Question

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

Answer by DrLact: About Exenatide usage in lactation

No information is available on the clinical use of exenatide during breastfeeding. Because exenatide is a large peptide molecule with a molecular weight of 4187 daltons, the amount in milk is likely to be very low and absorption is unlikely because it is probably destroyed in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. It has a short half-life, which might make it a better choice among drugs in this class for nursing mothers. Until more data become available, exenatide should be used with caution during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
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