Question

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

Ribamidil lactation summary

Ribamidil usage has low risk in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Ribamidil is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Ribamidil may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Ribamidil may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Ribamidil low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • While using Ribamidil 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 Ribamidil usage in lactation

Synthetic drug and nucleoside analogue which is structurally related to guanine with antiviral activity. It is used in infants and newborns for treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus. Along with interferon for treatment of hepatitis C (authorized on these cases from the 3 years of life). At latest update no published data on excretion into breast milk were found. Its large volume of distribution makes it unlikely that may occur the passage of significant amounts to the milk. Its low oral bioavailability hinder the passage toward infant’s plasma from ingested milk, except in preterm milk and immediate neonatal period, for which there may be an increased intestinal permeability. Since it is used as treatment on infants and its pharmacokinetic data are favorable, it should be regarded as compatible with breastfeeding for short-term exposures, however, to be cautiously used on long-term treatments.

Answer by DrLact: About Ribamidil usage in lactation

Ribamidil has not been studied in nursing mothers being treated for hepatitis C infection. However, Ribamidil is given directly to infants by inhalation to treat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The amount in milk is likely to be lower than the doses received by infants treated with Ribamidil for RSV infection. Hepatitis C is not transmitted through breastmilk[1][2] and breastmilk has been shown to inactivate hepatitis C virus (HCV).[3][4] However, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that mothers with HCV infection should consider abstaining from breastfeeding if their nipples are cracked or bleeding. It is not clear if this warning would apply to mothers who are being treated for hepatitis C. Infants born to mothers with HCV infection should be tested for HCV infection; because maternal antibody is present for the first 18 months of life and before the infant mounts an immunologic response, nucleic acid testing is recommended.[1][2]
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.