CASRN: 127-69-5
Drug Levels and Effects
Summary of Use during Lactation
With healthy, fullterm infants it appears acceptable to use sulfisoxazole during breastfeeding after the newborn period.[1,2] Until further data are accumulated, alternate agents should probably be used in jaundiced, ill, stressed or premature infants, because of the risk of bilirubin displacement and kernicterus. Sulfisoxazole should be avoided while breastfeeding a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient infant.
Drug Levels
Maternal Levels. Following oral sulfisoxazole doses of 1 g every 6 hours for 4 doses to 6 women (time postpartum not stated), an average total recovery of sulfisoxazole and N4-acetylsulfisoxazole of 18 mg was obtained during the 48 hours from the time of the first dose. About 77% of the drug in milk was recovered as the metabolite. This averaged 0.45% of the maternal dose (not weight-adjusted).[3] This study may have underestimated the amount excreted by a small fraction, because steady-state metabolite serum levels were not achieved during the study period.[1,4]
Infant Levels. A 9-month-old infant was breastfed twice daily during maternal treatment for a urinary tract infection (dosage not stated). Urine was collected during a 24-hour time period from the infant. The infant excreted 1.1 mg of sulfisoxazole plus N4-acetylsulfisoxazole over the time period.[3]
Effects in Breastfed Infants
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Alternate Drugs to Consider
References
- 1.
- Kauffman RE. Sulfisoxazole in human milk. Reply. J Pediatr 1981;99:172-3. [PubMed: 7252664]
- 2.
- Chung AM, Reed MD, Blumer JL. Antibiotics and breast-feeding: A critical review of the literature. Paediatr Drugs 2002;4:817-37. [PubMed: 12431134]
- 3.
- Kauffman RE, O'Brien C, Gilford P. Sulfisoxazole secretion into human milk. J Pediatr 1980;97:839-41. [PubMed: 7431180]
- 4.
- Elliott GT, Quinn SL. Sulfisoxazole in human milk. J Pediatr 1981;99:171-3. [PubMed: 7252664]
Substance Identification
Substance Name
Sulfisoxazole
CAS Registry Number
127-69-5
Drug Class
Breast Feeding
Lactation
Milk, Human
Anti-Infective Agents
Antibacterial Agents
Sulfonamides
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Publication Details
Publication History
Last Revision: May 15, 2024.
Copyright
Attribution Statement: LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Publisher
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda (MD)
NLM Citation
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-. Sulfisoxazole. [Updated 2024 May 15].