Last update Aug. 31, 2022

Cefotaxime Sodium

Very Low Risk

Safe. Compatible. Minimal risk for breastfeeding and infant.

Third-generation cephalosporin for injection or parenteral administration.

Like most cephalosporins for which data are available, excretion occurs in breast milk in very small or undetectable amount and it is clinically insignificant. (Matsuda 1984, Takase 1982, Cho 1982, Yasuda 1982, Kafetzis 1981 & 1980)

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

Expert authors consider the use of this medication to be compatible during breastfeeding (Hale, LactMed, Briggs 2015, Rowe 2013, Bar-Oz 2003, Scott 1996, Fulton 1992). American Academy of Pediatrics: medication usually compatible with breastfeeding.(AAP 2001)

Alternatives

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

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

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Other names

Cefotaxime Sodium in other languages or writings:

Group

Cefotaxime Sodium belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Cefotaxime Sodium in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. Baja - Poor %
Molecular weight 477 daltons
Protein Binding 40 %
VD 0.2 - 0.3 l/Kg
pKa 2.73 -
Tmax 0.5 hours
T½ 1 - 1.5 hours
M/P ratio 0.2 -
Theoretical Dose 0.05 mg/Kg/d
Relative Dose 0.14 %
Ped.Relat.Dose 0.05 %

References

  1. Hale TW. Medications & Mothers' Milk. 1991- . Springer Publishing Company. Available from https://www.halesmeds.com Consulted on March 17, 2022 Full text (link to original source)
  2. 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 March 15, 2022 Full text (link to original source)
  3. van Wattum JJ, Leferink TM, Wilffert B, Ter Horst PGJ. Antibiotics and lactation: An overview of relative infant doses and a systematic assessment of clinical studies. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2019 Jan;124(1):5-17. Abstract
  4. 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
  5. Rowe H, Baker T, Hale TW. Maternal medication, drug use, and breastfeeding. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Feb;60(1):275-94. Abstract
  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. AAP - American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs. Transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics. 2001 Sep;108(3):776-89. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  8. Scott A, Forsyth S. Breast feeding and antibiotics. Mod Midwife. 1996 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
  11. Matsuda S. Transfer of antibiotics into maternal milk. Biol Res Pregnancy Perinatol. 1984;5(2):57-60. Abstract
  12. Cho N, Fukunaga K, Kunii K. [A study of clinical application of cefotaxime in the perinatal period]. Jpn J Antibiot. 1982 Abstract
  13. Takase Z, Fujiwara M, Kohmoto Y, Seto M, Shirafuji H. [Study of cefotaxime in the perinatal period]. Jpn J Antibiot. 1982 Abstract
  14. Yasuda J, Yamamoto T, Ito M, Honjo H, Okada H, Kanao M. [Fundamental and clinical studies on cefotaxime in the perinatal period]. Jpn J Antibiot. 1982 Abstract
  15. Kafetzis DA, Siafas CA, Georgakopoulos PA, Papadatos CJ. Passage of cephalosporins and amoxicillin into the breast milk. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1981 Abstract
  16. Kafetzis DA, Lazarides CV, Siafas CA, Georgakopoulos PA, Papadatos CJ. Transfer of cefotaxime in human milk and from mother to foetus. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1980 Abstract

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