Is Amikacin safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Amikacin. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Two women were given a single dose of 100 mg amikacin intramuscularly, and milk levels were measured at 2 and 6 hours after the dose. Only trace levels were detected. In one woman on amikacin therapy, the peak amikacin milk level was 1.5 mg/L 2.5 hours after a 100 mg dose by injection.[ 1 ] Two women were given a single 200 mg dose of amikacin intramuscularly and milk levels were measured hourly for 6 hours. They had only trace levels in milk 6 hours after the dose.[ 2 ] A woman given a single dose of amikacin 100 mg intramuscularly had undetectable milk amikacin levels 1 and 2 hours after the dose and only trace amounts in milk at 4 and 6 hours after the dose.[ 3 ] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
“No published information” means the studies do not exist yet — not that Amikacin is known to be harmful, and not that it is known to be safe. Your prescriber or pharmacist can weigh your baby's age and whether a better-studied alternative would do the same job. Worth asking before stopping a medicine you need.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.