Is Dapsone safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Dapsone. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
A case of mild hemolytic anemia occurred in a 41-day-old breastfed infant whose mother was taking dapsone 50 mg daily. The hemolysis was probably caused by dapsone in milk.[ 3 ] A woman with leprosy took dapsone, clofazimine and rifampin during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Her infant developed skin discoloration attributed to clofazimine which reversed 3 months after cessation of breastfeeding.[ 5 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. In one mother who was 41 days postpartum, a random milk level of dapsone was about 1.1 mg/L with a maternal dose of 50 mg daily. Monoacetyldapsone was not detectable in milk although the maternal serum level was 744 mcg/L.[ 3 ] Three women who were 2 to 5 days postpartum were given a single dose of 100 mg of dapsone orally. Milk samples were obtained at various times up to about 220 hours after the dose. The authors calculated that the breastfed infants would receive an average of 9.6% (range 4.6 to 14.3%) of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.[ 4 ] Infant Levels. A mother who was 41 days postpartum was taking dapsone 50 mg daily. Her breastfed infant's serum had levels of 439 mcg/L of dapsone and 204 mcg/L of monoacetyldapsone.[ 3 ]
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.