Can you take ponatinib 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 ponatinib during breastfeeding. Because ponatinib is more than 99% bound to plasma proteins, the amount in milk is likely to be low. However, its half-life is about 24 hours and it might accumulate in the infant. National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend avoiding breastfeeding during ponatinib therapy and the manufacturer recommends withholding breastfeeding for 6 days following the last dose.
Quoted from Ponatinib — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised February 20, 2022.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of ponatinib. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much ponatinib 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 ponatinib while breastfeeding?
No information is available on the clinical use of ponatinib 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.
What can I take instead of ponatinib while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Imatinib as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does ponatinib pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for ponatinib are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking ponatinib?
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 ponatinib
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.