Question

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

Clotrimazole lactation summary

Clotrimazole is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Clotrimazole is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Clotrimazole is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Clotrimazole does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Clotrimazole safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher 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 Clotrimazole usage in lactation

Excretion into breast milk is very unlikely since absorption through skin, vaginal mucosa, and, even intestinal mucosa into plasma is very poor with non-significant plasma levels or below the detection threshold (<10 ng/mL). In addition, because of a high plasma protein binding capacity, excretion into breast milk seems to be less likely. It is used frequently for treatment of Candida infection, either in skin or mouth mucosa, even in newborn and premature infants without observed side-effects. In case of use on the nipple, do it after feeding the baby and cleanse thoroughly the surface before the next one. Do not use creams, gels and other locally applied products that contain paraffin (mineral oil) to prevent absorption by the infant.

Answer by DrLact: About Clotrimazole usage in lactation

Because clotrimazole has poor oral bioavailability, it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant, including topical application to the nipples. It has been used orally in infants with thrush, sometimes successfully after nystatin has failed.[1] Any excess cream or ointment should be removed from the nipples before nursing. Only water-miscible cream or gel products should be applied to the breast because ointments may expose the infant to high levels of mineral paraffins via licking.[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.