Is Imiquimod Safe in Breastfeeding
Question
I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Imiquimod? Is Imiquimod safe for nursing mother and child? Does Imiquimod extracts into breast milk? Does Imiquimod has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Imiquimod influence milk supply or can Imiquimod decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?
Imiquimod lactation summary
- DrLact safety Score for Imiquimod is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
- A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Imiquimod is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
- Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Imiquimod does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
- Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Imiquimod 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 Imiquimod usage in lactation
Topical immune-modulator drug used in the treatment of genital warts. Less than 1% is absorbed and no trace has been detected in the serum. Like other dermatological products its use is safe while breastfeeding. However, it is advisable to avoid using it on the breast, or, to wash it out thoroughly to prevent the baby swallowing it, or, having any contact with it.
Alternate Drugs for Antivirals for topical use. ATC D06BB
Penciclovir(Safe)
Cidofovir (Topical Use)(Low Risk)
Idoxuridine(Safe)
Podophyllotoxin(Low Risk)
Podofilox(Low Risk)