If I get pregnant while taking Arava and stop the medication as soon as I know it, is this okay?

Hello ma'am,

The Arava (from its generic name leflunomide) is a drug that is known to be teratogenic (i.e., can cause malformations in the embryo). This risk is true for both women and men who use Arava (leflunomide). Therefore, it isstrongly recommended that an effective method of birth control be used during the entire course of treatment with Arava.

In the event that you plan a pregnancy or become pregnant without planning, you should cess use immediately(in consultation with the physician who is monitoring you for this medication) and begin a removal process (with a variety of possible agents) to remove any traces of Arava from your system (and thus minimize the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes). However, as mentioned, this is done in agreement following a discussion with the doctor who prescribed this medication/who is following you for this health problem.

So, in summary, a pregnancy while on Arava must be planned, prepared, and discussed with your health care provider to ensure that it is fully safe for the embryo and future newborn. 🤰🏻

I hope this answers your questions. Please feel free to contact us again with any other questions! ☺️

Marc-Antoine Dufresne, pharmacy intern (Pharm.D), supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist.