Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Thallium-201 chloride? Is Thallium-201 chloride safe for nursing mother and child? Does Thallium-201 chloride extracts into breast milk? Does Thallium-201 chloride has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Thallium-201 chloride influence milk supply or can Thallium-201 chloride decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Answer by DrLact: About Thallium-201 chloride usage in lactation

Information in this record refers to the use of Thallium-201 chloride as a diagnostic agent. The International Commission on Radiological Protection recommends discontinuation of breastfeeding for 48 hours after an unspecified dose of Thallium-201 chloride.[1] The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission recommends that breastfeeding should be interrupted for 2 weeks after administration of Tl 201 in a dose of 100 MBq (3 mCi) to a nursing mother.[2] During the period of interruption, the breasts should be emptied regularly and completely. 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] The milk that is pumped by the mother during the time of breastfeeding interruption can either be discarded or stored frozen and given to the infant after 10 physical half-lives, or about 30 days, have elapsed. After doses greater than 150 MBq, consideration of temporarily limiting close contact between the mother and infant.[5] 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 background levels they may safely resume breastfeeding. A method for measuring milk radioactivity and determining the time when a mother can safely resume breastfeeding has been published.[6]

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