Is Oxacillin safe while breastfeeding?

Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Oxacillin. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.

Effects on the breastfed infant

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Levels in milk

Maternal Levels. After 3 to 4 doses of oxacillin 500 mg orally in 10 women, the highest level detected was 0.2 mg/L in two women 4 hours after the dose. In the other 8 women, milk levels were less than 0.2 mg/L at times between 1 and 3.75 hours after the dose.[ 1 ] One woman received oral oxacillin 3 grams daily. After the third dose, milk oxacillin levels ranged from 0.04 to 0.1 mg/L, with the peak occurring at 3 hours after the dose. The authors estimated that a breastfed infant would receive 0.3 mg daily of oxacillin in milk.[ 2 ] In 10 women with mastitis who received 1 gram of oxacillin orally 3 times daily for 5 to 6 days, the average milk concentrations ranged from 0.43 to 0.68 mg/L.[ 3 ] Repeated injections of oxacillin 1 gram intramuscularly every 6 hours for 6 to 9 days in 15 women with unilateral mastitis yielded oxacillin milk levels that reached a peak of 0.49 mg/L at 3 hours after the first dose on the first day in the healthy breast, and somewhat lower levels in the breast with mastitis. After the last dose, peak milk levels of 0.64 mg/L occurred 6 hours after the dose in the unaffected breast with slightly lower levels in the breast with mastitis.[ 4 ] After a single intramuscular dose of 500 mg of oxacillin in 2 women, milk levels ranged from 0.18 to 0.7 mg/L between 1 and 4 hours, with the peak occurring at 2 to 4 hours after the dose. Only a trace was detectable at 6 hours after the dose.[ 5 ] In 15 women given a single 1 gram dose of oxacillin intravenously, milk levels averaged 0.68 mg/L at 2 hours after the dose.[ 6 ] Infant Levels. Ten women with mastitis received 1 gram of oxacillin orally 3 times daily for 5 to 6 days. Oxacillin was detectable in the urine in 5 of 6 of the breastfed infants in whom it was measured. Urine concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 3.7 mg/L.[ 3 ]

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.