Clarithromycin For Suspension 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 Clarithromycin For Suspension is safe in breast-feeding or not.

Clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial indicated for mild to moderate infections caused by designated, susceptible bacteria in the following: •Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis in Adults (1.1) •Acute Maxillary Sinusitis (1.2) •Community-Acquired Pneumonia (1.3) •Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis (1.4) •Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections (1.5) •Acute Otitis Media in Pediatric Patients (1.6) •Treatment and Prophylaxis of Disseminated Mycobacterial Infections (1.7) • Helicobacter pylori Infection and Duodenal Ulcer Disease in Adults (1.8) To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of clarithromycin and other antibacterial drugs, clarithromycin should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. (1.9) 1.1 Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis Clarithromycin is indicated in adults for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible isolates due to Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae [see I ndications and Usage (1.9)]. 1.2 Acute Maxillary Sinusitis Clarithromycin is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible isolates due to Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae [see Indications and Usage (1.9)]. 1.3 Community-Acquired Pneumonia Clarithromycin is indicated [see Indications and Usage (1.9)]for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible isolates due to: • Haemophilus influenzae (in adults) • Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae Clarithromycin [in adults and pediatric patients] 1.4 Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis Clarithromycin is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible isolates due to Streptococcus pyogenes as an alternative in individuals who cannot use first line therapy. 1.5 Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections Clarithromycin is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible isolates due to Staphylococcus aureus, or S treptococcus pyogenes. 1.6 Acute Otitis Media Clarithromycin is indicated in pediatric patients for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible isolates due to Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae [see Clinical Studies ( 14.2)]. 1.7 Treatment and Prophylaxis of Disseminated Mycobacterial Infections Clarithromycin is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible isolates due to Mycobacterium avium or Myc obacterium intracellulare in patients with advanced HIV infection [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )]. 1.10 Usage To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of clarithromycin and other antibacterial drugs, clarithromycin should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Statement of Manufacturer/Labeler about breastfeeding usage
8.3 Nursing Mothers Caution should be exercised when clarithromycin is administered to nursing women. The development and health benefits of human milk feeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for clarithromycin and any potential adverse effects on the human milk fed child from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition. Clarithromycin and its active metabolite 14-hydroxy clarithromycin are excreted in human milk. Serum and milk samples were obtained after 3 days of treatment, at steady state, from one published study of 12 lactating women who were taking clarithromycin 250 mg orally twice daily. Based on the limited data from this study, and assuming milk consumption of 150 mL/kg/day, an exclusively human milk fed infant would receive an estimated average of 136 mcg/kg/day of clarithromycin and its active metabolite, with this maternal dosage regimen. This is less than 2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dose (7.8 mg/kg/day, based on the average maternal weight of 64 kg), and less than 1% of the pediatric dose (15 mg/kg/day) for children greater than 6 months of age. A prospective observational study of 55 breastfed infants of mothers taking a macrolide antibacterial (6 were exposed to clarithromycin) were compared to 36 breastfed infants of mothers taking amoxicillin. Adverse reactions were comparable in both groups. Adverse reactions occurred in 12.7% of infants exposed to macrolides and included rash, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and somnolence.