Is Interferon Beta Safe in Breastfeeding

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

The levels of interferon beta-1a in breastmilk are minuscule. In addition, because interferon is poorly absorbed orally, it is not likely to reach the bloodstream of the infant. A small number of nursing mothers receiving interferon beta-1a while partially breastfeeding their infants and one woman exclusively breastfed her infant while taking interferon beta-1b and reported no adverse effects. The Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Excellence on Reproduction and Child Health considers interferon beta to be "moderately safe" to use during breastfeeding,[1] and a French consensus group of neurologists concluded that interferon beta can be used during breastfeeding.[2] No special precautions appear to be required during breastfeeding while using interferon beta. Holder pasteurization (62.5 degrees C for 30 minutes) decreases the concentration of endogenous interferon-gamma by an average about 10%.[3]

Six women had been receiving interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Biogen) 30 mcg intramuscularly once weekly for multiple sclerosis for months to years. None of the mothers noticed any adverse effects in their breastfed infants.[4] A woman received interferon beta-1b (Betaferon, BayerHealthCare; dosage unspecified) for multiple sclerosis throughout pregnancy. She continued the drug while she exclusively breastfed her infant. At 5 months of age, the infant was monitored regularly by a physician and was developing well with no abnormalities.[5] One mother received interferon beta-1a for multiple sclerosis during pregnancy and postpartum. All of their infants were exclusively breastfed for 6 months and no noticeable problems were reported in any of them.[6] In data collected from 4 countries, 17 women received interferon and 41 women received glatiramer during pregnancy and postpartum for treatment of multiple sclerosis. Of these, 63% breastfed (extent not stated) their infants for a mean of 8.8 months. No mention was made of adverse reactions in breastfed infants.[7]