Medication Guide App

Tacrolimus use while Breastfeeding

Drugs containing Tacrolimus: Prograf, Protopic, Hecoria, Astagraf XL

Tacrolimus Levels and Effects while Breastfeeding

Summary of Use during Lactation

Limited data indicate that amounts of systemically administered tacrolimus are low in breastmilk and probably do not adversely affect the breastfed infant. European experts consider tacrolimus to be probably safe to use for inflammatory bowel disease during breastfeeding.[1] US investigators and clinicians from the National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry and other US experts consider tacrolimus acceptable to use during breastfeeding following transplant.[2][3][4][5] Exclusively breastfed infants should be monitored if this drug is used during lactation, possibly including measurement of serum levels to rule out toxicity if there is a concern.

Topical tacrolimus presents a low risk to the nursing infant because it is poorly absorbed after topical application and peak blood concentrations are less than 2 mcg/L in most patients. Ensure that the infant's skin does not come into direct contact with the areas of skin that have been treated. If the breast is to be treated, an alternate drug is preferred; do not apply to the nipple area while nursing.[6][7][8]

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. Random tacrolimus colostrum levels in 10 samples from 6 mothers averaged 1.7 mcg/L (range 0.3 to 1.9 mcg/L) which was about 50% of maternal serum levels. Tacrolimus dosages in these mothers were not reported.[9]

One mother taking 3 mg twice daily (0.1 mg/kg per day), had a peak milk level of 0.57 mcg/L one hour after the dose. The half-life in milk was estimated to be 12.85 hours. The authors estimated that her breastfed infant would receive 0.06% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage or 0.06 mcg/kg daily, which is 0.03 to 0.04% of the oral starting dosage for pediatric patients.[10]

One mother who had been taking tacrolimus for a kidney transplant 5 years earlier was 3 months postpartum and exclusively breastfeeding her infant. She had been taking a dosage of 2 mg orally twice daily (0.05 mg/kg per day) for at least 2 months. She was also taking atenolol 100 mg, azathioprine 100 mg, diltiazem 180 mg, furosemide 20 mg, and prednisone 5 mg daily. Milk samples obtained over a 12-hour dosage interval found little change throughout the day, with the highest levels of 2.1 mcg/L at 4 and 8.5 hours after the dose. The average milk concentration was 1.8 mcg/L. The authors calculated that an exclusively breastfed infant would receive a daily dosage of 0.27 mcg/kg which is about 0.5% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage and less than 0.2% of the pediatric dosage for organ transplant rejection.[11]

Eleven women who took tacrolimus (exact dosages not specified, but assumed to be 6 mg daily) during pregnancy and postpartum donated 22 breastmilk samples (times unspecified) for analysis. The median breastmilk concentration was 0.8 mcg/L (range 0.1 to 1.6 mcg/L). Two women took samples before and 4 or more hours after a dose; no difference in milk levels was seen. The authors estimated that the maximum dosage that an exclusively breastfed infant would receive would be 0.56 mg daily, equivalent to 0.23% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. Additionally, comparing infants who were breastfed to those who were not, the serum tacrolimus concentrations fell at about the same rate over the first 2 weeks postpartum, regardless of breastfeeding status, indicating that breastfeeding did not prolong infant tacrolimus levels[12]

Eleven breastmilk samples were obtained via breast pump over a 12-hour dosage interval in a nursing mother who was 45 weeks postpartum and receiving tacrolimus 1.5 mg twice daily after a liver transplant. The peak tacrolimus milk level of 1.11 mcg/L occurred 6 hours after the dose. The average tacrolimus level in milk was 0.93 mcg/L. The milk concentration of the active metabolite, 13-demethyl tacrolimus, averaged 0.03 mcg/L (range 0.01 to 0.04 mcg/L). The authors estimated that a fully breastfed infant would receive 0.14 mcg/kg daily or 0.3 % of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage.[2]

Infant Levels. Four breastfed (3 exclusive, 1 partial) infants whose mothers took tacrolimus during breastfeeding had serum tacrolimus concentrations measured between day 15 and 27 of age. The mothers' mean daily tacrolimus dosage during breastfeeding was 9.6 mg daily (range 4.5 to 15 mg daily). Tacrolimus was undetectable (<1.9 mcg/L) in all of the infants.[13]

A woman was taking tacrolimus 6 mg twice daily during pregnancy to prevent rejection of an small intestine transplant. Her dosage was adjusted to maintain an optimal tacrolimus blood level postpartum, although the exact dosage was not stated. She breastfed (extent not stated) her infant and at 1 week of age, the infant's tacrolimus blood level was less than 1 mcg/L.[14]

