Prednisone Users - Ulcerative Colitis

starrynyt

I have ulcerative colitis and unfortunately started having a flare up a few weeks ago - lovely timing.  I started a prednisone taper, but it's not doing the trick so I'm starting over again and doing the higher doses (60mg and 50mg daily) for 2 weeks total then hopefully tapering down depending on whether it's working.  I've been told my my gastro dr and an OB that prednisone is safe during pg, but I just hate having to take it and worry that it's somehow going to interfere.  I'm also so concerned about still having this flare up come delivery time.  

Anyone else deal with something similar?  I need to figure out how to get my head in the right place instead of worry about something where I'm already doing what I can.

/vent over 

wordslikeswords

Hi there! Sorry you're dealing with the flare ups hon. I don't have UC, but I have a kidney problem that's autoimmune. When we originally intended to start trying I was on 1000mg of prednisone a day for 3 days IV. My doctor even said that was OK! We decided not to at the time, but I was still on prednisone when we went through IVF this time. I think I was only on 20, but I believe I was on 40 or 60 the first cycle, and the doctors were aware. They said the concern is the potential for a cleft palate going up, but that's about it. For what it's worth, my baby does not have it despite being on a low dose when she was conceived. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

lorist202

I'm sorry that you're dealing with this.  I had a pretty bad Crohns flare up at the end of my pregnancy too.  I had strict monitoring of bloodwork and hydration, but Prednisone was the next step if it worsened.

Keep  in mind that the fluids and vitamins that you lose via the sickness would be very harmful to the baby.  My understanding of Prednisone is that it's a Category C drug.  There is limited info regarding the risk to the fetus, but it seems that the most risk is during the first trimester.  www.safefetus.com

To ease your mind, I took a Cat C drug for the duration of my pregnancy (long story), and I have a perfectly healthy, beautiful son!

Good Luck!

 

n8swife

I have UC and have been in a flare up for the past few weeks. And my GI, who is wonderful, is on medical leave for an undetermined amount of time. My OB called the GI dept to get me an appt for next week because the wait is a few months out. It sounds like my OB wants to put me on a Prednisone taper too. I hate to do it but it might be the only way to knock this flare down. I also have concerns about delivering during a flare up. When I met with my GI at the beginning of my pregnancy, she said I shouldn't worry about any complications from UC while delivering....but I'm still really nervous about it! I hope you feel better soon!

Punken13

I am sorry you are going through this:(  I do not have UC but I do have Myasthenia Gravis ( a form of muscular distrophy) but I have been on anywhere from 60mg a day to 10 mg a day with all three of my pregnancies and have had 2 healthy babies so far and this one looks healthy too.