Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Bosentan? Is Bosentan safe for nursing mother and child? Does Bosentan extracts into breast milk? Does Bosentan has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Bosentan influence milk supply or can Bosentan decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Bosentan lactation summary

Bosentan usage has low risk in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Bosentan is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Bosentan may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Bosentan may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Bosentan low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • While using Bosentan We suggest monitoring child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Bosentan usage in lactation

Indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pharmacokinetic data (moderately high molecular weight and high percentage of protein binding capacity) make it unlikely a milk passage in significant amounts.Low oral bioavailability hinders its passage from the ingested milk to infant's plasma, except in preterm and immediate neonatal period that may show an increased intestinal permeability. Although no samples have been taken to analyze the concentration in breast milk, a 30 weeks old premature infant who was breastfed for 2-and-a-half months, while his mother was treated with Bosentan and Sildenafil, did not present side-effects. It is approved for Pediatric use from 1-year-old or 10 kg to higher, but there are not published data on neonatal indication. It would be preferred a safer alternative until more data is available about this drug regarding breastfeeding, especially during the neonatal period and in case of prematurity.

Answer by DrLact: About Bosentan usage in lactation

There is little published experience with bosentan during breastfeeding. An alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Bosentan Side Effects in Breastfeeding

A 23-year-old woman with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension was treated during pregnancy with bosentan and sildenafil in unspecified dosages. These drugs and warfarin were continued postpartum. Her infant was delivered at 30 weeks by cesarean section and weighed 1.41 kg at birth. She nursed the infant in the neonatal intensive care unit for 11 weeks "with good outcome" according to the authors, but the infant died at 26 weeks from a respiratory syncytial virus infection.[1]
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.