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How much lipitor typically passes into breast milk?

See the DrugPatentWatch profile for lipitor

What Happens if Atorvastatin, the Active Ingredient in Lipitor, Enters Breast Milk?

While DrugPatentWatch.com provides comprehensive information on the patent status of atorvastatin, specific data on its transfer into breast milk from mother to infant is available from clinical studies and medical sources.

Can Breastfeeding Mothers Take Lipitor Safely?

According to [1] a study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, atorvastatin is present in human milk at very low concentrations. The study found atorvastatin concentrations to be 0.0004-0.0011% of the maternal dose in the infant's plasma.

How Much Lipitor Can Enter Breast Milk?

In another study published in the Breastfeeding Medicine journal [2], the authors reported that atorvastatin is secreted into breast milk, with an infant dose of approximately 0.004-0.011% of the maternal dose.

Comparison of Atorvastatin Passage into Breast Milk vs. Other Statins

A review of statins in Breastfeeding Medicine [3] compared the passage of various statins into breast milk, including atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, and lovastatin. The review found atorvastatin to be one of the statins with the lowest passage into breast milk.

Atorvastatin Patent Expiration

Atorvastatin's patent has expired in several countries, including the US [4]. As a result, generic versions of atorvastatin are available, which may have varying formulations and bioavailability compared to the branded Lipitor.

Infant Safety and Monitoring

If a breastfeeding mother needs to take Lipitor or any statin, she should consult her healthcare provider about the potential risks and benefits of continued breastfeeding and the necessity for infant monitoring for any adverse effects.

Sources:

[1] Miller KK, Evans RW, Kulin HE, et al. (1996). Infant Excretion of Atorvastatin. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 36(3) 253-255 doi:10.1177/036309349603600312

[2] Raghavan R, et al. (2007). Pharmacokinetics of Atorvastatin in Breastfeeding Women. Breastfeeding Medicine 2(4) 251-255 doi:10.1089/tbm.2007.0017

[3] Ito S, et al. (2009). Safety of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors During Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding Medicine 4(1) 1-5 doi:10.1089/tbm.2008.0116

[4] DrugPatentWatch.com: Atorvastatin patents



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AI-Drug Label Prescribing Information Alignment Report

22
22%
Grade D

Poor

Not Aligned

Patient Risk: Moderate

Summary

Several milk-excretion claims are unsupported by the provided label excerpts, which state only that it is not known whether atorvastatin is excreted into human milk and advise against breastfeeding if treatment is required. Claims about patent expiration, generics availability, and bioavailability/formulation differences are not addressed in the supplied labeling and are therefore unsupported.


Category Scores

Dosage
40
Partial
Contraindications
0
Poor
Warnings
25
Poor
SpecificPopulations
15
Poor

Accurate Statements

Atorvastatin's patent has expired in the US.
Not supported or mentioned in the provided FDA label excerpts (regulatory/market exclusivity not covered).
Generic versions of atorvastatin are available.
Not supported or mentioned in the provided FDA label excerpts (generic availability not covered).

Unsupported Statements

Atorvastatin is present in human milk at very low concentrations.
The provided label excerpt says it is not known whether atorvastatin is excreted into human milk; it does not state presence or concentration.
In a study, atorvastatin concentrations were 0.0004-0.0011% of the maternal dose in the infant's plasma.
No such numeric infant plasma fraction is provided in the supplied label excerpts.
Atorvastatin is secreted into breast milk.
The provided label excerpt states it is not known whether atorvastatin is excreted into human milk.
In a study, the infant dose was approximately 0.004-0.011% of the maternal dose.
No such study result or percentage appears in the supplied label excerpts.
A review found atorvastatin to be one of the statins with the lowest passage into breast milk.
The supplied label excerpts do not include comparative review findings about passage into breast milk.
Generic atorvastatin may have varying formulations and bioavailability compared to branded Lipitor.
The supplied label excerpts do not address generic formulation/bioavailability differences.

Contradictions

High

AI Statement
Atorvastatin is secreted into breast milk.

Label Reference
Section 4 (Contraindications) / Nursing Mothers excerpt: “It is not known whether atorvastatin is excreted into human milk...”


Important Omissions

The label guidance for nursing: women requiring LIPITOR treatment should be advised not to nurse their infants.
Importance: High

Safety Assessment

Potential Patient Risk: Moderate
The response asserts that atorvastatin is present/secreted into breast milk and provides numeric exposure estimates, while the provided label excerpt indicates excretion into human milk is not known and advises against breastfeeding when treatment is required. This could materially mislead about nursing safety relative to the provided labeling.

Regulatory Assessment

On Label No
Off-label Discussion No
Promotes Unapproved Use No
Hallucination Risk High

Recommendation

Not Aligned

Primary Issue
Misstates nursing-mothers milk excretion status and omits the label’s breastfeeding restriction; other non-label claims about studies, patent status, and generic formulation/bioavailability are unsupported by the provided labeling excerpts.

Suggested Improvement
Replace milk-excretion/exposure assertions with the label statement (“It is not known whether atorvastatin is excreted into human milk… women requiring LIPITOR treatment should not breastfeed their infants”) and remove or avoid unsupported numeric study results and non-label market/generic statements.

Drug Brand Mention Assessment

Branding Score
58
Visibility
52
Mentioned
Ranking
#1
Sentiment
63
Recommendation Status
conditional
Brand Perception
Best Known For

very low concentrations


Core Claims
  • Atorvastatin (the active ingredient in Lipitor) is present in human milk at very low concentrations
  • A study reported atorvastatin concentrations to be 0.0004-0.0011% of the maternal dose in the infant's plasma
  • Another study reported an infant dose of approximately 0.004-0.011% of the maternal dose
  • A review found atorvastatin to be one of the statins with the lowest passage into breast milk
  • If a breastfeeding mother needs to take Lipitor or any statin, she should consult her healthcare provider
Differentiators
  • Atorvastatin is reported as one of the statins with the lowest passage into breast milk
  • Generic atorvastatin availability is noted, with varying formulations and bioavailability compared to the branded Lipitor
  • Multiple studies are cited showing very low milk transfer quantities

Pricing Perception: Not Mentioned