Is Coartem Safe While Breastfeeding?
Coartem® (
artemether/lumefantrine) is a prescription medication used to treat
malaria infections. It contains two antimalarials: artemether and lumefantrine. At this time, it is unknown whether Coartem passes through breast milk. If you are nursing a child, talk with your healthcare provider before taking this medication.
More Information on Breastfeeding and Coartem
Coartem has been shown to pass through breast milk in animal studies. However, no studies have been done to see if it passes through human breast milk.
Although this lack of information is certainly frustrating, it is important to understand that studies of medications are rarely done in breastfeeding women, as this would usually expose an infant who may not directly benefit from the medication to possible risks.
It should be noted that Coartem is approved for use in children who weigh at least 11 pounds. At this time, it is not known how much, if any, Coartem passes through breast milk to a breastfed infant. It is unlikely that a breastfed infant would receive enough Coartem through breast milk to treat a malaria infection.
If you are taking Coartem and you and your healthcare provider determine that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the potential risks, watch for any potential
Coartem side effects in your child. These side effects may include:
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