Is Keflex Safe in Breastfeeding

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

First-generation cephalosporin. Oral administration. Like most cephalosporins for which data are available, excretion occurs in breast milk in very small amount and it is clinically insignificant (Kafetzis 1981, Matsuda 1984, Ilett 2006). 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. Keflex is not excreted in significant amount into breast milk (Kafetzis 1981, Matsuda 1984, Ilett 2006). Be aware of false negative bacterial cultures in the infant when the mother is on antibiotics. Also, diarrheal disease due to imbalance of intestinal flora is possible (Ito 1993, Benyamini 2005). A case of a mother reportedly treated with Keflexe and Probenecid occurred (Ilett 2006).

Limited information indicates that maternal Keflex produces low levels in milk that are usually not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Keflex is an alternative for the treatment of mastitis.[1][2] 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. Keflex is acceptable in nursing mothers.

In a prospective follow-up study, 7 nursing mothers reported taking Keflex (dosage not specified). Two mothers reported diarrhea in their infants. No rashes or candidiasis were reported among the exposed infants.[6] A prospective, controlled study asked mothers who called an information service about adverse reactions experience by their breastfed infants. One of 11 Keflex-exposed infants reportedly developed diarrhea during maternal Keflex therapy.[7] A woman received intravenous cephalothin 1 g every 6 hours for 3 days. Her breastfed infant had a green liquid stool, severe diarrhea, discomfort and crying. The mother's drug regimen was then changed to oral Keflex 500 mg plus oral probenecid 500 mg 4 times daily for another 16 days. The infant continued to have diarrhea during this time. The authors rated the diarrhea as probably related to Keflex in milk.[5]