Summary of Use during Lactation

No published information is available on the use of saquinavir during breastfeeding. Saquinavir is not a recommended agent during breastfeeding.[1,2]

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

Gynecomastia has been reported among men receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Gynecomastia is unilateral initially, but progresses to bilateral in about half of cases. No alterations in serum prolactin were noted and spontaneous resolution usually occurred within one year, even with continuation of the regimen.[3-5] Some case reports and in vitro studies have suggested that protease inhibitors might cause hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea in some male patients,[6,7] although this has been disputed.[8] The relevance of these findings to nursing mothers is not known. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.

References

1.

AIDSinfo. Panel on treatment of pregnant women with HIV infection and prevention of perinatal transmission. Recommendations for use of antiretroviral drugs in transmission in the United States, 2018: Counseling and management of women living with HIV who breastfeed. https://aidsinfo​.nih​.gov/guidelines/html​/3/perinatal/513/counseling-and-management-of-women-living-with-hiv-who-breastfeed.

2.

World Health Organization. HIV and infant feeding: Update. 2007. http://whqlibdoc​.who​.int/publications/2007​/9789241595964_eng.pdf.

3.

García-Benayas T, Blanco F, Martin-Carbonero L, et al. Gynecomastia in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2003;19:739–41. [PubMed: 14585204]

4.

Pantanowitz L, Evans D, Gross PD, et al. HIV-related gynecomastia. Breast J. 2003;9:131–2. [PubMed: 12603389]

5.

Evans DL, Pantanowitz L, Dezube BJ, et al. Breast enlargement in 13 men who were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus. Clin Infect Dis. 2002;35:1113–9. [PubMed: 12384846]

6.

Hutchinson J, Murphy M, Harries R, et al. Galactorrhoea and hyperprolactinaemia associated with protease-inhibitors. Lancet. 2000;356:1003–4. [PubMed: 11041407]

7.

Orlando G, Brunetti L, Vacca M. Ritonavir and saquinavir directly stimulate anterior pituitary prolactin secretion, in vitro. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2002;15:65–8. [PubMed: 12593790]

8.

Montero A, Bottasso OA, Luraghi MR, et al. Galactorrhoea, hyperprolactinaemia, and protease inhibitors. Lancet. 2001;357:473–4. [PubMed: 11273087]

Substance Name

Saquinavir

CAS Registry Number

127779-20-8

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Anti-Infective Agents

Anti-HIV Agents

Antiviral Agents

Anti-Retroviral Agents

HIV Protease Inhibitors