QUESTION: Breastfeeding mom-nursing her 2nd baby--she has MS and weaned her 1st baby at 3 months because she had to start taking her medication for MS. She takes Betaseron, a interfuron. The doctors and pharmacist don't have any current information on this medication. I looked it up in T. Hale's book but found no information on it. Can she safely breastfeed and take this medication? Please point me in the right direction for documentation.

Dear Carolee,

On page 360 in Tom Hales 1998/1999 Medications and Mother's Milk it says It is an antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory used to treat MS.  Little is known about the secretion of interferons in human milk however they are large in molecular weight which would limit their transfer to human milk. Interferons are relatively non toxic unless extraordinarily large doses are administered parenerally. AHL 4.3 PK 3-15 hrs Oral absorption poor. References Chiang J Gloff Ca et al Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human interferon-Bser in healthy volunteers and its effect on serum neopterin. Pharm Res. 10:567-72 1993 Wills RJ Clinical pharmacokinetics of interferons. Clin. Pharmacokinet. 19:390-399 1990 Hope this helps. Also says pediatric concerns- none reported and this is also given to children to treat ITP.

Denise G Hewson RN IBCLC

 

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