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How much doxycycline in breast milk?

Doxycycline and Breast Milk: What You Need to Know
Doxycycline, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, raises important questions regarding its safety for breastfeeding mothers and the potential effects on nursing infants. Understanding how much doxycycline is present in breast milk can help inform decisions for mothers who require this medication.
Maternal Dosing and Milk Levels
Research indicates that doxycycline is excreted into breast milk, albeit in relatively low concentrations. In a study involving fifteen mothers who were nursing infants aged between 15 and 30 days, the mothers were administered a dose of 200 mg of doxycycline, followed by a subsequent dose of 100 mg. Milk samples were collected at intervals of 3 and 24 hours after the second dose to measure the levels of the drug. The findings revealed that the average concentration of doxycycline in breast milk was approximately 0.82 mg/L at the 3-hour mark and 0.46 mg/L at 24 hours post-dose .
Infant Exposure Estimates
To put these concentrations into perspective, the estimated intake of an exclusively breastfed infant was calculated to be about 6% of the maternal dose. This means that if a mother takes doxycycline, the amount that an infant would receive through breast milk is relatively small, which is a crucial consideration for nursing mothers.
Safety Considerations
While the levels of doxycycline in breast milk are low, it is essential to consider the potential effects on infants. The FDA has noted that while doxycycline is excreted into breast milk, the risk of adverse effects in nursing infants is generally considered low. However, there are concerns regarding the long-term use of tetracycline antibiotics, including doxycycline, which can lead to cosmetic staining of teeth in young children.
Conclusion
In summary, doxycycline does pass into breast milk, but at low levels that are unlikely to pose significant risks to breastfeeding infants. Mothers who need to take this antibiotic should consult with their healthcare providers to weigh the benefits and risks, ensuring that both their health and that of their child are prioritized.

How much medication goes into breast milk?

Although most medicines are excreted in breast milk to some degree, the amount is usually less than 10% of the maternal dose. Medicines excreted at less than 10% are considered compatible with breastfeeding.

How long after taking dicyclomine can I breastfeed?

Dicyclomine should not be used in infants under 6 months. Breastfeeding. Do not take dicyclomine if you are breastfeeding. You must either stop breastfeeding or stop dicyclomine.

What is the dosing range for doxycycline?

The usual dose is 100mg to 200mg, taken once or twice a day. You might take a lower dose, such as 40mg once a day or 20mg twice a day, for rosacea or gum infections. Children younger than 12 years old may need to take a lower dose than adults. The dose depends on your child’s age and weight.

What happens if you accidentally take doxycycline with milk?

Dairy products contain calcium, which can interact with doxycycline. When these two substances come into contact, it triggers a chemical reaction that can reduce the amount of doxycycline that’s absorbed by your body. This may make doxycycline less effective.

Is it safe to breastfeed while taking doxycycline?

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take doxycycline for a short time (less than 3 weeks) while breastfeeding. Doxycycline passes into breast milk in fairly small amounts. However, the calcium in your milk sticks to the doxycycline so the baby cannot absorb very much.

What happens if I breastfeed while taking antibiotics?

Most antibiotics can produce excessively loose motions in the baby, with the appearance of diarrhoea. Some infants appear more unsettled with tummy aches or colic. These effects are not clinically significant and do not require treatment. The value of continued breastfeeding outweighs the temporary inconvenience.

How much does milk affect doxycycline?

Calcium reacts with doxycycline in a process called chelation. This process forms a new compound called chelate, which is harder for your intestines to absorb. Because of this interaction with calcium, less doxycycline is absorbed by your gastrointestinal tract, and the medication becomes less effective.

What cancels out doxycycline?

Some medicines that can interact with doxycycline are antacids and supplements that contain calcium, iron, magnesium, or sodium bicarbonate. If you take products containing these minerals within 2 hours of the time you take doxycycline, these medicines could decrease the doxycycline’s effectiveness.

How much antibiotics in breast milk?

Breast milk levels
Studies for amoxicillin, ampicillin, benzylpenicillin (penicillin G), flucloxacillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V) and piperacillin show negligible levels in breast milk. There is no published information for pivmecillinam or temocillin, however breast milk levels are expected to be low.

Why shouldn’t doxycycline be used to patients taking milk?

Simultaneous ingestion of milk diminished the peak plasma concentration by 24% and the absorption by 9-53% (mean 30%). It is concluded that, like the other tetracyclines, doxycycline should not be administered together with milk.

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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