The Safety of Macrolides During Lactation
Goldstein LH, Berlin M, Tsur L, Bortnik O, Binyamini L, Berkovitch M.
Breastfeed Med. 2009 Apr 15.
Background: Infantile exposure to macrolides has been associated with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis causing projectile vomiting, dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, and in rare cases death possibly via macrolide interaction with gastric motilin receptors. Large population-based cohorts have suggested that exposure to macrolides via breastmilk may be associated with pyloric stenosis.
Conclusions: Rates and types of minor adverse reactions in breastfed infants exposed to a macrolide or amoxicillin in breastmilk were comparable. Macrolide exposure during breastfeeding was not associated with pyloric stenosis, although larger prospective studies are required to confirm our observation.