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Is Prednisone Safe To Take During Pregnancy?

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Posted on Sat, 22 Oct 2016
Question: Hi Doctor, i want to seek the second opnion on the midication i was on called Prednisone while i'm currently 6 weeks pregnant. I was initially put on 5mg Prednisone daily from day 14 of my cycle due to the natural killer cells (cd163) within the uterus that can potentially cause failure of implatation. I was using this the first time and got pregnant. The doctor said i can stop using this by weeks 6. But i read from lots of blog that people who is taking this medication did not stop it until week 13, after the first trimester. And people stop it gradually as well. I want to get the second opnion if it is safe for me to stop the prednisone now (6 weeks)? The scan saud the embryo is only just forming and if i suddenly stop taking could it cause another overative killer cell to attack the embryo? If i contuning take, how long should i take it for and how should i stop - suddenly stop or gradually stop. Are there much side effect on this drug for the dosage i'm current taking? Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Better stop it gradually after you will be of six weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear and thanks for trusting to us your health issue .

In my opinion it is enough to take Prednisone 5 mg until your pregnancy will be of six weeks .
Ii's enough because at this age heart of baby is created and chances for miscarriage are decreased.

When Prednisone is used for a long time during pregnancy than side effects such as :
high blood pressure,
diabetes
and premature birth - are increased.

When you will stop use of Prednisone better is to taper it off gradually.

If you have any further question I will be here .

All the best
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (22 minutes later)
Hi Doctor, thanks for the above information. Frommy previous scan at 5 weeks 5 days, we can see the feta pole at 3mm, just started to forming but no heart beat found. They told me this could be due to the early stage of the pregnancy and i will need to repeat another scan in 2 weeks. My question is (1). Is this normal to not see a heart beat this early? Should i be concern? (2). Should I gradually stop prednisone after my next check when the heart beat is checked? Many thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (18 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Don't worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear again.

If you have done a trans-abdominal ultrasound scan and doctor haven't hear fetal heart beats there is nothing to worry ,because with trans-abdominal ultrasound scan gestational age should be above 7 weeks .

While for Prednisone you can stop gradually after doctor will hear fetal heart beats .

All the best


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (4 hours later)
Hi Doctor, i did virginal ultrasound. But still only see a fetal pole with no heart beat yet at 5 weeks 5 days.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (56 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Is still too early

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear again.

Don't worry because is still early because you haven't get to six weeks yet.
Fetal pole at 5 weeks and 5 days is enough .

Please let me know when was your last menstrual period?

All the best
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (18 minutes later)
Last period was 20/08/2016. My day from last period wiuld be 5 weeks 7 days when i did my first internal scan. But they measured the fetal pole at 3mm back then so they dating me 5 weeks 5 days. 2 days later than my own days. Thank you Doctor.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (25 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Be calm because everything is normal

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear again.
Please be calm because too much stress can cause negative effects on your pregnancy.

Everything is normal here, hence there is nothing to worry.

Sometimes, even with normal pregnancies, the fetal heartbeat is not visible until a fetal pole of up to 4 mm in length is seen.

All the best
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra

OBGYN, Maternal and Fetal Medicine

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 1572 Questions

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Is Prednisone Safe To Take During Pregnancy?

Brief Answer: Better stop it gradually after you will be of six weeks Detailed Answer: Hi dear and thanks for trusting to us your health issue . In my opinion it is enough to take Prednisone 5 mg until your pregnancy will be of six weeks . Ii's enough because at this age heart of baby is created and chances for miscarriage are decreased. When Prednisone is used for a long time during pregnancy than side effects such as : high blood pressure, diabetes and premature birth - are increased. When you will stop use of Prednisone better is to taper it off gradually. If you have any further question I will be here . All the best