Can you take cefaclor 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.
Cefaclor is no longer marketed in the United States. Limited information indicates that maternal cefaclor produces low levels in milk which are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Occasionally disruption of the infant's gastrointestinal flora, resulting in diarrhea or thrush have been reported with cephalosporins, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Cefaclor is acceptable in nursing mothers.
Quoted from Cefaclor — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised August 15, 2023.
How much cefaclor gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. A single dose of cefaclor 250 mg was given orally to 2 nursing mothers. In one mother it was undetectable in milk. In the other, levels of 0.15 to 0.19 mg/L occurred 2 to 4 hours after the dose; by 5 hours it was undetectable. In 5 mothers who received a single 500 mg oral dose, an average peak level of 0.21 mg/L occurred 4 hours after the dose. In individual patients, peak levels of 0.18 to 0.35 mg/L occurred 2 to 5 hours after the dose.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
In a telephone follow-up study, 5 nursing mothers reported taking cefaclor (dosage unspecified). One mother reported diarrhea in her infant. No rashes or candidiasis were reported among the exposed infants.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take cefaclor while breastfeeding?
Cefaclor is no longer marketed in the United States. 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 cefaclor pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for cefaclor are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking cefaclor?
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 cefaclor
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.