No data are available on sucralfate use during breastfeeding; however, it is virtually unabsorbed orally. Most authorities consider sucralfate acceptable to use during breastfeeding.[1-4] No special precautions are required, including following application to the nipples in a skin cream.
Drug Levels
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects in Breastfed Infants
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk
A study of mother with cracked nipples compared the effects of soft paraffin (petrolatum) (n = 47) to a commercial cream containing sucralfate, zinc and copper (Cicalfate-Avene, France) (n = 68). Reduction of nipple cracking judged by a blinded dermatologist was 3.3 to 5.3 times greater in the sucralfate group compared to the petrolatum group.[5]
Lewis JH, Weingold AB., Committee of FDA-Related Matters American College of Gastroenterology. The use of gastrointestinal drugs during pregnancy and lactation. Am J Gastroenterol. 1985;80:912–23. [PubMed: 2864852]
Broussard CN, Richter JE. Treating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease during pregnancy and lactation: What are the safest therapy options? Drug Saf. 1998;19:325–37. [PubMed: 9804446]
4.
Richter JE. Review article: The management of heartburn in pregnancy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005;22:749–57. [PubMed: 16225482]
5.
Talaee R, Mohammadzadeh M, Rahimi H. Comparing the combination of copper, zinc, and sucralfate (Cicalfate(R)) with white soft paraffin in the treatment of cracked nipples. Iran J Dermatol. 2021;24:18–23.
Substance Identification
Substance Name
Sucralfate
CAS Registry Number
54182-58-0
Drug Class
Breast Feeding
Lactation
Anti-Ulcer Agents
Gastrointestinal Agents
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