Is Tacrolimus compatible with breastfeeding? Do we have alternatives for Tacrolimus?

Tacrolimus

May 16, 2018 (Very Low Risk)

Macrolide immunosuppressant drug that inhibits calcineurin which is used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs (kidney, liver, heart ...) and for treatment of atopic eczema, psoriasis and other autoimmune illnesses (e.g. Arthritis, Lupus, Inflammatory Bowel Disease ...) .
Routes of administration: oral for systemic purposes and topical for dermatologic conditions.

A high molecular weight and high protein-binding capacity explain that it is was found in clinically insignificant amounts into colostrum and breast milk (Jain 1997, 2003 French, Gardiner 2006, 2013 Zheng, Bramham 2013).
No problems were observed on short or long term of developmental or immunological outcomes in more than 150 infants whose mothers were treated (French 2003, Gouraud 2012, Thiagarajan 2013, Constantinescu 2014, Izumi 2014), except a mild and self-limited case of transient thrombocytosis (Gouraud 2012).
The plasma levels of drug in these infants were either undetectable or very low (Gomez-Lobo 2012, Gouraud 2012, Bramham 2013, Izumi 2014).
A low oral bioavailability that may further be decreased by ingestion of food, especially if it is fat food, would hamper the passage of drug from ingested milk toward the infant plasma.

Infants who have been exposed to calcineurin inhibitors during pregnancy may be immunological deficients within the first year of life (Grimer 2007), therefore, it is most important to avoid any lack of breastfeeding without a sound reason.

Several medical societies and consensus by experts have considered safe the use of Tacrolimus while breastfeeding (Østensen 2006, van der Houde 2010, Thiagarajan 2013, Armenti 2013, Constantinescu 2014, Schulze 2014, Durst 2015, Götestam-Skorpen 2016, Flint 2016).


See below the information of this related product:

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Tacrolimus since it is relatively safe.

Very Low Risk

Compatible. Not risky for breastfeeding or infant.

Low Risk

Moderately safe. Mild risk possible. Follow up recommended. Read the Comment.

High Risk

Poorly safe. Evaluate carefully. Use a safer alternative. Read the Comment.

Very High Risk

Not recommended. Cessation of breastfeeding or alternative.

Writings

  • τακρόλιμος (Greek)
  • تاكروليموس (Arabic)
  • Такролимус (Cyrillic)
  • 他克莫司 (Chinese)
  • タクロリムス (Japanese)
  • C44 H69 NO12, H2O (Molecular formula)
  • (-)-(3S,4R,5S,8R,9E,12S,14S,15R,16S,18R,19R,26aS)-8-Allyl-5,6,8,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,24,25,26,26a-hexadecahydro-5,19-dihydroxy-3-{(E)-2-[(1R,3R,4R)-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycyclohexyl]-1-methylvinyl}-14,16,-dimethoxy-4,10,12,18-tetramethyl-15,19-epoxy-3H- (Chemical name)

