All living well guides
Pregnancy & family
Pregnancy and Rheumatic Medicines
Most people with rheumatic disease can have healthy pregnancies with planning.
Video lesson
Why it matters
Pregnancy goes best when the disease has been quiet for at least 3 to 6 months, and some medicines must be stopped well before conception.
What you can do
Plan with your rheumatologist before trying to conceive. Medicines often continued include hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, low-dose prednisone and certain TNF inhibitors. Methotrexate, mycophenolate and leflunomide must be stopped beforehand.
Call your care team if
You become pregnant unexpectedly while taking methotrexate, mycophenolate or leflunomide. Call your doctor right away.
At a glance
Topic
Pregnancy & family
Reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR
Questions about your own care?
Book an in-person or telehealth consultation with Dr. Tahir.
For education only. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without talking to your care team.