Is Chloramphenicol safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what LactMed, the Drugs and Lactation Database published by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reports about Chloramphenicol. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Adverse reactions such as vomiting, excessive intestinal gas and falling asleep at the breast have been reported in breastfed infants whose mothers were taking oral chloramphenicol. Milk concentrations are not sufficient to induce "gray baby" syndrome, but since chloramphenicol-induced aplastic anemia is not dose-related, this might occur, but has not been reported. An alternate drug is preferred to chloramphenicol during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. If the mother must receive chloramphenicol during nursing, monitor the infant for gastrointestinal disturbances and adequacy of nursing. Monitoring of the infant's complete blood count and differential is advisable. In some cases, discontinuation of breastfeeding might be preferred.
Effects on the breastfed infant
One study reported 50 breastfed infants whose mothers were give oral chloramphenicol beginning 2 to 12 days postpartum in dosages of 1 (n = 20), 2 (n = 20)or 3 grams (n = 10) daily. All of the infants refused to suck, and 50 to 60% fell asleep during nursing. Vomiting occurred after feeding in 10%, 25%, and 90% of infants with daily maternal dosages of 1, 2 and 3 grams, respectively. All infants had excessive intestinal gas and abdominal distention, with severe problems in 0.5%, 20% and 100% of infants with daily maternal dosages of 1, 2 and 3 grams, respectively.[4]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Milk concentrations reported vary somewhat apparently due to the use of older assay techniques in early studies.[1-3]
Peak milk levels in 10 breastfeeding women were 1.7 to 2.8 mg/L during therapy with 250 mg orally 4 times daily and 3.6 to 6.1 mg/L during therapy with 500 mg orally 4 times daily.[1]
Four women were given a single dose of chloramphenicol 500 mg orally. The average peak milk concentration of 3.24 mg/L (range 2.5 to 4.5 mg/L) occurred 2 hours after the dose. By 8 hours after the dose, the milk concentration averaged 0.31 mg/L. In 5 other women given chloramphenicol 500 mg 3 times daily by mouth at 7-hour intervals for 2 days, breastmilk chloramphenicol levels were 1.72 and 0.66 mg/L at 24 and 48 hours after the first dose. The average half-life in milk was 1.77 hours.[2]
After a single oral dose of 500 mg of chloramphenicol in 2 women, the drug was first measurable in milk in a concentration of 3.3 mg/L 2 hours after the dose. At 4 and 6 hours after the dose, milk concentrations averaged 4.1 mg/L at both times.[3]
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Chloramphenicol in pregnancy
LactMed covers breastfeeding only. For what the NHS and the US prescribing label say about pregnancy, see:
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Chloramphenicol” (LM606). LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.