Question

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

Atracurium lactation summary

Atracurium is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Atracurium is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Atracurium is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Atracurium does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Atracurium 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 Atracurium usage in lactation

It is a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant drug with a peripheral action that is used as premedication for endotracheal intubation, general anesthesia and mechanical ventilation. At latest update, no relevant published data concerning excretion into breast milk were found. Because a relatively high molecular-weight and a high protein-binding capacity, excretion into breast milk is thought to be low. In addition, it has a low oral bioavailability which means that absorption from the breast milk ingested may be low. Atracurium should not prevent a mother from breast feeding her baby shortly after recovering from an anesthesia if she is in good condition.

Answer by DrLact: About Atracurium usage in lactation

No information is available on the use of atracurium during breastfeeding. Because it is short acting, highly polar and poorly absorbed orally, it is not likely to reach the breastmilk in high concentration or to reach the bloodstream of the infant.[1][2] When a combination of anesthetic agents is used for a procedure, follow the recommendations for the most problematic medication used during the procedure.
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.