Primaquine and its metabolite are poorly excreted into breastmilk of nursing mothers and undetectable in the serum of their breastfed infants. Breastfed infants beyond the neonatal period have shown no evidence of hemolysis. Neonates and infants with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency have not been studied, but G6PD-deficient infants over 28 days of age appear to have a low risk of hemolysis from exposure in breastmilk.[1-3] Modeling suggests that nursing mothers can receive primaquine with little risk to their infants, even if the infants are G-6-PD deficient.[4]
United Kingdom malaria treatment guidelines recommend that primaquine be avoided in nursing mothers with malaria and that weekly chloroquine 500 mg be given until breastfeeding is completed.[5] However, these guidelines were developed before information on the excretion of primaquine into breastmilk and safety in breastfed infants was published. More recent information indicates that all mothers nursing infant over 28 days of age could safely receive primaquine.[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines state that primaquine may be used in breastfeeding mothers and infants with normal G6PD levels.[6] Because the small amounts of primaquine transferred in breast milk are insufficient to provide adequate protection or treatment of malaria, infants who require chemoprophylaxis or therapy must receive the recommended dosages of primaquine.