Is Malarone Safe While Breastfeeding?
Malarone® (
atovaquone/proguanil) is a medication used in the prevention and treatment of
malaria. It is a combination of two medicines: atovaquone and proguanil. Malarone's effects on a breastfeeding infant are unknown, so if you are nursing a child, talk with your healthcare provider before taking this medication.
More Information on Breastfeeding and Malarone
Proguanil, one of the components in Malarone, is known to pass through breast milk in small amounts. Atovaquone, the other component, was shown to pass through the breast milk of rats, but has not been adequately studied in humans. Based on the drug's properties, it is thought that atovaquone would also pass through human breast milk in small amounts.
No studies have looked at the effects of Malarone on a breastfeeding infant. This drug is approved for use in children who weigh as little as 11 pounds. Therefore, it is likely safe for use in a woman breastfeeding an infant weighing at least 11 pounds. If you are taking Malarone and breastfeeding, make sure to watch for any potentially adverse effects in your nursing child, such as:
- Stomach upset
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rash
- Fever.
In general, the amount of Malarone passed through breast milk is likely to be less than the amount in a normal dose used in a child. Therefore, a breastfeeding infant would not receive enough Malarone from breast milk to prevent or treat a malaria infection.
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