Question

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

Busulfan lactation summary

Busulfan is dangerous in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Busulfan is 7 out of 8 which is considered Dangerous as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 7 indicates that usage of Busulfan may cause toxic or severe side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Busulfan 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 Busulfan .
  • Usage of Busulfan is in contradiction to breastfeeding hence if it is must to use Busulfan 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 Busulfan usage in lactation

Drug is cleared from the body in 10 elimination half-lives. Resuming breastfeeding is likely safe after 24 hours of pumping-and-dumping.

Answer by DrLact: About Busulfan usage in lactation

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy.[1] It might be possible to breastfeed safely during intermittent therapy with an appropriate period of breastfeeding abstinence. Although minimal data are available to determine an appropriate period to withhold breastfeeding, the drug's terminal half-live of 2.5 hours suggests that withholding breastfeeding for at least 24 hours may be sufficient. Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.[2] Women who receive chemotherapy during pregnancy are more likely to have difficulty nursing their infant.[3]

Busulfan Side Effects in Breastfeeding

Busulfan in a dosage of 4 mg/day for 5 weeks was taken for myeloid leukemia by one woman while breastfeeding. Weekly monitoring found no adverse effects on her infant's leukocyte count or hemoglobin.[3]

Alternate Drugs

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