Question

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

Ceftriaxone lactation summary

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

Third generation cephalosporin for injection or parenteral administration. Like most cephalosporins for which data are available, it is excreted in breast milk in clinically non-significant amount (Kafetzis 1983, Hirabayashi 1988, Bourget 1993) with no problems being reported in infants whose mothers were treated with it. Because a low oral bioavailability the absorption from ingested milk to infant’s plasma would be zero or negligible, except in case prematurity and immediate neonatal period, when intestinal absorption may be increased. It is a medication which is approved for use in infants and neonates. 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. American Academy of Pediatrics 2001: Medication usually compatible with breastfeeding.WHO List of Essential Medicines 2002: compatible with breastfeeding.

Answer by DrLact: About Ceftriaxone usage in lactation

Limited information indicates that ceftriaxones produce low levels in milk which are not 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. Ceftriaxone is acceptable in nursing mothers.

Ceftriaxone Side Effects in Breastfeeding

A mother who was exclusively nursing her 52-day-old infant developed a soft-tissue infection. She was treated with intravenous teicoplanin 400 mg every 12 hours for 3 doses, then 400 mg daily for 5 days total, intravenous ceftriaxone 1 gram daily, topical mupirocin cream twice daily. A careful follow-up indicated that her infant had no adverse effects.[2]

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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.