Is Sulfadoxine Safe in Breastfeeding
Question
I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Sulfadoxine? Is Sulfadoxine safe for nursing mother and child? Does Sulfadoxine extracts into breast milk? Does Sulfadoxine has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Sulfadoxine influence milk supply or can Sulfadoxine decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?
Sulfadoxine lactation summary
- DrLact safety Score for Sulfadoxine is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
- A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Sulfadoxine may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
- Our study of different scientific research indicates that Sulfadoxine may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
- Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Sulfadoxine low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
- While using Sulfadoxine We suggest monitoring child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to 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 Sulfadoxine usage in lactation
A low concentration is reached in breast milk. It is commercialized in several countries (not in Spain) together with Pyrimethamine (see the latter drug) as an anti-malarial drug: Fansidar: 20 parts of Sulphadoxine by 1 of Pyrimethamine. Manufacturers give a dosage for children weighing more than 5 kg.
Alternate Drugs for Antimalarials. ATC P01B
Chloroquine(Safe)
Hydroxychloroquine(Safe)
Mefloquine(Safe)
Pyrimethamine(Safe)
Quinine(Safe)
Atovaquone(Low Risk)
Primaquine(Low Risk)
Artemisinin(Safe)
Halofantrine-HCl(Unsafe)
Lumefantrine(Safe)
Primaquine Phosphate(Low Risk)
Proguanil(Safe)
Sulphormethoxine(Low Risk)
Quinine Sulfate(Safe)