[Anonymous]

#1034809

Both antithyroid drugs are Class D (I believe it is) drugs that cross the placenta and therefore have the POSSIBILITY of adversely affecting the baby in utero. PTU apparently crosses over less freely than Tapazole, so if confronted with a hyperthyroid, pregnant woman doctors prefer to use PTU. The lower the dose of PTU that the mother needs to have normal levels of thyroid hormone, the less risk there is for the baby. If you are not pregnant, and are hyperthyroid and on the antithyroid drugs, you need to evaluate carefully the risks before becoming pregnant. For some of us, those risks might be miniscule, and therefore acceptable. But, if you are pregnant when you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, you may not have a choice. Keep in mind that a sick mother is not necessarily going to have a normal pregnancy, and deliver a healthy baby, either, and hyperthyroidism makes us very very sick. So the mother HAS to be treated. And the doctors try to balance her needs with any risks to the baby.

Bobbi — NGDF Asst. Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1117364

Can you get pregnant while taking PTU?

[Anonymous]

#1117365

“Can” you get pregnant while on PTU? Yes. “Should” you? That is something you need to discuss carefully with your doctors.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1117366

Hi there. I just read your message. I happen to be on PTU, and one of the first things my doctor told me was that I can’t get pregnant while I’m taking it. Breastfeeding isn’t allowed either. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

#1117367

Actually, while PTU is a drug that crosses the placenta, women HAVE become pregnant and delivered beautiful, healthy babies during treatment with PTU. Between the two ATDs (PTU and Tapazole), PTU is considered the safer of the two drugs during pregnancy. A certain dose level must be maintained (I’m not sure of the threshold), but women who want to become pregnant *can* consider PTU as a treatment option. As a matter of fact, a woman who is already pregnant and is diagnosed with Graves’ would only be able to choose between surgery (obviously very risky during pregnancy) or PTU as treatment options, in order to get her disease in check and proceed with as healthy a pregnancy as possible.

Just wanted to clarify.

~Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1117368

I am planning on having another baby in the near future and my doctor told me that I could get pregnant while on PTU since it was safer than some of the other drugs. Breastfeeding is a no-no. I’ve also done alot of research on the drugs used to treat Graves and PTU has been mentioned several times as the better drug during pregnancy. Who knows how reliable these sources are as I am sure that there are always some risk of harm to the fetus with any drug. Guess you just have to hope for the best and have faith in your doctors.

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