Can you take chloramphenicol 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.
Adverse reactions such as vomiting, excessive intestinal gas and falling asleep at the breast have been reported in breastfed infants whose mothers were taking oral chloramphenicol. Milk concentrations are not sufficient to induce "gray baby" syndrome, but since chloramphenicol-induced aplastic anemia is not dose-related, this might occur, but has not been reported. An alternate drug is preferred to chloramphenicol during breastfeeding, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. If the mother must receive chloramphenicol during nursing, monitor the infant for gastrointestinal disturbances and adequacy of nursing. Monitoring of the infant's complete blood count and differential is advisable. In some cases, discontinuation of breastfeeding might be preferred.
Quoted from Chloramphenicol — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised March 17, 2021.
How much chloramphenicol gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Milk concentrations reported vary somewhat apparently due to the use of older assay techniques in early studies.
Peak milk levels in 10 breastfeeding women were 1.7 to 2.8 mg/L during therapy with 250 mg orally 4 times daily and 3.6 to 6.1 mg/L during therapy with 500 mg orally 4 times daily.
Four women were given a single dose of chloramphenicol 500 mg orally. The average peak milk concentration of 3.24 mg/L (range 2.5 to 4.5 mg/L) occurred 2 hours after the dose. By 8 hours after the dose, the milk concentration averaged 0.31 mg/L. In 5 other women given chloramphenicol 500 mg 3 times daily by mouth at 7-hour intervals for 2 days, breastmilk chloramphenicol levels were 1.72 and 0.66 mg/L at 24 and 48 hours after the first dose. The average half-life in milk was 1.77 hours.
After a single oral dose of 500 mg of chloramphenicol in 2 women, the drug was first measurable in milk in a concentration of 3.3 mg/L 2 hours after the dose. At 4 and 6 hours after the dose, milk concentrations averaged 4.1 mg/L at both times.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
One study reported 50 breastfed infants whose mothers were give oral chloramphenicol beginning 2 to 12 days postpartum in dosages of 1 (n = 20), 2 (n = 20)or 3 grams (n = 10) daily. All of the infants refused to suck, and 50 to 60% fell asleep during nursing. Vomiting occurred after feeding in 10%, 25%, and 90% of infants with daily maternal dosages of 1, 2 and 3 grams, respectively. All infants had excessive intestinal gas and abdominal distention, with severe problems in 0.5%, 20% and 100% of infants with daily maternal dosages of 1, 2 and 3 grams, respectively.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take chloramphenicol while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Chloramphenicol while breastfeeding — quoted in full. 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 chloramphenicol pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for chloramphenicol are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking chloramphenicol?
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 chloramphenicol
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.