Question

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

Rifampicina lactation summary

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

It is excreted into breast milk in clinically non-significant amount, in fact a much lower amount than the dose used for the treatment or prophylaxis of infection in neonates and infants. Even more, no problems that would be attributable to rifampicin have been observed among infants whose mothers were taking this medication. It can cause an orange discoloration of body fluids, including the mother’s milk.Take into account possible negative results in bacterial cultures of febrile infants, when their mothers are on antibiotics. American Academy of Pediatrics states that it is usually compatible with breastfeeding medication.WHO List of Essential Medicines 2002: compatible with breastfeeding.

Answer by DrLact: About Rifampicina usage in lactation

Limited information indicates that there are low levels of Rifampicina in breastmilk that would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. The amount of Rifampicina in milk is insufficient to treat tuberculosis in the breastfed infant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other professional organizations state that breastfeeding should not be discouraged in women taking Rifampicina.[1][2][3]

Rifampicina Side Effects in Breastfeeding

One woman taking Rifampicina 450 mg, isoniazid 300 mg and ethambutol 1200 mg daily during pregnancy and Rifampicina 450 mg and isoniazid 300 mg for the first 7 months of lactation (extent not stated). The infant was born with mildly elevated serum liver enzymes which persisted for to 1 (alanine transferase) to 2 years (aspartate transaminase), but had no other adverse reactions.[6] Rifampicina was used as part of multi-drug regimens to treat 2 pregnant women with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Their two infants were breastfed (extent and duration not stated). At age 3.9 and 5.1 years, the children were developing normally except for hyperactivity in one.[7] Two mothers in Turkey were diagnosed with tuberculosis at the 30th and 34th weeks of pregnancy. They immediately started isoniazid 300 mg, Rifampicina 600 mg, pyridoxine 50 mg daily for 6 months, plus pyrazinamide 25 mg/kg and ethambutol 25 mg/kg daily for 2 months. Both mothers breastfed their infants (extent not stated). Their infants were given isoniazid 5 mg/kg daily for 3 months prophylactically. Tuberculin skin tests were negative after 3 months and neither infant had tuberculosis at 1 year of age. No adverse effects of the drugs were mentioned.[8] A woman with leprosy took clofazimine, dapsone and Rifampicina during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Her infant developed skin discoloration attributed to clofazimine which reversed 3 months after cessation of breastfeeding.[9]
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.