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Is It Safe To Take Arava While Trying To Conceive?

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Posted on Mon, 30 Dec 2013
Question: Hello - I have had a myriad of health issues - my Immuno wants me to take Arava now.. I have only taken one tablet so far - we wanted to try for a baby, but I see that we cant as Arava can cause birth defects - Being on the very very very safe side, how long would i have to be of Arava - beofe we could be absolutely certain that we could concieve without birth defects.......so how long would I need to wait after a 6 month trial... and also if I stopped now after only one tablet... how long before we could go and freeze some sperm?
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Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (44 hours later)
Brief Answer: Please refer below Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for your query. ARAVA may cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. However, current information does not suggest that ARAVA may cause male-mediated fetal toxicity. But, specific animal studies have not been performed to address this issue. So, to be on extremely safe side, male patients on ARAVA, who want to father a child (or freeze sperms), should discontinue ARAVA and take cholestyramine for 11 days (to facilitate clearing of ARAVA from body). Hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer further followup queries, if any.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Indranil Ghosh

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Practicing since :2004

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Is It Safe To Take Arava While Trying To Conceive?

Brief Answer: Please refer below Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for your query. ARAVA may cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. However, current information does not suggest that ARAVA may cause male-mediated fetal toxicity. But, specific animal studies have not been performed to address this issue. So, to be on extremely safe side, male patients on ARAVA, who want to father a child (or freeze sperms), should discontinue ARAVA and take cholestyramine for 11 days (to facilitate clearing of ARAVA from body). Hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer further followup queries, if any.