Is azithromycin safe with breastfeeding?

Understanding Azithromycin and Breastfeeding Safety
Azithromycin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, is often a concern for breastfeeding mothers due to its potential effects on infants. As of now, the consensus among healthcare professionals is that azithromycin is generally considered safe for use during breastfeeding.
How Azithromycin Affects Breast Milk
Research indicates that azithromycin is excreted into human breast milk in small amounts. The levels found in breast milk are typically low enough that they are unlikely to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. In fact, studies have shown that even when mothers take azithromycin, the concentrations in breast milk are not significant enough to pose a risk to the baby.
Recommendations from Health Experts
Health authorities and medical professionals often advise that if a mother is healthy and her baby is thriving, taking azithromycin while breastfeeding is acceptable. The Breastfeeding Network emphasizes that most medications, including azithromycin, do not require mothers to stop breastfeeding, as the amounts transferred to the infant are minimal and generally safe.
Potential Side Effects and Monitoring
While azithromycin is deemed safe, it is still essential for breastfeeding mothers to monitor their infants for any unusual symptoms, especially if the mother is taking higher doses or if the infant has underlying health issues. However, the likelihood of significant side effects from azithromycin in breastfed infants remains low.
Conclusion
In summary, azithromycin is considered safe for breastfeeding mothers, with minimal risk to infants. Mothers should always consult their healthcare providers regarding any medications they are prescribed, but current evidence supports the use of azithromycin during lactation without the need to discontinue breastfeeding.

Why is azithromycin no longer recommended?

However, in recent years, the cardiac safety of azithromycin has been questioned, primarily because of increasing concerns regarding the potential for QT interval prolongation, torsades de pointes, and cardiovascular death.

Which antibiotics are not used in breastfeeding?

Antibiotics to Avoid While Breastfeeding
Clindamycin: Clindamycin can sometimes cause mild gastrointestinal (GI) effects like diarrhea, vomiting, diaper rash, or thrush in a breastfed baby2. Co-trimoxazole: Rarely prescribed to breastfeeding parents of newborns because of an association with increased jaundice3.

Can a Z pack decrease milk supply?

Pseudoephedrine: Look out for this ingredient in your cold medicine. It can cause a drop in milk production. Zithromax: Also known as azithromycin, this antibiotic is generally considered safe to take while breastfeeding.

Can a breastfeeding mom take azithromycin?

Azithromycin and breastfeeding
If your doctor or health visitor says that your baby is healthy, it’s OK to take azithromycin while breastfeeding. Azithromycin passes into breast milk in small amounts. It has not been known to cause any side effects in breastfed babies.

Can antibiotics mess with my milk supply?

In most cases, antibiotics are safe for breastfeeding parents and their babies. “Antibiotics are one of the most common medications mothers are prescribed, and all pass in some degree into milk,” explains the Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP).

Who should not take azithromycin?

liver or kidney problems. heart problems, including irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) ever had diarrhoea when you have taken antibiotics before. myasthenia gravis – azithromycin can make the symptoms of this muscle-weakening condition worse.

What are the nursing implications for azithromycin?

Instruct patient not to take azithromycin with food or antacids. May cause drowsiness and dizziness. Caution patient to avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness until response to medication is known. Advise patient to use sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent photosensitivity reactions.

Can azithromycin affect the baby?

Currently, there is no conclusive evidence to support that azithromycin use by pregnant women causes adverse outcomes in their offspring. Therefore, this agent should only be used during pregnancy when clinically indicated, if the benefits of treatment are expected to outweigh the potential risks.

What are the effects of azithromycin in babies?

Side effects you must do something about
If your child is short of breath or is wheezing, or their face, lips or tongue start to swell, or they develop a rash, they may be allergic to Azithromycin. Take your child to hospital or phone for an ambulance straight away.

Which antibiotic is safe while breastfeeding?

All penicillin antibiotics can be used during breastfeeding with precautionary infant monitoring. Flucloxacillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V) and the broad-spectrum penicillins, such as amoxicillin and ampicillin, are the preferred choices as there is more evidence and experience to support their use.