Viread and Breastfeeding

Women are generally recommended to avoid breastfeeding while taking Viread. Breastfeeding could be dangerous because the HIV virus passes through breast milk and can be transmitted to the nursing infant. Since every woman's situation is different, make sure to talk to your healthcare provider about Viread and breastfeeding in your particular situation to discuss the potential risks.

 

Viread and Breastfeeding: An Overview

Currently, it is not known if Viread® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) passes through breast milk. However, breastfeeding is almost never recommended for women with HIV or AIDS in developed countries (such as the United States) in order to reduce the chance of transmitting the HIV infection to the infants. Therefore, most women taking Viread should avoid breastfeeding.
 

Viread and Breastfeeding: What Does the Research Say?

It is not known if Viread passes though breast milk in humans, although studies have shown that it passes through breast milk in rats. More importantly, the HIV virus can also pass through breast milk. Therefore, any HIV-infected woman who can safely feed her baby with formula should not breastfeed. There are some situations in which formula feeding is not safe, such as if no clean water supply is available to mix the formula or to wash the bottles. In these situations, it is difficult to know whether breastfeeding or formula feeding is more dangerous. In general, using both breastfeeding and formula feeding is considered the most dangerous, as digestive system irritation or infections from unclean water can allow HIV to pass into the body from the digestive tract more easily.
 

Talking With Your Healthcare Provider About Viread and Breastfeeding

You should talk with your healthcare provider about Viread and breastfeeding. Each woman's situation is different, and you and your healthcare provider understand your situation best. After considering what you want and expect, as well as your current health situation, the two of you can make a shared decision about Viread and breastfeeding that is right for you.
 
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;