LORACARBEF

Fetal Risk Summary

Loracarbef is an oral, synthetic b-lactam antibiotic that is closely related to the cephalosporin class of antibiotics. Reproduction studies in mice, rats, and rabbits found no evidence of impaired fertility, or reproductive performance, or fetal harm at doses up to 4, 10, and 4 times, respectively, the maximum human dose on a mg/m2 basis (1).

No reports describing the use of loracarbef in human pregnancy have been located. The closely related cephalosporins are usually considered safe to use during pregnancy (see various cephalosporins for published human experience).

Breast Feeding Summary

No reports describing the use of loracarbef during human lactation have been located. Low concentrations of the closely related cephalosporins have been measured, however, and the presence of loracarbef in milk should be expected. Three potential problems exist for the nursing infant exposed to loracarbef in milk: modification of bowel flora, direct effects on the infant, and interference with the interpretation of culture results if a fever workup is required. Although not specifically listing loracarbef, the American Academy of Pediatrics classifies other cephalosporin antibiotics as compatible with breast feeding (2).

References

1. Product information. Lorabid. Eli Lilly and Company, 1997.
2. Committee on Drugs, American Academy of Pediatrics. The transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics 1994;93:137–50.