Can you take cetuximab 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 cetuximab during breastfeeding. Because cetuximab is a large protein molecule with a molecular weight of 145,782 Da, the amount in milk is likely to be very low. It is also likely to be partially destroyed in the infant's gastrointestinal tract and absorption by the infant is probably minimal. Until more data become available, cetuximab should be used with caution during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. The manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding be discontinued during cetuximab therapy and for 2 months after the last dose.
Quoted from Cetuximab — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised November 15, 2023.
How much cetuximab 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
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take cetuximab while breastfeeding?
No information is available on the clinical use of cetuximab 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 cetuximab pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for cetuximab are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking cetuximab?
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 cetuximab
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.