Is Benznidazole safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Benznidazole. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Ten women with chronic Chagas disease received benznidazole in a median oral dose of 5.65 mg/kg twice daily for 30 days. Median infant age Ten women with chronic Chagas disease received benznidazole in a median oral dose of 5.65 mg/kg twice daily for 30 days. Median infant age was 5.2 months (range 20 days-13 months). Five children were exclusively breastfed and the others partially breastfed. None of the infants had any adverse reactions attributable to benznidazole.[ 4 ] A postpartum woman diagnosed with Chagas disease was treated with benznidazole 5 mg/kg daily beginning one month postpartum and continuing for 30 days. She continued to breastfeed (extent not stated) her infant. The authors reported that no adverse effects were seen in the infant.[ 6 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Seventeen breastmilk samples were obtained at unspecified times from 10 women being treated for Chagas disease with benznidazole 5 to 10 mg/kg daily. Breastmilk concentration varied between undetectable ( 0.3 mg/L) and 9.8 mg/L, with a mean of 4.1 mg/L.[ 1 ] A fully breastfed infant would receive a daily dosage of 0.6 mg/kg daily using the mean breastmilk level and 1.5 mg/kg daily using the maximum value. These values are much less than the therapeutic dosage of 5 mg/kg daily that has been used safely in newborn infants with congenital Chagas disease.[ 2 , 3 ] Ten women with chronic Chagas disease received benznidazole in an oral dose of 300 or 400 mg (median 5.65 mg/kg) twice daily for 30 days. Sixteen breastmilk samples were obtained at a median of 9 days (range 6 to 34 days) of therapy. The median breastmilk benznidazole level was 3.8 mg/L (range 0.3 to 5.9 mg/L). The median calculated infant dosage was 0.65 mg/kg daily, which is about 10% of the dose used to treat infants for Chagas disease. This dosage translated to 12.3% (range 1.3 to 17.0%) of the maternal weight-adjusted daily dosage.[ 4 ] Four women with Chagas disease were treated with benznidazole 5 to 10 mg/kg daily in 2 divided doses provided breastmilk samples for analysis after 4 to 10 days of therapy. The timing of the sample with respect to doses was not reported. Breastmilk concentrations of benznidazole ranged from nonquantifiable ( 0.88 mg/L) to 7.1 mg/L.[ 5 ] 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.