have been diagnosed since september 2013, and i have been lucky that i have only had 1 big flare up of symptoms since...i struggle with symptoms on a day to day basis but nothing too serious so far thankfully.
Anxiety and feeling like i am on a boat are the worst when i am tired. sometimes i think i am ok..and then i think sometimes i am still struggling with the fact that this is something for life!
thanks for taking the time to read and any advice is much appreciated x