Drug trade names

References

  1. Kociszewska-Najman B, Mazanowska N, Pietrzak B, Paczek L, Szpotanska-Sikorska M, Schreiber-Zamora J, Hryniewiecka E, Zochowska D, Samborowska E, Dadlez M, Wielgos M. Low Transfer of Tacrolimus and Its Metabolites into Colostrum of Graft Recipient Mothers. Nutrients. 2018Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  2. Flint J, Panchal S, Hurrell A, van de Venne M, Gayed M, Schreiber K, Arthanari S, Cunningham J, Flanders L, Moore L, Crossley A, Purushotham N, Desai A, Piper M, Nisar M, Khamashta M, Williams D, Gordon C, Giles I; BSR and BHPR Standards, Guidelines and Audit Working Group. BSR and BHPR guideline on prescribing drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding-Part I: standard and biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and corticosteroids. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2016Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  3. Levy RA, de Jesús GR, de Jesús NR, Klumb EM. Critical review of the current recommendations for the treatment of systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases during pregnancy and lactation. Autoimmun Rev. 2016Abstract
  4. Götestam Skorpen C, Hoeltzenbein M, Tincani A, Fischer-Betz R, Elefant E, Chambers C, da Silva J, Nelson-Piercy C, Cetin I, Costedoat-Chalumeau N, Dolhain R, Förger F, Khamashta M, Ruiz-Irastorza G, Zink A, Vencovsky J, Cutolo M, Caeyers N, Zumbühl C, Østensen M. The EULAR points to consider for use of antirheumatic drugs before pregnancy, and during pregnancy and lactation. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  5. Durst JK, Rampersad RM. Pregnancy in Women With Solid-Organ Transplants: A Review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2015Abstract
  6. Rahman MF, Nandi AK, Kabir S, Kamal M, Basher MS, Banu LA. Topical Tacrolimus versus Hydrocortisone on Atopic Dermatitis in Paediatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Mymensingh Med J. 2015Abstract
  7. EMA. Tacrolimus. Ficha técnica. 2015 Full text (in our servers)
  8. EMA. Tacrolimus. Drug Summary. 2015 Full text (in our servers)
  9. van der Woude CJ, Ardizzone S, Bengtson MB, Fiorino G, Fraser G, Katsanos K, Kolacek S, Juillerat P, Mulders AG, Pedersen N, Selinger C, Sebastian S, Sturm A, Zelinkova Z, Magro F; European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization. The second European evidenced-based consensus on reproduction and pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease. J Crohns Colitis. 2015Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  10. Izumi Y, Miyashita T, Migita K. Safety of tacrolimus treatment during pregnancy and lactation in systemic lupus erythematosus: a report of two patients. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2014Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  11. Constantinescu S, Pai A, Coscia LA, Davison JM, Moritz MJ, Armenti VT. Breast-feeding after transplantation. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2014Abstract
  12. López LF, Martínez CJ, Castañeda DA, Hernández AC, Pérez HC, Lozano E. Pregnancy and kidney transplantation, triple hazard? Current concepts and algorithm for approach of preconception and perinatal care of the patient with kidney transplantation. Transplant Proc. 2014Abstract
  13. Butler DC, Heller MM, Murase JE. Safety of dermatologic medications in pregnancy and lactation: Part II. Lactation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014Abstract
  14. Schulze H, Esters P, Dignass A. Review article: the management of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis during pregnancy and lactation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  15. Thiagarajan KM, Arakali SR, Mealey KJ, Cardonick EH, Gaughan WJ, Davison JM, Moritz MJ, Armenti VT. Safety considerations: breastfeeding after transplant. Prog Transplant. 2013Abstract
  16. Bramham K, Chusney G, Lee J, Lightstone L, Nelson-Piercy C. Breastfeeding and tacrolimus: serial monitoring in breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2013Abstract
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  21. Gomez-Lobo V, Landy HJ, Matsumoto C, Fishbein TM. Pregnancy in an intestinal transplant recipient. Obstet Gynecol. 2012Abstract
  22. Gouraud A, Bernard N, Millaret A, Bruel M, Paret N, Descotes J, Vial T. Follow-up of tacrolimus breastfed babies. Transplantation. 2012Abstract
  23. Grundmann M, Kacirova I, Duricova J, Perinova I. Metoprolol and alfa-hydroxymetoprolol concentrations during lactation - a case report. 12th International Congress of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology Stuttgart, Germany · October 2-6, 2011. Poster 088. Ther Drug Monit. 2011;33:504. P088. 2011
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  25. Weber JC, Kuhnert C. [Breastfeeding and drug management in connective tissue and rheumatic diseases]. Rev Med Interne. 2008Abstract
  26. Grimer M; Caring for Australians with Renal Impairment (CARI). The CARI guidelines. Calcineurin inhibitors in renal transplantation: pregnancy, lactation and calcineurin inhibitors. Nephrology (Carlton). 2007Abstract
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  28. Mahadevan U, Kane S. American gastroenterological association institute technical review on the use of gastrointestinal medications in pregnancy. Gastroenterology. 2006Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
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  30. Gardiner SJ, Begg EJ. Breastfeeding during tacrolimus therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 2006Abstract
  31. French AE, Soldin SJ, Soldin OP, Koren G. Milk transfer and neonatal safety of tacrolimus. Ann Pharmacother. 2003Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  32. EBPG Expert Group on Renal Transplantation. European best practice guidelines for renal transplantation. Section IV: Long-term management of the transplant recipient. IV.10. Pregnancy in renal transplant recipients. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2002Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
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  34. Jain A, Venkataramanan R, Fung JJ, Gartner JC, Lever J, Balan V, Warty V, Starzl TE. Pregnancy after liver transplantation under tacrolimus. Transplantation. 1997Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)