Can you take interferon gamma-1b 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.
Interferon gamma is a normal component of human milk. No data are available on the use of exogenous interferon gamma 1b during breastfeeding. However, the amounts of the similar drugs, interferon alfa and interferon beta-1a, excreted into milk are very low. Any interferon in breastmilk is probably destroyed in the infant's gastrointestinal tract and not absorbed, except perhaps in neonates.
Quoted from Interferon Gamma-1b — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised October 15, 2023.
How much interferon gamma-1b gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Measurements of the colostrum 6 mothers of preterm infants found an average of 2 ng/L of interferon gamma; two mothers of full-term infants had an average of 2.2 ng/L. At over 30 days postpartum, milk of 3 mothers of preterm infants contained 2.6 ng/L of interferon gamma; the milk of 28 mothers of full-term infants contained an average of 0.7 ng/L.
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 interferon gamma-1b while breastfeeding?
Interferon gamma is a normal component of human milk. 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 interferon gamma-1b pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for interferon gamma-1b are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking interferon gamma-1b?
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 interferon gamma-1b
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.