Twelve infants were exclusively breastfed by mothers taking tacrolimus (exact dosages not specified) during pregnancy and postpartum. Twenty-four infant blood samples were obtained from the infants at various times. The median infant blood tacrolimus concentration was 1.3 mcg/L (range 0.0-4.0 mcg/L). In infants in whom serial blood levels were obtained, levels declined at about 15% daily. Blood tacrolimus levels in breastfed infants were no higher than those in 3 additional infants who were not breastfed. Eight breast-fed infants with serial blood samples had undetectable (<0.1 mcg/L) tacrolimus blood levels at a median of day 14 (interquartile range day 11-22) postpartum.[12]

Two mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus were reported who took tacrolimus during pregnancy and lactation. One took tacrolimus 3 mg and prednisolone 40 mg daily and the other took tacrolimus 3 mg and prednisolone 30 mg daily during breastfeeding. The infants' blood tacrolimus levels measured 1 hour after breastfeeding were 0.2 mcg/L in the first infant at 10 days of age, and 0.5 mcg/L in the second at 7 days of age.[15]

Effects in Breastfed Infants

One infant was exclusively breastfed during maternal tacrolimus therapy throughout gestation to at least 2.5 months of age at which time the infant was developing normally physically and neurologically. An ultrasound examination of the infant's thymus was normal.[10]

The National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry reported data gathered from 1991 to 2011 on mothers who breastfed their infants following organ transplantation. A total of 68 mothers with transplants (mostly kidney or liver) used tacrolimus while breastfeeding a total of 83 infants. Duration of nursing ranged from 1 week to 1.5 years and follow-up of the children ranged from weeks to 16 years. There were no reports of problems in any of the infants or children.[4] As of December 2013, a total of 92 mothers had breastfed 125 infants for as long as 26 months with no apparent adverse effects in infants.[5]

The breastfed infants of six women who took tacrolimus during pregnancy for organ transplantation were breastfed (4 exclusive, 2 partial) for 45 to 180 days and followed for periods of 2 to 30 months. The mothers' mean daily tacrolimus dosage during breastfeeding was 9.6 mg daily (range 4.5 to 15 mg daily). Four mothers were also taking azathioprine 100 to 150 mg daily, one was taking diltiazem, and one was taking prednisolone 15 mg and aspirin 75 mg daily. None of the infants had any clear tacrolimus-related side effects, although one had transient thrombocytosis that resolved despite continued breastfeeding. Developmental milestones were normal and no pattern of infections was noted.[13]

Two mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus were reported who took tacrolimus 3 mg daily during pregnancy and lactation as well as prednisolone 30 or 40 mg daily. Three years after birth, both children were healthy. The durations of lactation were not stated.[15]

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Alternate Drugs to Consider

(Immunosupressant) Azathioprine, Cyclosporine, (Topical) Pimecrolimus


1. van der Woude CJ, Kolacek S, Dotan I et al. European evidenced-based consensus on reproduction in inflammatory bowel disease. J Crohn's Colitis. 2010;4:493-510. PMID: 21122553

2. Zheng S, Easterling TR, Hays K et al. Tacrolimus placental transfer at delivery and neonatal exposure through breast milk. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013;76:988-96. PMID: 23528073

3. Armenti VT, Moritz MJ, Davison JM. Breastfeeding and tacrolimus: is it a reasonable approach? Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2013;9:623-6. PMID: 23899232

4. Thiagarajan KM, Arakali SR, Mealey KJ et al. Safety considerations: breastfeeding after transplant. Prog Transplant. 2013;23:137-46. PMID: 23782661

5. Constantinescu S, Pai A, Coscia LA et al. Breast-feeding after transplantation. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2014;28:1163-73. PMID: 25271063

6. Strober B, Berger E, Cather J et al. A series of critically challenging case scenarios in moderate to severe psoriasis: a Delphi consensus approach. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;61 (Suppl 1):S1-S46. PMID: 19527820

7. Barrett ME, Heller MM, Fullerton Stone H, Murase JE. Dermatoses of the breast in lactation. Dermatol Ther. 2013;26:331-6. PMID: 23914890


9. Jain A, Venkataramanan R et al. Pregnancy after liver transplantation under tacrolimus. Transplantation. 1997;64:559-65. PMID: 9293865

10. French AE, Soldin SJ et al. Milk transfer and neonatal safety of tacrolimus. Ann Pharmacother. 2003;37:815-8. PMID: 12773068

11. Gardiner SJ, Begg EJ. Breastfeeding during tacrolimus therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107 (2 pt. 2):453-5. PMID: 16449146

12. Bramham K, Chusney G, Lee J et al C. Breastfeeding and tacrolimus: Serial monitoring in breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2013;8:563-7. PMID: 23349333

13. Gouraud A, Bernard N, Millaret A et al. Follow-up of tacrolimus breastfed babies. Transplantation. 2012;94:e38-40. PMID: 22996303

14. Gomez-Lobo V, Landy HJ, Matsumoto C, Fishbein TM. Pregnancy in an intestinal transplant recipient. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;120 (2 Pt 2):497-500. PMID: 22825278

Tacrolimus Identification

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Dermatologic Agents

Administrative Information

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