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Arestin and BFing (longish)

Cosmic+LoveCosmic+Love member
in Breastfeeding

Hi everyone. Dirty lurker here, nursing a 12 month old. 

Does anyone here work in the dental industry? I just got back from a dental appointment where the hygienist deposited a powder form of Arestin (an antibiotic) on one area of my gums. I asked her if it is safe for nursing mothers and she said that it was - she is nursing a 15 month old herself. She said that the antibiotic was very localized and very little would enter the bloodstream. Great!

I got back to my office and did a quick search of Arestin and the drug information certainly says that it is not recommended for nursing mothers. Yikes! I called back to the dentist's office and they reassured me that this dose was fine.

I'm still kind of freaking out. Please, someone tell me I'm being irrational? Thanks!

"The cleaning, the scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So, quiet down cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."
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Re: Arestin and BFing (longish)

  • vvvvvfeevvvvvfee member
    i would not worry. as the nurse said, it is localized and not a lot is going to get into your bloodstream >> milk. virtually all drugs have general, blanket warnings like that to cover their own asses.

    here's info from LactMed:
    ...a close examination of available literature indicates that there is not likely to be harm in short-term use of minocycline during lactation because milk levels are low and absorption by the infant is inhibited by the calcium in breastmilk. Short-term use of minocycline is acceptable in nursing mothers. As a theoretical precaution, avoid prolonged or repeat courses during nursing. Monitor the infant for rash and for possible effects on the gastrointestinal flora, such as diarrhea or candidiasis (thrush, diaper rash).

    and, i'm sure the info from LactMed is referring to multi-day oral course of the drug. so you would have gotten a dose that is miniscule in comparison from a one-time, topical application.
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  • Cosmic+LoveCosmic+Love member
    @vvvvvfee Thanks! I'm starting to calm down. What did people do before the internet? ;)
    "The cleaning, the scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
    For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
    So, quiet down cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
    I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."
    Report Reply
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