Question

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

ABC lactation summary

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

Anti-HIV drug which is indicated for children older than 3 mo. The amount excreted into breast milk is minimal. Plasma levels have failed to be found in breastfed infants of treated women Mothers must be adviced that transmission of HIV infection by breastfeeding has been documented. However, mothers treated with ABC are at lower risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding.

Answer by DrLact: About ABC usage in lactation

In the United States and other developed countries, HIV-infected mothers should generally not breastfeed their infants. Published experience with ABC during breastfeeding is limited. In countries in which no acceptable, feasible, sustainable and safe replacement feeding is available, World Health Organization guidelines recommend that all women with an HIV infection who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be maintained on antiretroviral therapy for at least the duration of risk for mother-to-child transmission. Mothers should exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first 6 months of life; breastfeeding with complementary feeding should continue through at least 12 months of life up to 24 months of life.[1] The first choice regimen for nursing mothers is tenofovir, efavirenz and either lamivudine or emtricitabine. If these drugs are unavailable, alternative regimens include: 1) zidovudine, lamivudine and efavirenz; 2) zidovudine, lamivudine and nevirapine; or 3) tenofovir, nevirapine and either lamivudine or emtricitabine. Exclusively breastfed infants should also receive 6 weeks of prophylaxis with nevirapine.[2][3]

ABC Side Effects in Breastfeeding

An HIV-positive mother took a combination tablet containing dolutegravir 50 mg, ABC sulfate 600 mg and lamivudine 300 mg (Triumeq) once daily. Her infant was exclusively breastfed for about 30 weeks and partially breastfed for about 20 weeks more. No obvious side effects were noted.[5]

ABC Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

Gynecomastia has been reported among men receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Gynecomastia is unilateral initially, but progresses to bilateral in about half of cases. No alterations in serum prolactin were noted and spontaneous resolution usually occurred within one year, even with continuation of the regimen.[6][7][8] Some case reports and in vitro studies have suggested that protease inhibitors might cause hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea in some male patients,[9][10] although this has been disputed.[11] The relevance of these findings to nursing mothers is not known. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.

Alternate Drugs

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