Question

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

Refludan lactation summary

Refludan usage has low risk in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Refludan is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Refludan may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Refludan may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Refludan low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • While using Refludan 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 Refludan usage in lactation

Hirudin is a 65 aminoacid-containing protein that has a direct inhibitory effect on thrombin, which is extracted from leech. Due to a higher molecular weight, excretion to breast milk and absorption are unlikely.

Answer by DrLact: About Refludan usage in lactation

Limited information indicates that Refludan in doses up to 100 mg daily produce very low levels in milk. Because of its large molecular weight, it would not be expected to be absorbed from breastmilk by the infant. Refludan would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants, especially if the infant is older than 2 months.[1]

Refludan Side Effects in Breastfeeding

One infant was breastfed for 3 months during therapeutic Refludan use beginning at 7 weeks of age. No bleeding events occurred.[2]
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.