Introduction
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby and is good for both the mother and the baby. However, lots of moms who breastfeed may have chronic health problems and need to take medicine regularly. Semaglutide is a medicine that helps control sugar levels in people who have diabetes. In the past few years, it has gotten a lot of attention because it works well in controlling sugar levels in the blood.
What Is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide acts like a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). It works by making the body release more insulin, stopping glucagon release, making the stomach empty slower, and making a person feel full.
Semaglutide is a medicine that can help people with type 2 diabetes. It can lower their blood sugar levels and help them lose weight. It is usually administered as a subcutaneous injection.
This medicine is a good choice for treating diabetes and comes under the class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). While treating diabetes, this medication can be used alone or in combination with other antidiabetic medications.
Other conditions and situations apart from diabetes for which the medicine Semaglutide is used are:
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Weight loss and weight management in obese people.
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To reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems like stroke, heart attack, etc.
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It is also used in chronic kidney disease that may be present in diabetic individuals.
Is Semaglutide Use Safe During Breastfeeding?
Right now, not much has been known about whether it is safe to use Semaglutide while breastfeeding. Doctors do not know if Semaglutide can pass into breast milk as further studies have not been conducted on nursing mothers. It is not advised to use Semaglutide during breastfeeding. But if used, it should be done so cautiously, mainly when breastfeeding preterm babies.
Semaglutide Pharmacokinetics and Safety in Breastfeeding Mothers
To make sure Semaglutide is safe to use while breastfeeding, it is important to understand how it works in the body. Semaglutide stays in the body for a long time with an elimination half-life of about one week and gets broken down in a way that is mostly removed from the body through urination. But, we do not know much about the pharmacokinetics of Semaglutide in breastfeeding women.
Additionally, the oral form of Semaglutide has very little bioavailability and does not get absorbed well or work efficiently, as well as the subcutaneous route. Therefore, even if the breastfeeding infant gets exposed to Semaglutide through breastfeeding (which is an oral route), it is believed that only very little will be absorbed and with no risk posed to the infant.
Does Semaglutide Transfer Into Breast Milk?
Research conducted on animals has revealed that Semaglutide is found in lactating rats. However, it is not known if Semaglutide enters the human breast milk. Semaglutide is unlikely to pass easily into breast milk because of its small size. However. it is better to be cautious because there is insufficient information about humans. Even the manufacturers advise against the use of Semaglutide in breastfeeding mothers since studies have confirmed its presence in animal milk. More studies are necessary to determine if Semaglutide goes into breast milk and if it affects breastfeeding babies.
An Article by Serrano in the Year 2015 Reports the Following:
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Semaglutide has a high molecular weight and increasingly fixates on plasma proteins. Therefore, the chances of the medication passing into the breastmilk in significant quantities in very low.
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Even if Semaglutide gets transferred to the breastmilk and then ingested by the baby, it is not usually absorbed in the baby’s gut or enters the baby’s plasma. This is because Semaglutide, by nature, resembles a protein and becomes deactivated or gets destroyed in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract.
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Semaglutide may get absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract of preterm babies immediately after birth. That is because the preterm infant’s gut has greater permeability.
What Are the Side Effects of Semaglutide in Mothers and Infants?
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Side Effects in Adults Including Breastfeeding Mothers
Like any medication, Semaglutide may also cause side effects. Some commonly reported side effects associated with Semaglutide, use include the following:
Gastrointestinal effects are the most common side effects. This may include decreased appetite, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, burping, constipation, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Hypoglycemia with symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, weakness, irritability, confusion, etc.
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Injection site reactions.
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Allergic reactions.
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Pancreatitis.
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Cholelithiasis.
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Thyroid C-cell tumors.
2. Side Effects In Infants
Understanding the potential effects of Semaglutide on breastfeeding infants is crucial for assessing its safety. No direct studies have evaluated the effects of Semaglutide on breastfeeding infants, but it is important to consider the theoretical risks. Hypoglycemia, GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease), alterations in appetite, diarrhea, abdominal distention, and constipation are potential concerns that should be monitored closely in breastfeeding infants exposed to Semaglutide.
What Should Be Considered in Breastfeeding Mothers Before Semaglutide Use?
It is advised to be careful when using Semaglutide if a mother is breastfeeding because not a lot of information is available about its ill effects. Some things that breastfeeding mothers can follow while using Semaglutide are:
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Considering Alternative Therapies: If possible, consider alternative medications with a better-established safety profile during breastfeeding for women with type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle modifications, metformin, or insulin may be suitable options.
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Monitoring the Infant: If Semaglutide is administered, closely monitor the breastfeeding infant for any signs of adverse effects, such as hypoglycemia, gastrointestinal disturbances, or changes in appetite. Mothers should be encouraged to report any unusual symptoms in their infants promptly.
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Timing of Administration: It is advised to take the medication Semaglutide right after breastfeeding to reduce the amount of the drug that could get into the baby's body. This might help to decrease how much of the drug goes into breast milk when a baby is drinking the most.
Conclusion
While the safety of Semaglutide use in breastfeeding mothers remains uncertain, alternative treatment options such as insulin and metformin provide well-established choices for managing diabetes during lactation. Furthermore, researchers are currently studying the possible upsides and downsides of Semaglutide for breastfeeding moms. This could lead to better advice in the future. In addition, drug companies are working to create new and safer drugs for treating diabetes. These new drugs could be better options for mothers who are breastfeeding.
