Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use BW 5071? Is BW 5071 safe for nursing mother and child? Does BW 5071 extracts into breast milk? Does BW 5071 has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can BW 5071 influence milk supply or can BW 5071 decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

BW 5071 lactation summary

BW 5071 is dangerous in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for BW 5071 is 7 out of 8 which is considered Dangerous as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 7 indicates that usage of BW 5071 may cause toxic or severe side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that BW 5071 may cause moderate to high side effects or may affect milk supply in lactating mother.
  • Our suggestion is to use safer alternate options rather than using BW 5071 .
  • Usage of BW 5071 is in contradiction to breastfeeding hence if it is must to use BW 5071 and there is no better alternative available then breastfeeding shall be stopped permanently or temporarily.
  • 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 BW 5071 usage in lactation

Indicated for treatment of leukemia.

Answer by DrLact: About BW 5071 usage in lactation

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy, although antimetabolites such as BW 5071 appear to pose the least risk to breastfed infants.[1] BW 5071 levels in milk are reportedly low. BW 5071 nucleosides are active intracellular metabolites of azathioprine and have been measured in breastmilk and in infant serum following maternal use of azathioprine as an immunosuppressant. Although amounts in milk were low in breastmilk and mostly undetectable in infant serum, relatively low dosages of azathioprine were used. After high-dose chemotherapy, it might be possible to breastfeed safely during intermittent therapy with an appropriate period of breastfeeding abstinence. Although no data are available to determine an appropriate period to withhold breastfeeding, the drug's terminal half-life suggests that withholding breastfeeding for 4 days may be sufficient. Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.[2]

BW 5071 Side Effects in Breastfeeding

BW 5071 is an active metabolite of azathioprine. Numerous infants breastfed during maternal azathioprine in dosages up to 250 mg daily have been reported with no adverse effects noted. See Azathioprine record for details.

Alternate Drugs

Thioguanine(Dangerous)
Gemcitabine(Dangerous)
Fluorouracil(Dangerous)
Capecitabine(Dangerous)
Cisplatin(Unsafe)
Thioguanine(Dangerous)
Busulfan(Dangerous)
Cladribine(Dangerous)
Letrozole(Dangerous)
Trastuzumab(Unsafe)
Erlotinib(Unsafe)
Exemestane(Dangerous)
Imatinib(Unsafe)
Dactinomycin(Dangerous)
Dasatinib(Unsafe)
Nilotinib(Unsafe)
Vincristine(Dangerous)
Ipilimumab(Unsafe)
Tamoxifen(Dangerous)
Gemcitabine(Dangerous)
Cetuximab(Unsafe)
Mitoxantrone(Dangerous)
Carboplatin(Dangerous)
Paclitaxel(Dangerous)
Nivolumab(Unsafe)
Fluorouracil(Dangerous)
Vinblastine(Dangerous)
Docetaxel(Dangerous)
Hydroxyurea(Low Risk)
Alemtuzumab(Low Risk)
Bleomycin(Dangerous)
Etoposide(Dangerous)
Rituximab(Low Risk)
Pazopanib(Unsafe)
Vinorelbine(Dangerous)
Doxorubicin(Dangerous)
Bevacizumab(Low Risk)
Dacarbazine(Dangerous)
Cyclophosphamide(Dangerous)
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.