Fingolimod

Date: March 2025, Version 2.0

Quick read

Fingolimod is occasionally used in pregnancy to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) if no other medicine will work.

What is it?

Fingolimod is used to treat the relapsing-remitting form of MS.

Benefits

What are the benefits of taking fingolimod?

Fingolimod controls MS symptoms by preventing the immune system from attacking the nerves. This can prevent or slow down the long-term health problems caused by MS.

Risks

Are there any risks of taking fingolimod during pregnancy?

Only a small number of women taking fingolimod in pregnancy have been studied. While most women had healthy babies, there are some reports of babies with birth defects (including heart defects). Because of this, use of fingolimod is not generally recommended in pregnancy.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to taking fingolimod?

Yes, usually. Other medicines can be used to treat MS but, for some people, may not work as well as fingolimod.

Some pregnant women with MS may find that their symptoms improve due to natural changes to their immune system. If this happens, your specialist may advise that your medicine(s) can be altered. You should not make any alterations to your treatment without speaking to your doctor.

If you have MS and are planning a pregnancy, speak to your specialist about which medicine is best for you. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking fingolimod, you should be urgently reviewed by your specialist.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take medicines to treat MS?

It is important that your MS is correctly treated in pregnancy to avoid a flare-up of symptoms and to avoid nerve damage. Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when necessary and will be happy to talk through any concerns.

Will my baby need extra monitoring?

All pregnant women in the UK should be offered a very detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. Women who have taken fingolimod in early pregnancy may be offered this scan slightly earlier.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken fingolimod?

We do not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father takes fingolimod.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions about the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.