Is Balsalazide safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Balsalazide. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
The active metabolite of balsalazide, mesalamine, was probably responsible for diarrhea in a 6-week-old whose diarrhea recurred 4 times after rechallenging of the mother 4 times during breastfeeding.[ 8 ] In a prospective telephone follow-up study, 8 nursing mothers reported taking mesalamine (dosage and route unspecified). One mother reported diarrhea in her infant. No other adverse reactions were reported in the infants by their mothers.[ 9 ] A case-control study compared the infants of mothers taking mesalamine (n = 117; average dose, 2065 mg daily), olsalazine (n = 2) or sulfasalazine (n = 2) to infants of matched control mothers (n = 121) who were exposed to no treatment known to be harmful to a breastfed infant. Infants were exposed to mesalamine through milk for a mean of 5.3 months (range: 3 days-24 months). Infants were breastfed for an average of about 7.4 months and were followed up at an average age of about 22 months. No difference in the frequency or characteristics of maternally reported adverse events were found between exposed and control infants.[ 10 , 11 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Balsalazide is a prodrug that liberates the active drug, mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid; 5-ASA), in the gastrointestinal tract. Mesalamine is metabolized to N-acetyl-5-ASA, which is inactive in treating inflammatory bowel disease, but its possible effects on the breastfed infant are unknown. Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternatives LactMed lists
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.