Question

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

Mitoxantrone lactation summary

Mitoxantrone is dangerous in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Mitoxantrone is 7 out of 8 which is considered Dangerous as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 7 indicates that usage of Mitoxantrone may cause toxic or severe side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Mitoxantrone may cause moderate to high side effects or may affect milk supply in lactating mother.
  • Our suggestion is to use safer alternate options rather than using Mitoxantrone .
  • Usage of Mitoxantrone is in contradiction to breastfeeding hence if it is must to use Mitoxantrone and there is no better alternative available then breastfeeding shall be stopped permanently or temporarily.
  • 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 Mitoxantrone usage in lactation

Drug is cleared from the body in 3-5 elimination half-lives. Resuming breastfeeding is likely safe after 2 - 3 months of of pumping-and-dumping.

Answer by DrLact: About Mitoxantrone usage in lactation

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy, such as mitoxantrone.[1][2] It might be possible to breastfeed safely during intermittent therapy with an appropriate period of breastfeeding abstinence, but the duration of abstinence is not clear. In one patient, mitoxantrone was still detectable in milk 28 days after a dose of 6 mg per square meter. Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.[3] Women who receive chemotherapy during pregnancy are more likely to have difficulty nursing their infant.[4]

Mitoxantrone Side Effects in Breastfeeding

One mother received 3 daily doses of 6 mg/sq m of mitoxantrone intravenously along with 5 daily doses of etoposide 80 mg/sq m and cytarabine 170 mg/sq m intravenously. She resumed breastfeeding her infant 3 weeks after the third dose of mitoxantrone at a time when mitoxantrone was still detectable in milk. The infant had no apparent abnormalities at 16 months of age.[3]

Alternate Drugs

Bevacizumab(Low Risk)
Bleomycin(Dangerous)
Docetaxel(Dangerous)
Cisplatin(Unsafe)
Pazopanib(Unsafe)
Vinorelbine(Dangerous)
Busulfan(Dangerous)
Trastuzumab(Unsafe)
Dacarbazine(Dangerous)
Imatinib(Unsafe)
Thioguanine(Dangerous)
Erlotinib(Unsafe)
Cladribine(Dangerous)
Letrozole(Dangerous)
Vincristine(Dangerous)
Dasatinib(Unsafe)
Exemestane(Dangerous)
Nilotinib(Unsafe)
Tamoxifen(Dangerous)
Dactinomycin(Dangerous)
Ipilimumab(Unsafe)
Mitoxantrone(Dangerous)
Cetuximab(Unsafe)
Carboplatin(Dangerous)
Paclitaxel(Dangerous)
Hydroxyurea(Low Risk)
Fluorouracil(Dangerous)
Etoposide(Dangerous)
Gemcitabine(Dangerous)
Alemtuzumab(Low Risk)
Nivolumab(Unsafe)
Doxorubicin(Dangerous)
Rituximab(Low Risk)
Vinblastine(Dangerous)
Cyclophosphamide(Dangerous)
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.