Diazoxide and Breastfeeding

Summary of use during lactation

Limited information indicates that maternal doses of oral diazoxide up to 175 mg daily produce low levels in milk and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. If oral diazoxide is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding. Monitoring of the infant’s blood glucose may be advisable, especially during the newborn period.

Drug levels in milk and infant serum

Maternal Levels. A woman with nesidioblastosis hypoglycemia had been on diazoxide for 30 years since the age of 4 months. Diazoxide was stopped during her pregnancies, but reinstated at week 25 of her second pregnancy in a dose of 50 mg three times daily and later the dosage schedule was 50 mg, 50 mg and 75 mg after her third meal of the day. Milk samples were taken 6 times between day 3 and day 8 postpartum. The highest concentrations in milk were 2.4 mg/L at 3 hours after a 50 mg dose and 3.1 mg/L at 3.4 hours after a 75 mg dose. The lowest measured level was 0.7 mg/L at 9 hours after a 75 mg dose.[1] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in breastfed infants

One infant was partially breastfed (10 to 50% initially, then 80% at 1 month of age) by a mother taking diazoxide orally in dosages of 150 to 175 mg daily for hypoglycemia. At 30 days of age, the infant was developing normally and had experienced no episodes of hypo- or hyperglycemia.[1]

Effects on lactation and breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

References

1. Saito J, Kawasaki H, Adachi N, et al. Diazoxide during pregnancy and lactation: Drug levels in maternal serum, cord blood, breast milk, and infant serum: A case report. Gynecol Endocrinol 2022;38:528-30.35403531 PubMed