Maternal Transfer of Cetirizine Into Human Milk

Introduction Cetirizine hydrochloride is a second-generation H1 histamine antagonist with Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not recommend use of cetirizine during breastfeeding, as there are insufficient studies on both the transference of cetirizine into human milk and the effects of cetirizine in infants. Main issue To determine the concentration of cetirizine in human milk, samples were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Management Based on calculations, relative infant dose was found to be 1.77% at 24 hr. In addition, there were no reported adverse effects seen in the infants. Conclusion We suggest that transfer of cetirizine into human milk is minimal and unlikely to pose a significant risk to the breastfeeding infant. This is the first report presenting the transfer of cetirizine in human milk.

Automated summary

This study used high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to analyze the concentration of cetirizine in human milk and found a relative infant dose of 1.77% at 24 hr. Additionally, no adverse effects were reported in the infants. The study suggests that transfer of cetirizine into human milk is minimal and unlikely to pose a significant risk to breastfeeding infants.