Can you take secnidazole 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 secnidazole during breastfeeding and no studies have evaluated adverse effects of secnidazole on the infant during breastfeeding, but presumably they are similar to those of the closely related drug, metronidazole, such as increased risk of oral and rectal Candida infections.
As with metronidazole, concern has been raised about exposure of healthy infants to secnidazole via breastmilk, because of possible mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Based on the elimination half-life of secnidazole of approximately 17 hours, the manufacturer recommends avoidance of breastfeeding for 96 after a single dose. Other drugs are available for bacterial vaginosis, and can be given vaginally, which should result in lower amounts in breastmilk.
Quoted from Secnidazole — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised August 16, 2021.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of secnidazole. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much secnidazole 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 secnidazole while breastfeeding?
What the NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says about Secnidazole 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.
What can I take instead of secnidazole while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Clindamycin, Metronidazole 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 secnidazole pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for secnidazole are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking secnidazole?
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 secnidazole
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.