Can you take auranofin 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.
Excretion of gold into milk after auranofin has not been studied. Case reports with other gold salts indicate that gold appears in milk in small quantities and at least a little of it is absorbed because it is detectable in the infant's urine. No convincing cases of toxicity have been reported. Opinions of authors of review articles vary from recommending avoidance to allowing use. Monitoring for possible adverse effects in the breastfed infant would seem prudent.
Quoted from Auranofin — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised July 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of auranofin. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Etanercept
- Gold Sodium Thiomalate
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Infliximab
- Methotrexate
- Penicillamine
- Sulfasalazine
How much auranofin gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
Four infants reportedly have been breastfed during maternal gold therapy (including gold sodium thiomalate and gold aurothioglucose). Transient facial edema occurred in an 18-month-old infant, 3 months after the mother's treatment stopped. The reaction was possibly due to gold in the mother's milk ingested by the infant.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take auranofin while breastfeeding?
Excretion of gold into milk after auranofin has not been studied. 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.
What can I take instead of auranofin while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Etanercept, Gold Sodium Thiomalate, Hydroxychloroquine, Infliximab, Methotrexate, Penicillamine, Sulfasalazine as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does auranofin pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for auranofin are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking auranofin?
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 auranofin
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.