Last update May 29, 2022

Cidofovir

Limited compatibility

Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.

Cidofovir is a nucleoside analog active against herpesviruses. It is used to treat CMV retinitis in AIDS patients and is being investigated for ocular herpes simplex, smallpox, and other viral infections. Intravenous administration. Off label it is used topically to treat skin lesions such as papillomas, warts and other lesions caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Since the last update we have not found published data on its excretion in breastmilk.

Its low protein binding and low molecular weight would facilitate excretion in breast milk; its high volume of distribution would make it difficult.

Its very low oral bioavailability makes it difficult for it to pass to the infant plasma from ingested breast milk, except in premature infants and in the immediate neonatal period in which there may be greater intestinal permeability.

Side effects can be severe and frequent; it has significant renal toxicity and is a possible carcinogen. (AEMPS 2016)

It has been withdrawn from the market in most countries.

TOPICAL USE:

Local absorption across the epithelium is negligible and plasma concentrations are very low (Bossens 2018), so topical use of cidofovir might be acceptable during breastfeeding.


See below the information of this related product:

  • Brincidofovir (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)

Alternatives

  • Brincidofovir (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Cidofovir in other languages or writings:

Groups

Cidofovir belongs to these groups or families:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Cidofovir in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. < 10 %
Molecular weight 279 daltons
Protein Binding 6 %
VD 0.53 l/Kg
pKa 1.26 -
2.4 - 3.2 hours

References

  1. Bossens M, Jost M, Van Pachterbeke C, De Maertelaer V, Simon P, Frankenne F, Hubert P, Evrard B, Snoeck R. Safety and tolerance of cidofovir as a 2% gel for local application in high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A phase 1 investigation. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018 Mar;56(3):134-141. Abstract
  2. AEMPS. Cidofovir. Fiche técnica. 2016 Full text (in our servers)
  3. EMA. Cidofovir. Drug Summary. 2007 Full text (in our servers)

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