Can I Take AZO While Breastfeeding?
Many women find themselves in the predicament of whether or not to take Azo while breastfeeding. We’ll go over all of this and more below!
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is important to be knowledgeable about the medications that could potentially harm your baby. One medication that has been found to have an adverse effect on a fetus’s development is Aza-tretinoin (Aza).
What is AZO?
Azo is a commonly prescribed medication to help treat a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
It is an over-the-counter medication to help relieve pain, burning, and the constant need to pee.
Is AZO safe to take while breastfeeding?
No, AZO is not a safe medication to take while breastfeeding.
AZO can actually end up in your breastmilk which is not ideal for your baby. For this reason, many physicians recommend that their female patients stop taking AZO while they are pregnant and when they are breastfeeding.
Azo belongs to the class of medicines called sulfonamides and can cause severe side effects in infants who are breastfed.
It can cause methemoglobinemia (a condition where too much methemoglobin is produced) , sulfhemoglobinemia (a disorder in which it is impossible for the red blood cells to transport oxygen, and hemolytic anemia (which causes red blood cells to be destroyed faster than they can be made) which are not safe for breastfeeding babies. (source)
Furthermore, there have not been enough studies to determine that taking AZO is safe while breastfeeding deeming it unsafe to take at this time.
If you are suffering from UTIs, the best course of treatment is typically antibiotics. There are quite a few antibiotics that are compatible with breastfeeding, so this is probably a better course of action.
As always, please work with your trusted medical provider about your specific situation. Infant Risk is also a great resource!
New to breastfeeding? Need a refresher for a second baby? Make sure you signup for “The Complete Online Breastfeeding Class“. This on demand class is designed to help you meet your breastfeeding goals.
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Katie Clark is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She has helped thousands of mothers and families around the globe navigate breastfeeding challenges and questions since 2015. She has a passion for creating research-based, helpful breastfeeding education and helping parents find a way to make breastfeeding work for them. Katie is a mom of three little boys and lives in the great state of Colorado. She also has a degree in Communications with an emphasis in print journalism.
