Can you take telavancin 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 use of telavancin during breastfeeding. Telavancin is 93% plasma protein bound and is poorly absorbed orally, so it is not likely to appear in milk in large amounts, reach the infant’s bloodstream or cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. If telavancin is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding. Monitor the infant for possible effects on the gastrointestinal tract, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and candidiasis (e.g., thrush, diaper rash).
Quoted from Telavancin — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised December 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of telavancin. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Clindamycin
- Daptomycin
- Doxycycline
- Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole
- Vancomycin
How much telavancin 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 telavancin while breastfeeding?
No information is available on the use of telavancin 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 telavancin while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Clindamycin, Daptomycin, Doxycycline, Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole, Vancomycin 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 telavancin pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for telavancin are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking telavancin?
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 telavancin
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.