Last update May 23, 2025

Cefamandole

Likely Compatibility

Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.

Second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic for injection or parenteral administration.

At latest update no published data on excretion into breast milk were found.

Pharmacokinetic data (short half-life span) make unlikely the milk passage of significant amounts into breast milk.

Their low oral bioavailability hinders the passage from ingested milk to the infant’s plasma except in preterm babies and immediate neonatal period, when they may exhibit an increased intestinal permeability.

Most cephalosporins are excreted into milk in insignificant amounts from a therapeutic point of view  (Rowe 2013, Fulton 1992) without reported complications in infants.

Cephalosporins are widely used in the Pediatric practice with a good tolerance, even in the neonatal period, so it is very unlikely that in small amounts through milk would be a cause of problems in the infant.

Although rare, the possibility of transient gastroenteritis due to alteration of the intestinal microbiome in infants whose mothers take antibiotics should be taken into account. (Ito 1993)

Expert authors consider cephalosporins safe for use during breastfeeding. (Bar 2003)

Alternatives

  • Cefadroxil (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Ceftibuten (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Ceftriaxone Sodium (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Cephalexin (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Cefamandole is also known as


Cefamandole in other languages or writings:

Group

Cefamandole belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Cefamandole in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 0 %
Molecular weight 463 daltons
Protein Binding 74 %
Tmax (im): 0.5 - 2 hours
0.5 - 1.2 hours

References

  1. Rowe H, Baker T, Hale TW. Maternal medication, drug use, and breastfeeding. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Feb;60(1):275-94. Abstract
  2. Bar-Oz B, Bulkowstein M, Benyamini L, Greenberg R, Soriano I, Zimmerman D, Bortnik O, Berkovitch M. Use of antibiotic and analgesic drugs during lactation. Drug Saf. 2003 Abstract
  3. Ito S, Blajchman A, Stephenson M, Eliopoulos C, Koren G. Prospective follow-up of adverse reactions in breast-fed infants exposed to maternal medication. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993 May;168(5):1393-9. Abstract
  4. Fulton B, Moore LL. Antiinfectives in breastmilk. Part I: Penicillins and cephalosporins. J Hum Lact. 1992 Abstract

Total visits

6,569

Help us improve this entry

How to cite this entry

Do you need more information or did not found what you were looking for?

   Write us at elactancia.org@gmail.com

e-lactancia is a resource recommended by La Liga de la Leche, España of Spain

Would you like to recommend the use of e-lactancia? Write to us at corporate mail of APILAM