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Aralen and Breastfeeding
Although Aralen has been shown to pass through breast milk in small amounts, many experts consider it a safe choice for nursing women and their infants. Always consult your healthcare provider about your specific situation before starting treatment. If your healthcare provider says it's okay to breastfeed while taking Aralen, watch for any problems in your nursing child, such as diarrhea or a skin rash.
Aralen® (chloroquine phosphate) is a medication used to treat and help prevent malaria. It is also approved to treat another parasitic infection, known medically as extraintestinal amebiasis.
Studies have shown that Aralen passes through breast milk. However, experts consider the medication safe for use while breastfeeding. To be safe, if you are nursing a child, talk with your healthcare provider before taking this medication.
Aralen has been shown to pass through breast milk in very small amounts -- too little to protect against or treat malaria in a nursing child.
What should you do if you are breastfeeding? Opinions vary -- for example, the manufacturer of Aralen recommends either stopping breastfeeding or stopping treatment. However, experts generally consider the amount of Aralen that would be passed to a nursing child during breastfeeding too small to be harmful. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers Aralen safe for use in breastfeeding.
If you are taking Aralen and you and your healthcare provider determine that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the potential risks, be watchful for any potential Aralen side effects in your nursing child. These may include but are not limited to the following:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Loss of appetite
- Problems with vision
- Skin rash
- Trouble sleeping.
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD