Question

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

Cefepime lactation summary

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

Fourth-generation cephalosporin for injection or parenteral administration. Like most cephalosporins for which data are available, excretion occurs in breast milk in very small amount and it is clinically insignificant (Sanders 1993, Bristol-Myers Squibb 2009). Cephalosporins are widely used in the Pediatric practice with a good tolerance, even in the neonatal period, so it is very unlikely that in small amounts through milk would be a cause of problems in the infant. Be aware of the possibility of false negative results of cultures in febrile infants whose mothers are taking antibiotics as well as the possibility of gastroenteritis (Ito 1993) by altering the intestinal flora.

Answer by DrLact: About Cefepime usage in lactation

Although no information is available on the use of cefepime during breastfeeding, the levels in breastmilk appear to be low and cephalosporins are generally not be expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Occasionally disruption of the infant's gastrointestinal flora, resulting in diarrhea or thrush have been reported with cephalosporins, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Cefepime is acceptable in nursing mothers.

Alternate Drugs

Cefprozil(Safe)
Nevirapine(Low Risk)
Naftifine(Safe)
Abacavir(Safe)
Doxycycline(Low Risk)
Nelfinavir(Unsafe)
Lomefloxacin(Low Risk)
Dapsone(Low Risk)
Neomycin(Safe)
Cefixime(Safe)
Levofloxacin(Low Risk)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Capreomycin(Low Risk)
Famciclovir(Low Risk)
Rifaximin(Safe)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Erythromycin(Low Risk)
Demeclocycline(Low Risk)
Amikacin(Safe)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Indinavir(Unsafe)
Kanamycin(Safe)
Ertapenem(Safe)
Zidovudine(Low Risk)
Moxifloxacin(Low Risk)
Clindamycin(Low Risk)
Valganciclovir(Low Risk)
Econazole(Safe)
Amantadine(Low Risk)
Tenofovir(Safe)
Ganciclovir(Low Risk)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Lindane(Unsafe)
Acyclovir(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Quinine(Safe)
Efavirenz(Unsafe)
Aztreonam(Safe)
Saquinavir(Unsafe)
Ofloxacin(Safe)
Primaquine(Low Risk)
Didanosine(Unsafe)
Gatifloxacin(Low Risk)
Malathion(Low Risk)
Meropenem(Safe)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Atovaquone(Low Risk)
Ritonavir(Unsafe)
Linezolid(Low Risk)
Enoxacin(Low Risk)
Doxycycline(Low Risk)
Lomefloxacin(Low Risk)
Neomycin(Safe)
Cefixime(Safe)
Mupirocin(Safe)
Levofloxacin(Low Risk)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Capreomycin(Low Risk)
Nalidixic Acid(Low Risk)
Nafcillin(Safe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Erythromycin(Low Risk)
Demeclocycline(Low Risk)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Kanamycin(Safe)
Ertapenem(Safe)
Iodine(Unsafe)
Moxifloxacin(Low Risk)
Clindamycin(Low Risk)
Amikacin(Safe)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Methicillin(Low Risk)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Aztreonam(Safe)
Gatifloxacin(Low Risk)
Methenamine(Unsafe)
Ofloxacin(Safe)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Enoxacin(Low Risk)
Cefprozil(Safe)
Cefixime(Safe)
Cefaclor(Safe)
Cefepime(Safe)
Cefoxitin(Safe)
Cefotetan(Safe)
Cefdinir(Safe)
Cefazolin(Safe)
Cefprozil(Safe)
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.