Can you take carmustine 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 use of carmustine during breastfeeding. Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy, especially alkylating agents such as carmustine. The manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding be discontinued during carmustine therapy and for 1 month after the last dose.
Quoted from Carmustine — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised August 16, 2021.
How much carmustine 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
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Some evidence indicates that carmustine can increase serum prolactin. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take carmustine while breastfeeding?
No information is available on the use of carmustine 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 carmustine pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for carmustine are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking carmustine?
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 carmustine
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.