Is it safe to take metronidazole whilst breastfeeding?

[ccleeds]

Hi, I am been prescribed metronidazole as a result of a tooth abscess.First time to have one, and give me labour anyday!!! I am allergic to penicillin and Erymax, so I was told this was the only choose. Unfortunatley, I have just been to get my prescription and the pharmacy would not give it to me when I told them I was breastfeeding.

To be honest, my daughter is 21 months, so I am only breastfeeding her at her nighttime feed but at the same time, I dont want to suddenly have to stop just because of some antibiotics.

Has anyone else taken this medication whilst breastfeeding?

Many thanks
Catherine

HI Catherine,
it is absolutely fine and safe to take, I am a midwife and this is commonly prescribed to women with third degree tears and breastfeeding.
It is a bit of a tummy killer and might make you feel a bit sick and give both of you loose poos though. hth.

Thankyou for your reply. It is very confusing when the chemist says it is unsafe to take. I have been in two minds over whether to take the antibiotics but after a night of no sleep and a really painful tooth, I am scared the infectation will come back with a vengenance.

Is there any recommendations over how you take the medication when breastfeeding? Or what to do to avoid the side effects through breast feeding. I heard eating yoghurts was good when having antibiotics to reduce side effects, Im not sure if this is true or not.

Many thanks
Catherine

This BfN factsheet may be helpful to you perhaps?

I hope your tooth improves soon.

I took it when bf DS (and he was only 12w). Didn't take it when he was only 3w though. All was fine (lesser of two evils as I had a nasty infection). Hope your abcess gets better soon.

Thanks everyone for replying. On the basis of this information I will start taking it, as it has to be better than the abcess returning. I will have to find another chemist as my local one refuses to give it to me!!!! I wish these medical people would stop putting the fear of god into us by saying we shouldnt take medication when we are breastfeeding. I have heard of women who were given the choice of either stop breastfeeding or take the medicine to get better. How bad is that? At least now I feel more confident that I should be taking the antibiotics and it is not getting to spell the end of breastfeeding.

Some mums have been known to tell their pharmacist that they have stopped bf when in fact they've done their research and made their own decision . Not that I am in any way suggesting you would do this of course.

I ended up going to another chemist and kept my fingers crossed that she wouldnt ask. She was more concerned that I didnt drink with them. Drink, what is that. I find now after 2 kids, and lack of sleep, I cant drink anymore, as after 1 glass, I am all over the place!!

It does pass into bm, but the manufacturers advise only to avoid large single doses (400mg dose will be fine). There are plenty of resources the p'cist could have checked, and if they weren't happy that it was safe, should at least have phoned GP to discuss rather than refusing point blank!

I have been given 200mg 3 times a day over 5 days, so hopefully that should be ok. I am going to start it tomorrow, as trying to line my stomach with as much live yoghurt as I can, prior to starting the course!! I am also being a real coward, as I always react badly to antibiotics, and havent had any in 15 years, so I am dreading taking them. But if I have to, I have to!