Question

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

Pen-V lactation summary

Pen-V is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Pen-V is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Pen-V is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Pen-V does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Pen-V safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher 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 Pen-V usage in lactation

Pen-V is excreted into breast milk in non-significant amounts without side-effects observed among breastfed infants from treated mothers. Plasma levels in those infants were shown to be low or undetectable. Penicillin is a broad spectrum antibiotic that is commonly used in Pediatrics and Neonatology with very good tolerance even in premature newborns. Be aware of false negative results that may be obtained from infants with bacterial cultures when the mother is on antibiotics. Eleventh WHO's Model List of Essential Drugs 2002: Compatible with breastfeeding.

Answer by DrLact: About Pen-V usage in lactation

Limited information indicates that Pen-V produces low levels in milk that are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Occasionally disruption of the infant's gastrointestinal flora, resulting in diarrhea or thrush have been reported with penicillins, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Pen-V is acceptable in nursing mothers.

Pen-V Side Effects in Breastfeeding

In one study, 12 infants were breastfed during maternal Pen-V therapy. Seven appeared normal, 3 had looser stools than normal, and 1 had a rash on the buttocks on the last day of therapy. These effects were possibly related to Pen-V in milk, but no control group was present. One infant had stains of blood in the stool, but it had happened once prior to maternal Pen-V treatment.[1]

Alternate Drugs

Cefprozil(Safe)
Capreomycin(Low Risk)
Famciclovir(Low Risk)
Amikacin(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
Ofloxacin(Safe)
Erythromycin(Low Risk)
Rifaximin(Safe)
Indinavir(Unsafe)
Ertapenem(Safe)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Aztreonam(Safe)
Zidovudine(Low Risk)
Clindamycin(Low Risk)
Gatifloxacin(Low Risk)
Meropenem(Safe)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Enoxacin(Low Risk)
Econazole(Safe)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Amantadine(Low Risk)
Tenofovir(Safe)
Lindane(Unsafe)
Neomycin(Safe)
Acyclovir(Safe)
Valganciclovir(Low Risk)
Doxycycline(Low Risk)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Quinine(Safe)
Ganciclovir(Low Risk)
Lomefloxacin(Low Risk)
Saquinavir(Unsafe)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Efavirenz(Unsafe)
Primaquine(Low Risk)
Didanosine(Unsafe)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Atovaquone(Low Risk)
Levofloxacin(Low Risk)
Malathion(Low Risk)
Ritonavir(Unsafe)
Demeclocycline(Low Risk)
Linezolid(Low Risk)
Moxifloxacin(Low Risk)
Cefixime(Safe)
Kanamycin(Safe)
Nevirapine(Low Risk)
Naftifine(Safe)
Abacavir(Safe)
Nelfinavir(Unsafe)
Dapsone(Low Risk)
Cefepime(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
Ofloxacin(Safe)
Erythromycin(Low Risk)
Ertapenem(Safe)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Iodine(Unsafe)
Amikacin(Safe)
Methenamine(Unsafe)
Aztreonam(Safe)
Clindamycin(Low Risk)
Gatifloxacin(Low Risk)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Enoxacin(Low Risk)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Neomycin(Safe)
Doxycycline(Low Risk)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Lomefloxacin(Low Risk)
Nalidixic Acid(Low Risk)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Levofloxacin(Low Risk)
Demeclocycline(Low Risk)
Moxifloxacin(Low Risk)
Cefixime(Safe)
Kanamycin(Safe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Mupirocin(Safe)
Cefprozil(Safe)
Capreomycin(Low Risk)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
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.