prednisone or other steroid

[Anonymous]

I was told to take prednisone leading up to my frozen embryo transfer. I have been taking it for about 10 days now. I am apparently supposed to keep taking it until my beta, which is a full 14 days after transfer (side note, not sure why the beta is so far after a day 6 blast transfer). Isn't it unsafe to take this drug while pregnant. Now, I realize I would just barely be pregnant, but not sure why I should continue to take it after the FET has occurred.

[Anonymous]

am in similar situation with an upcoming day 6 blast FET next week and on prednisone too (low dose, 5 mg/day). it's to help calm inflammation before transfer and to help aid in implantation and also so that your body does not reject the embryo should you have any very mild immune issues going on.

[Anonymous]

so, I should continue to take it even after the transfer?

[Anonymous]

Usually if you are taking prednisone, you should take it at least until a heartbeat, and then slowly wean off of it. At the lower doses just for the early weeks, it shouldn't harm the embryo --- and if you do have mild immune issues, might stop your body from rejecting the embryo or "killing" the embryo after it implants.

Some doctors don't buy in at all to immune theories, but then you wouldn't be on the prednisone at all.

I am on it for the first time during this cycle. After 2 IUIs, 2 OE IVFs (one early m/c), and 3 other DE IVF's (one early m/c), I have had a positive beta and have made it to six weeks -- which is the best and longest so far. Fingers crossed that this works. I've done a few other things differently this cycle, so prednisone may not be the only difference. I also did intralipids, did a natural cycle (no estrogen and only progesterone suppositories), and made sure my Vitamin D was at least close to normal. (On 5000 ius a day). I also checked my TSH after the beta, and as it had gotten lower, upped my Synthroid.

Anyway, fingers crossed for all of us.

[Anonymous]

I am on 10 mg daily, by the way. Are you at SG? The most they do is 5. Among the "immune" doctors, 10 mg is actually pretty low even. At CCRM, which generally is not an "immune" practice, they will however do 10 mg of prednisone starting 3 days after transfer in certain circumstances (along with Pepcid and Claritin). Some of the RI's will go up high -- even to 50 or 60 daily, but I am not comfortable with that for me.

[Anonymous]

Trust your doc! They have been doing this a long time. They wouldn't give you meds if it harmed the baby. Also I'm pretty sure they ween you off fairly soon after you hear a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trust your doc! They have been doing this a long time. They wouldn't give you meds if it harmed the baby. Also I'm pretty sure they ween you off fairly soon after you hear a heartbeat.

that's what they said about Thalidamide-- which was given to help with insomnia and miscarriage. oops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually if you are taking prednisone, you should take it at least until a heartbeat, and then slowly wean off of it. At the lower doses just for the early weeks, it shouldn't harm the embryo --- and if you do have mild immune issues, might stop your body from rejecting the embryo or "killing" the embryo after it implants.

Some doctors don't buy in at all to immune theories, but then you wouldn't be on the prednisone at all.

I am on it for the first time during this cycle. After 2 IUIs, 2 OE IVFs (one early m/c), and 3 other DE IVF's (one early m/c), I have had a positive beta and have made it to six weeks -- which is the best and longest so far. Fingers crossed that this works. I've done a few other things differently this cycle, so prednisone may not be the only difference. I also did intralipids, did a natural cycle (no estrogen and only progesterone suppositories), and made sure my Vitamin D was at least close to normal. (On 5000 ius a day). I also checked my TSH after the beta, and as it had gotten lower, upped my Synthroid.

Anyway, fingers crossed for all of us.

Thank you for your response and congratulations!
I wonder how you wean off? With such a low dose (mine is only 5mg) how is it possible to wean?

[Anonymous]

After my last chemical pregnancy I had to ween. I continued on it for 5 days then alternated between 5mg and 2.5 for a week and then 2.5 for a week. It would probably be similar to this.

[Anonymous]

Oh - come on. Predinsone is very common and well known, and much better studied than thalidamide ever was.

Lots of people are on prednisone for higher doses throughout the whole pregnancy, such as for lupus. Even in that population, the only risk found was a small risk of cleft palate -- which can be fixed by common and relatively easy surgery: "Prednisone and its derivatives may present a small but statistically significant increased risk for cleft palate but they otherwise do not appear to be associated with adverse effects in mother or fetus." http://fetal-exposure.org/corticosteroids/

[Anonymous]

Off topic, but my daughter takes it when she is in respiratory distress. Makes her hyper beyond belief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Off topic, but my daughter takes it when she is in respiratory distress. Makes her hyper beyond belief.

Common side effect especially in children.

[Anonymous]

Op, follow your RE's guidance on this one. I've done steroids for two cycles. I forget now how it worked, but my RE definitely had a plan for me being on it and for getting off of it. Don't mess around with this one on your own, ask them what to do.

[Anonymous]

Is CCRM still doing the antihistamine protocol?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After my last chemical pregnancy I had to ween. I continued on it for 5 days then alternated between 5mg and 2.5 for a week and then 2.5 for a week. It would probably be similar to this.

anyone know why weaning is necessary for this drug?