Can you take penicillin g 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.
Limited information indicates that penicillin G produces low levels in milk that 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 penicillins, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Penicillin G is acceptable in nursing mothers.
Quoted from Penicillin G — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised July 15, 2024.
How much penicillin g gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Ten women were given 100,000 units of penicillin G intramuscularly as a single dose or every 2 hours for 6 hours. Milk levels at 1 to 2 hours after the dose ranged from unmeasurable to 30 units/L after a single dose and an average of 50 units/L after multiple doses.
A single dose of penicillin G was given intramuscularly to 10 women. With doses of 200,000 units in 4 women, milk levels were about 60 units/L and were relatively constant for 6 hours after the dose. With doses of 500,000 units in 4 women, milk levels of penicillin reached 240 units/L at 2 to 4 hours after the dose. With 600,000 units in 2 women, peak levels of 240 to 360 units/L occurred at 4 hours after the dose.
After 2 doses of 2 million units of penicillin G intramuscularly in 15 women, peak milk levels were 120 units/L and trough levels were 10 units/L. After 2 doses of 4 million units of penicillin G intramuscularly in 5 women, peak milk levels were 220 units/L and trough levels were 30 units/L. With both doses, peak levels occurred 3 to 6 hours after the dose.
After a dose of 360 mg (about 550,000 units) of penicillin G intramuscularly in 2 women, milk levels averaged 0.35 mg/L (530 units/L) at 1 hour, 0.2 mg/L (300 units/L) at 2 hours, and 0.1 mg/L (150 units/L) at 4 hours after the dose. Only a trace was detectable at 6 hours after the dose.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
A breastfed 1-month-old infant with congenital syphilis developed a Herxheimer reaction 6 hours after its mother received 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G intramuscularly. However, the baby had also received 10 units of penicillin G at about the same time as the mother's injection. The reaction was possibly caused by penicillin in breastmilk.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take penicillin g while breastfeeding?
Limited information indicates that penicillin G produces low levels in milk that are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. 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 penicillin g pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for penicillin g are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking penicillin g?
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 penicillin g
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.