Is Anakinra Safe in Breastfeeding
Question
I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Anakinra? Is Anakinra safe for nursing mother and child? Does Anakinra extracts into breast milk? Does Anakinra has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Anakinra influence milk supply or can Anakinra decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?
Anakinra lactation summary
- DrLact safety Score for Anakinra is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
- A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Anakinra may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
- Our study of different scientific research indicates that Anakinra may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
- Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Anakinra low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
- While using Anakinra 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 Anakinra usage in lactation
It is indicated for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in combination with methrotexate (the latter is contraindicated during lactation). A 153-aminoacid containing polypeptide with a large molecular weight. Excretion into breast milk is unlikely and subsequent oral absorption would be nil especially after one week post partum. No adverse effect in breastfed infants has been reported.
Answer by DrLact: About Anakinra usage in lactation
Anainra is the pharmaceutical name for recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). IL-1Ra is a normal component of human milk where it may play a role as an anti-inflammatory agent. No data exist on the excretion of anakinra into breastmilk after exogenous administration. Several infants have been breastfed during maternal anakinra therapy with no obvious adverse effects. If anakinra is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding.[1]
Anakinra Side Effects in Breastfeeding
A woman was receiving anakinra 100 mg daily for adult-onset Still's disease during pregnancy and lactation. Her breastfed (extent not stated) infant gained wight and appeared to have normal psychomotor development during an unspecified follow-up period.[4] Among a cohort of 18 women with term pregnancies treated with anakinra for cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes during pregnancy, 3 of the women breastfed their infants (extent not stated) for periods of <1 month, 3 months and 1 year. No adverse neonatal outcomes were reported.[5] In an international multicenter study of mothers exposed to interleukin-1 receptor antagonists, 10 babies were breastfed (extent not stated) by mothers receiving anakinra for up to 10 months. No infections or developmental abnormalities were reported.[6] Three of the cases had been reported previously in reference[5]. Of 5 women who took anakinra during pregnancy, two breastfed their infants while continuing to receive anakinra 100 mg daily. No serious infections were reported and development was normal.[7]
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