Is Parathyroid Hormone 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 Parathyroid Hormone. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
Because parathyroid hormone is a large protein molecule, the amount in milk is likely to be very low.[1] It is also likely to be partially destroyed in the infant's gastrointestinal tract and absorption by the infant is probably minimal.[2] Evidence from one case indicates no harm to the breastfed infant with maternal recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-84). Monitor breastfed infants for signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia. Serum calcium monitoring should be considered.
Effects on the breastfed infant
A woman with hypoparathyroidism was taking recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-84) and became pregnant. She stopped the drug at 5 weeks of gestation and the calcium dose was increased to 3500 mg daily and calcitriol 1 mcg daily in divided doses was started. At 12 weeks of pregnancy, her calcitriol dose was increased to 1.5 mcg daily and it remained at this dose for the remainder of pregnancy. She restarted parathyroid hormone postpartum at a dose of 75 mcg daily, discontinued calcitriol and her calcium dose was reduced to 500 mg daily. At 3 months postpartum, her parathyroid hormone dose was reduced to 50 mcg daily. She breastfed (extent not stated) her infant for 6 months. The infant’s calcium levels were in the high normal range for her first 8 weeks of breastfeeding, but that could have been caused by the mother’s intake of calcitriol during pregnancy. At 4 years and 5 months of age the child was healthy and meeting developmental milestones.[3]
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 “Parathyroid Hormone” (parathyroid_hormone). 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.