Is Artesunate safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Artesunate. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Breastfed infants who were given dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine as a treatment for malaria had a higher frequency of vomiting than non-breastfed infants given the drugs. Whether this finding applies to infants who receive dihydroartemisinin via breastmilk has not been studied.[ 3 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels . After a single oral dose of 200 mg of artesunate given to nursing mothers (number not stated), artesunate was undetectable in breastmilk ( 5 mcg/L) at any time. The active metabolite, dihydroartemisinin, reached a peak concentration in breastmilk of about 35 mcg/L at 90 minutes after the dose, and was undetectable ( 2.5 mcg/L) 6 hours after the dose.[ 2 ] Infant Levels . Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
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.