Is Kanamycin safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Kanamycin. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Kanamycin was used as part of a six-drug regimen to treat a pregnant woman with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis during the first trimester of pregnancy and postpartum. The infant was breastfed (extent and duration not stated). At age 1.8 years, the child had failure to thrive, possibly due to tuberculosis contracted after birth, but was otherwise developing normally.[ 4 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Among 4 women given a single 2 gram dose or kanamycin orally, milk levels were undetectable in two. In the other 2 women, kanamycin milk levels averaged 1.2 mg/L at 1 hour after the dose. At 3 hours after a dose, peak milk levels were 1.35 and 1.6 mcg/L. At 5 and 7 hours after a dose, kanamycin was undetectable in one mother and 1.16 and 1.11 mg/L, respectively, in the other. In the same study, 4 women were given a single 1 gram dose of kanamycin by intramuscular injection. Average milk levels were relatively constant from 0.5 to 8 hours after the injection at about 10 mg/L, except for a peak milk level of 18.4 mg/L at 1 hour after injection.[ 1 ] After administration of a single 1 gram dose of kanamycin intramuscularly to several women (exact number not stated), average kanamycin milk levels were as follows: undetectable at 1 hour; 0.1 mg/L at 2 hours; 0.3 mg/L at 4 hours; and 0.5 mg/L at 6 hours after the dose.[ 2 ] In 15 women given kanamycin 500 mg intramuscularly three times daily, average kanamycin milk levels were as follows: undetectable at 0.5 hour; 2.57 mg/L at 1 hour; 2.51 mg/L at 2 hours; 2.12 mg/L at 4 hours; 2.06 mg/L at 6 hours; and 1.6 mg/L at 8 hours after the dose.[ 3 ]Using data from this study, an exclusively breastfed infant would receive an estimated maximum daily dosage of 386 mcg/kg with this maternal dosage regimen. 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.