Is Ketoconazole safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Ketoconazole. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
A mother taking ketoconazole 200 mg orally for 10 days noticed no adverse effects in her breastfed 1-month-old infant.[ 4 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. A mother who was 1 month postpartum took ketoconazole 200 mg orally for 10 days. A peak ketoconazole milk level of 220 mcg/L occurred 3.25 hours after the dose and the average milk level was 68 mcg/L. The authors calculated that an exclusively breastfed infant would ingest an average of 0.01 mg/kg daily or about 0.4% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage and a maximum of 0.033 mg/kg daily or about 1.4% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.[ 4 ] 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.