Ethambutol Pregnancy and Breast Feeding Warnings
Ethambutol is also known as: Myambutol
Overview
If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Ethambutol during pregnancy. Ethambutol is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Ethambutol , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
Ethambutol Pregnancy Warnings
Ethambutol has been assigned to a pregnancy category C by the FDA. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. There are reports of ophthalmic abnormalities occurring in infants born to women on antituberculous therapy that included ethambutol. Ethambutol should only be given during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.
Ethambutol crosses the placenta. In one patient, maternal blood, placental blood and cord blood concentrations were 5.5, 5.0, and 4.1, respectively, immediately following delivery. No adverse effects were reported in the infant who had been exposed since 23 weeks gestation. Bobrowitz and colleagues studied 42 pregnancies which involved ethambutol exposure in addition to other antituberculous agents. The majority of these pregnancies were treated throughout gestation. No consistent pattern was noted in the reported fetal adverse effects, which included supernumerary nipple, small umbilical hernia, mild right tibial torsion, congenital dislocation of hips, left hydrocele, minimal metatarsus adductus, and skin tag on finger. Other reports also have not associated ethambutol with teratogenic effects. The initial therapy of active tuberculosis in pregnant patients recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention includes ethambutol. Ethambutol is also recommended by the American Thoracic Society in cases of suspected drug-resistant tuberculosis.
Ethambutol Lactation Warnings
Ethambutol is excreted into human milk. Ethambutol is considered compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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