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Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006-.
CASRN: 147-94-4
Drug Levels and Effects
Summary of Use during Lactation
No information is available on the excretion of cytarabine into breastmilk. However, the drug has a short half-life of 2 to 3 hours after intravenous administration, so it should be eliminated from milk a day after intravenous administration.[1] Very little information is available on the use of cytarabine during breastfeeding. In one case, a mother began breastfeeding her infant 3 weeks after receiving cytarabine, mitoxantrone and etoposide intravenously, with no apparent harm to her infant. After intrathecal administration of the liposomal formulation of cytarabine, drugs levels in plasma are barely detectable, and are unlikely to appear in milk in clinically relevant amounts.
Drug Levels
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects in Breastfed Infants
One mother received 3 daily doses of 6 mg/sq. m. of mitoxantrone intravenously along with 5 daily doses of etoposide 80 mg/sq. m. and cytarabine 170 mg/sq. m. intravenously. She resumed breastfeeding her infant 3 weeks after the third dose of mitoxantrone at a time when mitoxantrone was still detectable in milk. The infant had no apparent abnormalities at 16 months of age. However, after 3 weeks of abstinence from breastfeeding, it is unlikely that cytarabine was present in milk during breastfeeding.[2]
Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
References
- 1.
- Hamada A, Kawaguchi T, Nakano M. Clinical pharmacokinetics of cytarabine formulations. Clin Pharmacokinet 2002;41:705-18. [PubMed: 12162758]
- 2.
- Azuno Y, Kaku K, Fujita N, et al. Mitoxantrone and etoposide in breast milk. Am J Hematol 1995;48:131-2. [PubMed: 7847330]
Substance Identification
Substance Name
Cytarabine
CAS Registry Number
147-94-4
Drug Class
Breast Feeding
Milk, Human
Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
Immunosuppressive Agents
Nucleosides
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. The U.S. government does not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.
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- Physiologic disposition of cytosine arabinoside and its derivatives in man.[Cancer Treat Rep. 1977]Physiologic disposition of cytosine arabinoside and its derivatives in man.Kreis W, Woodcock TM, Meyers MB, Carlevarini LA, Krakoff IH. Cancer Treat Rep. 1977 Jul; 61(4):723-6.
- Intracellular cytosine arabinoside accumulation and cytosine arabinoside triphosphate formation in leukemic blast cells is inhibited by etoposide and teniposide.[Leukemia. 1992]Intracellular cytosine arabinoside accumulation and cytosine arabinoside triphosphate formation in leukemic blast cells is inhibited by etoposide and teniposide.Ehninger G, Proksch B, Wanner T, Schuler U, Busch FW, Schmidt H, Schleyer E, Jaschonek K, Hiddemann W. Leukemia. 1992 Jun; 6(6):582-7.
- Pharmacodynamic and DNA methylation studies of high-dose 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine before and after in vivo 5-azacytidine treatment in pediatric patients with refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia.[Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 1989]Pharmacodynamic and DNA methylation studies of high-dose 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl cytosine before and after in vivo 5-azacytidine treatment in pediatric patients with refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia.Avramis VI, Mecum RA, Nyce J, Steele DA, Holcenberg JS. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 1989; 24(4):203-10.
- Review Liposomal Cytarabine as Cancer Therapy: From Chemistry to Medicine.[Biomolecules. 2019]Review Liposomal Cytarabine as Cancer Therapy: From Chemistry to Medicine.Salehi B, Selamoglu Z, S Mileski K, Pezzani R, Redaelli M, Cho WC, Kobarfard F, Rajabi S, Martorell M, Kumar P, et al. Biomolecules. 2019 Nov 23; 9(12). Epub 2019 Nov 23.
- Review Azacitidine.[Drugs and Lactation Database (...]Review Azacitidine.. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). 2006
- Cytarabine - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®)Cytarabine - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®)
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