Is Ondansetron Safe in Breastfeeding
Question
I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Ondansetron? Is Ondansetron safe for nursing mother and child? Does Ondansetron extracts into breast milk? Does Ondansetron has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Ondansetron influence milk supply or can Ondansetron decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?
Ondansetron lactation summary
- DrLact safety Score for Ondansetron is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
- A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Ondansetron is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
- Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Ondansetron does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
- Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Ondansetron 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 Ondansetron usage in lactation
A receptor-antagonist 5HT3 serotonin-type antiemetic drug that is used for treatment of nausea and vomiting.Usage is authorized for children older than 6 months. It has been used in one-month-old infants. At latest update no published data were found on excretion into breast milk. Since it is widely used during pregnancy and in young children without occurrence of side effects, its use is considered compatible while breastfeeding.
Answer by DrLact: About Ondansetron usage in lactation
Little published information is available on the clinical use of ondansetron during breastfeeding, although it is apparently frequently used for nausea after cesarean section, usually in doses of 4 to 8 mg intravenously.[1][2] Use after cesarean section appears to not affect the onset of breastfeeding.[3] No adverse infant effects have been reported and the drug has been used in infants.[4] If ondansetron is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding; however an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
Ondansetron Possible Effects in Breastfeeding
A randomized, double-blind study compared placebo to intravenous ondansetron 4 mg given after cesarean section as prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and vomiting. There was no difference in the time of the first breastfeeding between the two groups.[3]
Alternate Drugs
Metoclopramide(Safe)
Thiethylperazine(Unsafe)
Promethazine(Low Risk)
Prochlorperazine(Unsafe)
Dimenhydrinate(Low Risk)
Trimethobenzamide(Unsafe)
Ondansetron(Safe)
Doxylamine(Unsafe)
Cyclizine(Low Risk)
Droperidol(Low Risk)
Meclizine(Low Risk)
Domperidone(Safe)
Alosetron(Low Risk)
Ondansetron(Safe)