Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use BW 256? Is BW 256 safe for nursing mother and child? Does BW 256 extracts into breast milk? Does BW 256 has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can BW 256 influence milk supply or can BW 256 decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

BW 256 lactation summary

BW 256 is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for BW 256 is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of BW 256 is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that BW 256 does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of BW 256 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 BW 256 usage in lactation

Precursor of Aciclovir which is used for treatment of infections due to Herpes zoster and Herpes simplex viruses and the prevention of Cytomegalovirus infection in immunocompromised patients. It is excreted into breast milk as Aciclovir in non-significant clinical amount, with no side-effects observed among breastfed infants from treated mothers. Urine levels of Aciclovir in those infants were shown to be very low.

Answer by DrLact: About BW 256 usage in lactation

The dosage of acyclovir in milk after BW 256 is less than 1% of a typical infant dosage and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. No special precautions are required when using BW 256 during breastfeeding. In one study, administration of BW 256 to mothers with concurrent herpes simplex type 2 and HIV infections reduced breastmilk shedding of the HIV virus in breastmilk at 6 and 14 weeks postpartum, but not later.[1] In another study in HIV-positive mothers, BW 256 did not reduced breastmilk shedding of cytomegalovirus (CMV) or infant CMV acquisition.[2]

BW 256 Side Effects in Breastfeeding

In a study of pregnant women with concurrent HIV and Herpes simplex infections, mothers received zidovudine 300 mg daily from week of pregnancy until 12 months postpartum and nevirapine at delivery. Half of the women (n = 74) also received BW 256 500 mg orally twice daily from 34 weeks gestation until 12 months postpartum. At 6 weeks postpartum, all infants who received acyclovir in breastmilk had normal serum creatinine (<0.83 mg/dL). Their median serum creatinine and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values, and growth were no different from those of unexposed infants, with the exception of one infant with an ALT level of 70.1 units/L. Infants whose mothers received BW 256 generally had adverse effects that were similar to the placebo group, except that treated infants had a lower risk of eczema and oral thrush than infants in the placebo arm.[1][4]

Alternate Drugs

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