This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hello my name is Nicole and I am new to this site, I just found out yesterday that I am three and a half weeks pregnant and I have currently been taking tecfidera. I'm scared because I haven't heard anything from anybody about pregnancy while taking tecfidera , can anybody help ease my mind a little? Just kind of scared but I thought I should try this out and see how it works.

Hi Nicole and welcome. Here's what i could find:

Fertility, Pregnancy and Childbirth in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Impact of Disease-Modifying Drugs (2015)
http://link.springer.com/article/10.100 ... 015-0238-y

As for the ‘newer’ drugs (fingolimod, natalizumab, teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate and alemtuzumab), the information is more limited. Whereas fingolimod and teriflunomide are likely associated with an increased risk of foetal malformations, the effects of natalizumab, dimethyl fumarate and alemtuzumab still need to be ascertained

A Review of Safety-Related Pregnancy Data Surrounding the Oral Disease-Modifying Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis (2014)
full text pdf: http://bit.ly/2idHBNt

3.3 Dimethyl Fumarate
Dimethyl fumarate is a pregnancy risk category C drug, because of evidence of embryolethality, impaired fetal growth, and neurodevelopment problems in animal studies [13]. Consequently, it should only be considered during pregnancy if the potential benefit outweighs risk to the fetus [13].

38 exposed pregnancies (clinical trials) [41]
• 22 live births
• 3 spontaneous abortions
• 9 elective abortions
• 3 ongoing pregnancies
• 1 lost to follow-up

Although there has been no compelling evidence of pregnancy loss or birth defects in women with exposure to an oral agent, there remains insufficient quantity and duration of safety data on cases of human pregnancy exposure to inform clinical practice; equivalent information for men is virtually non-existent. Oral DMDs should best be avoided in women with MS considering pregnancy, especially with teriflunomide

more about category C http://www.d.umn.edu/medweb/Modules/OB- ... actors.pdf

not the most reassuring stuff, but at least cat C says 'we don't know' and not a resounding NO!!

Thank you ,im just all over the place with my thoughts. I just want a healthy baby. This is my first time reaching out to other people that have MS like me.

if you are interested, what i can offer is info on how to get yourself into tip top nutritional shape to support all that baby-building. even though you've let us in on the secret somewhat earlier than what i believe is the typical 12 weeks, if i am not mistaken? there have been folks on this site that have gone through multiple failed pregnancies and ultimately were successful.
reaching back into the archives a bit for these:

MRSGEORGE a story of determination

pregnant after 4 miscarriages (oct 2009)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... tml#p70128

it's a boy (17 posts) (2011)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... 17547.html
6th try was the charm

breastfeeding - improve relapse w/o drugs? (11 posts) (2012)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/post192543.html#p192543

Steroid question & good news (6 posts) (hint - it's a girl!) (2013)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... ml#p216545

PUNCHY:

baby topics (7 posts) (2008-2009)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/search.ph ... hor=punchy

q for jimmylegs - update (2009)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... c7282.html (2009)

something positive:
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/post228618.html#p228618 (2014)
i had completely missed this awesome one which is not related to pregnancy but i have to put it in

ME to new members

pregnancy and treatment (info on important nutrient considerations) (2012)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... ml#p200287

pregnant w new dx: (2013)
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... 21760.html

browneyes wrote:Thank you ,im just all over the place with my thoughts. I just want a healthy baby. This is my first time reaching out to other people that have MS like me.

Hi Nicole,
Welcome to ThisIsMS. Given the above information that Jimmylegs has provided...

3.3 Dimethyl Fumarate
Dimethyl fumarate is a pregnancy risk category C drug, because of evidence of embryolethality, impaired fetal growth, and neurodevelopment problems in animal studies [13]. Consequently, it should only be considered during pregnancy if the potential benefit outweighs risk to the fetus [13].

...I wouldn't risk it.

Dimethylfumarate is a strong oxidant that attacks thiol groups such as those found in the amino acid cysteine. This can change gene regulation which is one of the ways it's thought to be helpful in MS. What it does in pregnancy is unknown though. The studies mentioned above were animal studies. These often save human lives. There's no need for you to volunteer and risk your own child.

i wouldn't suggest risking it either, particularly if this was prior to pregnancy scenario.
once pregnant, with the understanding that not everyone feels the same about such things, i probably wouldn't risk it then either. BUT, being meds-free and never having been pregnant, i have never personally faced that more complicated situation.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who participated in this conversation. I am sad to say at 5 weeks I had a miscarriage , I was about two weeks into my pregnancy still taking tecfidera I got off as soon as I found out and after I found out 6 days later I miscarried. At that point I was 5 weeks along. My suggestion to anybody who sees this post , PLEASE wait the 30 days and detox the tecfidera out of your system !

so very sorry to hear, browneyes. do take very good care of your body, meds or no meds, as you go forward i just found this related study while writing a different post: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4927329/