Clindamycin Phosphate Gel while Breastfeeding
Modern medicine has evolved so much so that sooner or later every breastfeeding mother needs to take it in one form or other. Medication that is present in mothers blood will transfer into her breast milk to some extent. Most drugs do so at low levels and pose no real risk to infants but then there are some exceptions. In This post will discuss whether Clindamycin Phosphate Gel is safe in breast-feeding or not.

What is Clindamycin Phosphate Gel used for?


CLINICAL STUDIES In one 12-week multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blind, vehicle-controlled, parallel comparison clinical trial in which patients used Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Gel once daily or the vehicle gel once daily, in the treatment of acne vulgaris of mild to moderate severity, Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Gel applied once daily was more effective than the vehicle applied once daily. The mean percent reductions in lesion counts at the end of treatment in this study are shown in the following table: Lesions Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Gel QD N=162 Vehicle Gel QD N=82 Inflammatory 51% 40%P<0.05 Noninflammatory 25% 12% Total 38% 27% There was a trend in the investigator's global assessment of the results, which favored Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Gel QD over the vehicle QD. In a contact sensitization study, four of the 200 subjects appeared to develop suggestive evidence of allergic contact sensitization to Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Gel. There was no signal for contact sensitization in the clinical trials under normal use conditions.

I am breastfeeding mother and I am using Clindamycin Phosphate Gel. Can it have any bad effect on my kid? Shall I search for better alternative?

Clindamycin Phosphate Gel low risk for breastfeeding
Clindamycin is the one and only active ingredient present in Clindamycin Phosphate Gel. Clindamycin in itself is a low risk drug for lactation so it is easy to understand that Clindamycin Phosphate Gel also comes in category of Low Risk item while breastfeeding. Below is the summary of Clindamycin in breastfeeding.

Clindamycin Phosphate Gel Breastfeeding Analsys


Clindamycin while Breastfeeding

Low Risk

CAS Number: 18323-44-9

Lincosamide antibacterial. Excreted in non-significant level into breast milk. Except for few cases of enterocolitis due to disturbance of intestinal flora no other harm effects have been shown in breastfed infants. All cases spontaneously cured after discontinuation of medication. One reported case (1980) of pseudomembrane colitis in an infant whose mother was on clindamicin and gentamicin. Be aware of the possibility of false negative results of febrile infant bacterial cultures when the mother is on antibiotics and diarrheal disease due to intestinal flora imbalance. The American Academy of Pediatrics rates it as compatible with breastfeeding.


Clindamycin Phosphate Gel Breastfeeding Analsys - 2


Clindamycin while Breastfeeding

CAS Number: 18323-44-9

Clindamycin has the potential to cause adverse effects on the breastfed infant's gastrointestinal flora. If oral or intravenous clindamycin is required by a nursing mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding, but an alternate drug may be preferred. Monitor the infant for possible effects on the gastrointestinal flora, such as diarrhea, candidiasis (thrush, diaper rash) or rarely, blood in the stool indicating possible antibiotic-associated colitis. Vaginal application is unlikely to cause infant side effects, although about 30% of a vaginal dose is absorbed. Infant side effects are unlikely with topical administration for acne; however, topical application to the breast may increase the risk of diarrhea if it is ingested by the infant. Only water-miscible cream, foam, gel or liquid products should be applied to the breast because ointments may expose the infant to high levels of mineral paraffins via licking.[1]



I am nursing mother and I have already used Clindamycin Phosphate Gel, what should I do?

Clindamycin Phosphate Gel is in the category of low risk, if you have already used it then its not a big deal if health and behavior of baby is good. However your health care provider shall be aware of the fact that you have used Clindamycin Phosphate Gel so you should inform him based on your convenience.


I am nursing mother and my doctor has suggested me to use Clindamycin Phosphate Gel, is it safe?

Though Clindamycin Phosphate Gel dose not comes in category of safe drugs rather it comes in category of low risk but if your doctor is aware that you are breastfeeding your baby and has still recommended it then its advantages must be outweighing the risks.


If I am using Clindamycin Phosphate Gel, will my baby need extra monitoring?

Not much monitoring required while using Clindamycin Phosphate Gel


Who can I talk to if I have questions about usage of Clindamycin Phosphate Gel in breastfeeding?

US
National Womens Health and Breastfeeding Helpline: 800-994-9662 (TDD 888-220-5446) 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday

UK
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300-100-0212 9.30am to 9.30pm, daily
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300-330-5453
La Leche League: 0345-120-2918
The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300-456-2421
National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300-330-0700

Australia
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 1800-686-268 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Canada
Telehealth Ontario for breastfeeding: 1-866-797-0000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week