Can you take alectinib while breastfeeding?
What LactMed says
The National Library of Medicine’s own summary, quoted in full. We do not write a verdict of our own on this question, and we do not compress theirs into a label.
No information is available on the clinical use of alectinib during breastfeeding. Because alectinib is more than 99% bound to plasma proteins, the amount in milk is low. However, its half-life is about 33 hours and it might accumulate in the infant. The manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding be discontinued during alectinib therapy and for 1 week after the last dose.
Quoted from Alectinib — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised July 15, 2023.
How much alectinib gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. A woman being treated with alectinib 600 mg once daily for lung cancer gave birth a normal infant. A milk sample taken postpartum contained 152 mcg/L of alectinib. The time of the sample was not stated, but because of the drug’s long half-life, the timing might not be critical.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take alectinib while breastfeeding?
No information is available on the clinical use of alectinib during breastfeeding. The full record is quoted on this page, and the decision is one to make with the person who prescribed it — LactMed itself states it is not a substitute for professional judgement.
Does alectinib pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for alectinib are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking alectinib?
LactMed does not frame its records that way — it reports measured drug levels in milk and what has been observed in breastfed infants, which is what this page quotes. "Pump and dump" advice for a specific drug and dose should come from your clinician or a pharmacist, not from a general rule.
More on alectinib
LactMed states that the information it presents is not a substitute for professional judgement, and that you should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Nothing on this page is medical advice.