Is Benzonidazole Safe in Breastfeeding

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

Antiprotozoan drug used for the treatment of American Trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma cruzi) or Chagas Disease (see specific info). It is excreted into breast milk in small amounts and there have not been observed problems in infants from treated mothers (Garcia-Bournissen 2015, Vela-Bahena 2015). Benzonidazole has been very well tolerated when administered directly to infants and newborns (Altcheh 2011, Chippaux 2013).

Benzonidazole is excreted into milk in dosages much lower than the treatment dosage for infants. Because of the low levels of Benzonidazole in breastmilk and safety when given directly to infants, its use is acceptable in nursing mothers.

Ten women with chronic Chagas disease received Benzonidazole in a median oral dose of 5.65 mg/kg twice daily for 30 days. Median infant age Ten women with chronic Chagas disease received Benzonidazole in a median oral dose of 5.65 mg/kg twice daily for 30 days. Median infant age was 5.2 months (range 20 days-13 months). Five children were exclusively breastfed and the others partially breastfed. None of the infants had any adverse reactions attributable to Benzonidazole.[4] A postpartum woman diagnosed with Chagas disease was treated with Benzonidazole 5 mg/kg daily beginning one month postpartum and continuing for 30 days. She continued to breastfeed (extent not stated) her infant. The authors reported that no adverse effects were seen in the infant.[6]