Rowasa and Pregnancy

Although Rowasa did not appear to cause problems to the fetus during previous animal studies, it has not been studied in pregnant humans. A pregnant woman may take Rowasa if her healthcare provider believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risks to her unborn child. You should be sure to talk with your healthcare provider if you are taking Rowasa and pregnancy occurs (or you are thinking of becoming pregnant).

 

Is Rowasa Safe During Pregnancy?

Rowasa® (mesalamine) is probably safe for pregnant women, though the full risks of taking this medicine during pregnancy are not known.
 

Rowasa and Pregnancy Category B

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.
 
When given to pregnant rats and rabbits, Rowasa did not cause any problems.
 
However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines in the same way that humans do and that the full risks of using Rowasa during pregnancy are not known. Therefore, Rowasa should be given to a pregnant woman only if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the pregnant woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
 

Recommendations for Rowasa and Pregnancy

If you are taking Rowasa and pregnancy occurs (or you are thinking of becoming pregnant), let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider both the benefits and risks of Rowasa during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;