Is Levamisole 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 Levamisole. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Levamisole is no longer marketed for human use in the United States because can cause agranulocytosis, but it is used as an anthelmintic in other countries. No published information is available about its excretion into breastmilk. Some information indicates that maternal use may be acceptable during breastfeeding. However, because there is little published experience with levamisole during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. The World Health Organization recommends against breastfeeding with maternal levamisole therapy.
Effects on the breastfed infant
A cohort of 33 infants who were breastfed (extent not stated) by hospitalized mothers taking nifurtimox was followed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thirty mothers took a full course of 30 doses of oral nifurtimox 15 mg/kg daily and all received 14 doses of intravenous eflornithine 400 mg/kg daily for 7 days for human African trypanosomiasis. (sleeping sickness). Six nursing mothers also took levamisole. No serious adverse events were reported in any of the breastfed infants.[1,2]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Levamisole” (levamisole). 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.