Last update May 23, 2025

Cefepime Hydrochloride

Compatible

Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

Fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic for injection or parenteral administration.

Like most cephalosporins for which data are available (Rowe 2013, Fulton 1992), excretion occurs in breast milk in very small amount and it is clinically insignificant. (Sanders 1993, Bristol-Myers Squibb 2009).

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)

Several medical societies and expert authors consider it safe to use this medication during breastfeeding. (Hale, LactMed, Briggs 2015, Bar 2003)

Alternatives

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

Cefepime Hydrochloride in other languages or writings:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. Baja - Low %
Molecular weight 572 daltons
Protein Binding 20 %
VD 0.26 l/Kg
pKa 3.62 -
Tmax 0.5 - 1.5 hours
2 ± 0.3 hours
M/P ratio 0.8 -
Theoretical Dose 0.075 mg/Kg/d
Relative Dose 0.11 - 0.30 %
Ped.Relat.Dose 0.075 - 0.125 %

References

  1. LactMed. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Internet. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/ 2006 - Consulted on April 16, 2024 Full text (link to original source)
  2. Hale TW. Medications & Mothers' Milk. 1991- . Springer Publishing Company. Available from https://www.halesmeds.com Consulted on April 10, 2024 Full text (link to original source)
  3. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Towers CV, Forinash AB. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk. Wolters Kluwer Health. Tenth edition (acces on line) 2015
  4. Rowe H, Baker T, Hale TW. Maternal medication, drug use, and breastfeeding. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Feb;60(1):275-94. Abstract
  5. Bristol-Myers Squibb. Cefepime. Drug Summary. 2009 Full text (in our servers)
  6. 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
  7. Sanders CC. Cefepime: the next generation? Clin Infect Dis. 1993 Abstract
  8. Okamoto MP, Nakahiro RK, Chin A, Bedikian A. Cefepime clinical pharmacokinetics. Clin Pharmacokinet. 1993 Abstract
  9. 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
  10. Fulton B, Moore LL. Antiinfectives in breastmilk. Part I: Penicillins and cephalosporins. J Hum Lact. 1992 Abstract

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