Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit? Is Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit safe for nursing mother and child? Does Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit extracts into breast milk? Does Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit influence milk supply or can Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Answer by DrLact: About Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit usage in lactation

Information in this record refers to the use of Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit (Tc 99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; Tc 99m DTPA) as a diagnostic agent. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission states that breastfeeding need not be interrupted after administration of Tc 99m DTPA in doses up to 1000 MBq (30 mCi) intravenously or by inhalation to a nursing mother.[1] The International Commission on Radiological Protection also recommends that breastfeeding need not be interrupted after administration Technetium Tc 99m pentetate kit.[2] However, to follow the principle of keeping exposure "as low as reasonably achievable", some experts recommend nursing the infant just before administration of the radiopharmaceutical and interrupting breastfeeding for 3 to 6 hours after the dose, then expressing the milk completely once and discarding it. If the mother has expressed and saved milk prior to the examination, she can feed it to the infant during the period of nursing interruption.[3][4][5] Mothers need not refrain from close contact with their infants after usual clinical doses.[6] Mothers concerned about the level of radioactivity in their milk could ask to have it tested at a nuclear medicine facility at their hospital. When the radioactivity is at a safe level she may resume breastfeeding. A method for measuring milk radioactivity and determining the time when a mother can safely resume breastfeeding has been published.[7] For nursing mothers who work with Tc 99m substances in their workplace, there is no need to take any precautions other than those appropriate for general radiation protection.[8]

Alternate Drugs

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.