Is Octreotide safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Octreotide. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
One mother was treated for acromegaly during pregnancy and postpartum with octreotide (dose not stated). She breastfed (extent not stated) her infant for 4 months with no apparent problems noted in the infant.[ 3 ] A woman with acromegaly took long-acting octreotide (Sandostatin LAR; dose not stated) every 6 weeks postpartum while breastfeeding. At 6 months postpartum, the frequency of the injections was increased to every 4 weeks. She breastfed her infant (extent not stated) for 12 months. At age 5 years the child had developed normally.[ 4 ]
Effects on milk supply
A pregnant woman with acromegaly started long-acting octreotide (LAR) 10 mg monthly at 12 weeks gestation. After delivery, she breastfed her until 6 weeks postpartum when she required an increase in octreotide LAR to 20 mg monthly. She continued to breastfeed successfully on octreotide.[ 5 ]
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. A woman with acromegaly became pregnant while taking octreotide. During pregnancy she increased her dose to octreotide doses up to 100 mcg injected every 1 to 2 hours (1200 to 2400 mcg/daily) to keep herself free from headaches. The concentration of octreotide in her colostrum was 4.6 mcg/L. The dose at the time of sampling and exact timing of the sample were not provided.[ 2 ] 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.