The use of Ritonavir in COVID-19 case

[Lactation Clinic]

A mother is infected by COVID-19, she receives Ritonavir 100 mg, 2 times a day. According to Hale's Medications and Mothers' Milk 2021, Ritonavir is L5 due to HIV infection. However, for COVID-19, please suggest how to manage this case to continue breastfeeding. Thank you very much.

[kaytlin]

Hi Lactation Clinic,

I wouldn't expect a short course of ritonavir (<3 weeks) for COVID-19 to be risky during breastfeeding.

Kaytlin Krutsch, PharmD

[Lactation Clinic]

Thank you so much Dr. Krutsch.

[Pfolse]

Does anyone have information on the use of Regeneron for lactating mothers???? Its a combination of casirivimab & imdevimab- called a "antibody Cocktail" any help appreciated

[kaytlin]

Hi Pfolse,

We don't have any data on the Regeneron cocktail specifically, but in general monoclonal antibodies such as these are much too large to pass into breast milk in large quantities. These are IgG antibodies, which would be mostly destroyed by the acidic environment of the infant's stomach.

Best,
Kaytlin Krutsch, PharmD