RA and ttc #1

[berrykkiss]

Hi I am in my mid 20s and I am trying to conceive my first child with my husband. I came out of methotraxate last oct but I had to have myomectomy operation in feb. So we started trying from 09  may. I started with 10mg of prednisone from june 09 cause of increased flare ups. Suddenly i dint get my periods that month. When I consulted my doc he doesnt agree that prednisone did that. He said prednisone doesnt have any affect on my period.
But since my menstruation I have been having my periods like clockwork and y dint it come the first month i tuk prednisone? Please advice if it can cause changes.
Now my periods are regular also I have reduced the dose to 7.5mg.
I am ttcing for almost 6 months now. I am wondering how long can I be on 7.5mg of prednisone. How long is it safe? considering the horrible side effects.

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear berrykiss,
All the best for the fact that you are trying to conceive.
Regarding Prednisone, please stop it completely and than have about 6-7 months time before you try to conceive as it's a sort of teratogenic drug ie it can affect the fetus growth, if given in first 3 months.
How to completely stop this drug, depends on your treating physician as it can;t be stopped suddenly. This drug needs to be slowly tapered and then stop else it may affect the hypothalamus-pitutary axis (hormones).
So don't stop this drug all of a sudden... it's a word of caution....

I think you can slowly taper off the dose in next three months....

Regards

[berrykkiss]

Dr. Ghosh thanks a lot for replying. I was wondering if not prednisone which medication is suitable to control RA while trying to conceive. I am asking this so I can talk to my doctor about it and change the medication. Which medication is suitable please advice. Because I definitely need something to control my RA. I can come off of it once pregnant though.