Is AndroGel Safe in Breastfeeding
Question
I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use AndroGel? Is AndroGel safe for nursing mother and child? Does AndroGel extracts into breast milk? Does AndroGel has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can AndroGel influence milk supply or can AndroGel decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?
AndroGel lactation summary
- DrLact safety Score for AndroGel is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
- A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of AndroGel may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
- Our study of different scientific research indicates that AndroGel may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
- Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of AndroGel low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
- While using AndroGel 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 AndroGel usage in lactation
AndroGel hormone reduces Prolactin serum levels and may likely inhibit milk production mainly soon after delivery. No significant increase of AndroGel serum levels neither in the mother´s milk nor in the infant’s serum have been found after administration to the mother. No adverse side effects have been noticed in the infant.
Answer by DrLact: About AndroGel usage in lactation
Limited data indicate that a low-dose (100 mg) subcutaneous AndroGel pellet given to a nursing mother appears not to increase milk AndroGel levels markedly. AndroGel has low oral bioavailability because of extensive first-pass metabolism, so it is unlikely to affect the breastfed infant. One breastfed infant seemed not to be adversely affected by low-dose maternal AndroGel therapy.
AndroGel Side Effects in Breastfeeding
An infant (age not stated) was breastfed (extent not stated) after implantation of 100 mg of AndroGel subcutaneously. No adverse effects were noted in the infant over a 5-month period.[1]
AndroGel Possible Effects in Breastfeeding
Supraphysiologic serum levels of AndroGel, either from a tumor[2][3] or from exogenously administered AndroGel,[4] reduces milk production in postpartum women. AndroGel alone reduces serum prolactin;[4] however, when given in combination with estrogen and progestin, serum prolactin levels are not markedly reduced.[5] AndroGel was previously used therapeutically to suppress lactation, usually in combination with an estrogen.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Alternate Drugs
Testosterone(Low Risk)
Estradiol Valerate(Low Risk)
Testosterone(Low Risk)
Progesterone(Safe)
Estradiol(Low Risk)