Question

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

Pamidronate lactation summary

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

It is composed by bisphosphonates Most bisphosphonates are acidic compounds that achieve low plasma concentration. Both features make it unlikely excretion into the milk in clinically significant amount. Intestinal absorption of bisphosphonates is very low even during fasting and is considered negligible in the presence of milk due to formation with the calcium of non absorbable compounds. Pamidronate is excreted into breast milk in clinically insignificant amount and no problems have been observed in infants whose mothers were treated, except some cases of mild and asymptomatic hypocalcemia in infants whose mothers had been already treated before and / or during pregnancy, so some authors suggest regular monitoring of serum calcium.

Answer by DrLact: About Pamidronate usage in lactation

Limited information indicates that maternal doses of pamidronate of 30 mg intravenously produce very low levels in milk. Because pamidronate has a serum half-life of about 3 hours, is highly bound to calcium and is poorly absorbed orally (0.3 to 3% in adults), absorption of pamidronate by a breastfed infant is unlikely.[1] Until more data become available, withholding nursing for 12 to 24 hours after a dose should ensure that the breastfed infant is exposed to little or no pamidronate. Other evidence indicates that breastfeeding after cessation of long-term pamidronate treatment appears to have no adverse effects on the infant. Some experts recommend monitoring the infant's serum calcium during the first 2 months postpartum if the mother received pamidronate during pregnancy or nursing.[2]

Pamidronate Side Effects in Breastfeeding

A mother received intravenous pamidronate 30 mg once monthly beginning 6 months postpartum. She pumped her breasts and discarded the milk for 48 hours after each dose. The infant, who was about 80% breastfed throughout maternal pamidronate therapy, remained healthy and grew normally during this time.[1] Because pamidronate can persist in the body for years after long-term administration, the following cases may be relevant. Three women received pamidronate intravenously for osteogenesis imperfecta or McCune-Albright syndrome in cumulative dosages of 6, 7.5 and 9 mg/kg annually for 2 years, 4 years, and 2.2 years, respectively. Their last doses were 3 months, 3 and 48 months (2 infants), and 21 months prior to conception, respectively. None of the women resumed pamidronate during breastfeeding, but they all breastfed their infants postpartum, one for 18 months, two for undetermined times, and one for 6 weeks. None of the infants had any evidence of adverse effects of pamidronate.[3] Two other mothers received intravenous pamidronate infusions preconception and during pregnancy. On received a total of 240 mg with the final dose during the first trimester of pregnancy. She exclusively breastfed her infant for 6 months and continued breastfeeding until the infant was 12 months old. Her infant grew normally and had no adverse reactions.[4] Another woman received alendronate for 6 months, then pamidronate every 4 months for 1 year prior to conception. Her infant was breastfed (extent not stated) for 3 months. The infant had mild hypocalcemia at 2 months of age, but a normal calcium level and normal long bone development at 5 months of age.[5] A woman developed transient osteoporosis with foot pain during pregnancy. On days 3 and 8 postpartum and 2 months later, she received 30 mg of pamidronate intravenously. She was instructed to discard her breastmilk for 24 hours after each dose. Her breastfed (extent not stated) infant had normal growth and development at 15 months of age.[6]
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