Is Sulphadoxine Safe in Breastfeeding
Question
I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Sulphadoxine? Is Sulphadoxine safe for nursing mother and child? Does Sulphadoxine extracts into breast milk? Does Sulphadoxine has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Sulphadoxine influence milk supply or can Sulphadoxine decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?
Sulphadoxine lactation summary
- DrLact safety Score for Sulphadoxine is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
- A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Sulphadoxine may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
- Our study of different scientific research indicates that Sulphadoxine may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
- Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Sulphadoxine low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
- While using Sulphadoxine We suggest monitoring child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to 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 Sulphadoxine usage in lactation
A low concentration is reached in breast milk. It is commercialized in several countries (not in Spain) together with Pyrimethamine (see the latter drug) as an anti-malarial drug: Fansidar: 20 parts of Sulphadoxine by 1 of Pyrimethamine. Manufacturers give a dosage for children weighing more than 5 kg.
Alternate Drugs for Antimalarials. ATC P01B
Chloroquine(Safe)
Hydroxychloroquine(Safe)
Mefloquine(Safe)
Pyrimethamine(Safe)
Quinine(Safe)
Atovaquone(Low Risk)
Primaquine(Low Risk)
Artemisinin(Safe)
Halofantrine-HCl(Unsafe)
Lumefantrine(Safe)
Primaquine Phosphate(Low Risk)
Proguanil(Safe)
Sulfadoxine(Low Risk)
Sulphormethoxine(Low Risk)
Quinine Sulfate(Safe)